Flintshire (GB)

Star jumps sire No Risk At All (Fr) will cover a limited book at Haras de Montaigu in 2024, the stud announced on Thursday. His €20,000 live foal fee, an increase of €2,000 from 2023, leads the five-strong roster. Standing alongside the perennially successful sire are Beaumec De Houelle (Fr) and Flintshire (GB), each at €6,000. The latter is available to mares under both codes. Group Flat sire Dabirsim (Fr), whose Horizon Dore (Fr) ran third in the G1 Champion S., and  Dschingis Secret (13) will both command €4,000. The...

If this is seeing the future, then maybe it really will work. Among all these tiny, straggling groups negotiating the arid wastes of the dirt stakes program, we finally reach a true oasis in the GI Caesars Belmont Derby Inv. Here is a field that matches quality with quantity: a win for the owners, and a win for the bettors. It is also, lest we forget, staged on a benign surface. As such, it is also a win for a whole community that needs to present its way of life...

Connagh's Quay (Flintshire {GB}), a 3-year-old maiden colt, topped Keeneland's May Digital Sale Tuesday on a winning bid of $65,000 from Kirkwood Stables, agent. The bay was consigned by his owner/breeder Juddmonte as hip 5. Conditioned by Chad Brown up to this point, his best finish from five prior tries was a runner-up effort in Tampa maiden special weight company two back Feb. 28. He was most recently seventh, beaten just 2 1/4 lengths, in a 1 3/8-mile test at Belmont May 6. Connagh's Quay is out of an unraced...

White Birch Farm's Cheshire Academy (Fr) (Flintshire {GB}), who was victorious over 10 furlongs at Pau in both prior starts, retained his perfect record--after a fashion--when stewards intervened to promote the Jean-Claude Rouget trainee from a second-place finish, at the expense of 4-5 favourite Pretty Tiger (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), in Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp. The 37-10 chance was slowest away and raced towards the rear until turning for home in this black-type bow. Nudged along to reduce arrears with 500 metres remaining, he came under increased...

Juddmonte homebred Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}-Deliberate {GB}, by King's Best) will stand at Figerro Breeding Farm in France for €2,800 this term. The news was reported by the Racing Post on Sunday. A winner of four of his nine starts including the G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano for Prince Khalid Abdullah and trainer Roger Charlton, the bay earned $430,789. The sixth foal out of the winning Deliberate, Headman is a half-brother to Grade II winner Projected (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and G3 Prix Chloe runner-up Delivery (GB)...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Insights features a half-brother to G1 Irish Guineas winner Siskin (First Defence). 3.00 Bellewstown, Mdn, €25,000, 2yo, f, 7f 196yT TALACRE (Flintshire {GB}) is a piece of equine royalty set to visit the small Co. Meath circuit, being a half-sister to the G1 Phoenix S.  and G1 Irish...