Goodwood

Becoming the fifth subsequent pattern-race winner to emerge from the G1 Falmouth S., Benny Andersson's homebred Lavender's Blue (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) who was only eighth in that July 9 Newmarket feature took a step forward to register a career-best success in Saturday's G2 tote Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Trapped three-wide early under restraint from Rob Hornby, the 20-1 shot had the ideal target horse to follow in Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who had fly-jumped leaving the stalls and surrendered valuable ground there. Granting first run to that 9-4...

Now a 7-year-old, Godolphin's Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) still has relatively few miles on the clock as he launches his 2021 campaign in Saturday's G2 tote Celebration Mile at Goodwood. With nine pattern-race victories on his portfolio including the 2018 G1 Dubai Turf, G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis and G1 Ladbrokes S., he has been in the wilderness since finishing third defending his title in the G2 Joel S. at Newmarket in September. "Benbatl had a nice break earlier in the season and we decided not to take him out to...

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. Friday's Observations features a son of G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Even Song (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). 1.10 Newmarket, Novice, £9,000, 2yo, f, 7fT COLOURFUL DREAM (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two Charlie Appleby-trained representatives and the unraced one tasked with dealing with the promising Kempton debut second Silk Romance...

Additional British races have been added to Horse Racing Ireland's IRE Incentive scheme. IRE Incentive races will be held at Nottingham, Newbury, Pontefract, York, Musselburgh, Salisbury and Goodwood in August and September. The IRE Incentive scheme awards a €10,000 Irish Sales voucher to the owners of Irish-bred winners of designated races. Vouchers can be spent on Irish-breds at Irish public auction Sales. Since the scheme launched in March 2021, €480,000 in vouchers has been distributed to 39 individual owners. Find out more about the IRE Incentive scheme and view a...

After the rain missed Saturday's fast-ground G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., Goodwood had an abundance of it in the interim to ensure that things fell in the favour of the re-routed Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) ahead of Saturday's G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. Too keen early tracking the leader Makawee (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) on the soft going she needs, Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu, G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G2 Hardwicke S. heroine was eventually allowed to stride to the...

Stopping the 3-year-old momentum in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood, Emma Banks's Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) swooped to conquer to end trainer William Jarvis's 27-year wait for another top-level winner. Unlucky when fourth in the G1 Falmouth S. over a mile at Newmarket last time July 9, the 10-3 shot raced with only the 9-4 joint-favourite Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) behind early as the other market-leader Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was sent on by Ryan Moore. Delivered wide of that long-time leader and Zeyaadah...

The EBF Maiden S. at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday will be part of Horse Racing Ireland's IRE Incentive scheme, meaning a €10,000 Irish sales voucher will be up for grabs for connections of an Irish-bred winner. The vouchers, of which €440,000 worth have been paid out since the scheme launched in March, are redeemable for Irish-bred yearlings at Irish public auction sales. "Great Britain is by some distance the biggest export market for Irish Thoroughbreds and it is important to expand the IRE Incentive there," said Charles O'Neill, chief executive...

With the major contests going the way of the 3-year-olds so far, it is up to Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to attempt to bring that generation back into line a touch in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood. Improving markedly at this stage last term, Alison Swinburn's 5-year-old captured the G1 Prix Jean Romanet on soft ground at Deauville in August, was third to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Prix de l'Opera on heavy at ParisLongchamp in October before capturing the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare...

At his best when the ground is on the quick side, Jim Bolger's G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. hero Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) has to deal with a testing surface as he faces up to his first test against the fillies and older horses in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. Only sixth on very soft in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp May 16 and a short-head second to Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) on soft-to-heavy in the G1 Irish 2000...

William Jarvis is to decide between Group 1 targets for stable star Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) at Goodwood next week with the Qatar Nassau S. and Qatar Sussex S. both under consideration.  The 5-year-old mare, owned by Emma Banks, started her season with victory in the G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket and was then runner-up to Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Lockinge S. A poor blood test has ruled Palace Pier out of the Sussex S., bringing the mile contest and a clash with top 3-year-old...

Top-class miler Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will miss the G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood on July 28, after presenting with poor blood work in advance of the race. The Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum colourbearer has compiled an enviable record of eight wins in nine starts, and was last seen saluting in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. He had opened his 2021 campaign with a win in the G2 bet365 Mile at Sandown on Apr. 23 and added the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S....

Bearstone Stud's Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) is on track to make her first start since winning last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in Goodwood's G2 King George S. on July 30. The three-time Group 1 winner finished second in that race last year to Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and is set to meet that champion sprinter again. Trainer Kevin Ryan said of Glass Slippers, "She's great and is heading for Goodwood now. She'll start her season down there." A winner of the 2019 G3 Prix du Petit...