Havana Grey (GB)

Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}--Lady Macduff {Ire}, by Iffraaj {GB}), who hit the board in last month's Listed Empress Stakes, entered Friday's G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket with maiden status intact and made the breakthrough with a gritty performance in the six-furlong heat. The 525,000gns Craven Breeze-Up acquisition was sharply into stride from the stands' side stall and raced in a prominent third through halfway. Bustled along to launch her challenge passing the quarter-mile pole, the 12-1 chance gained an edge entering the...

British bloodstock industry stalwarts Chris Richardson and Paul and Sara Thorman featured among the headline winners at the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Flat Breeders' Awards for the 2023 season, held at Chippenham Park on the evening of Wednesday, July 10. With recipients revealed only at the event, Cheveley Park Stud managing director Chris Richardson received the Dominion Bronze Award, which recognises outstanding contribution and long-term commitment from someone in the industry, while Paul and Sara Thorman, who have run Trickledown Stud since 1990, received the Andrew Devonshire Bronze Award, which acknowledges...

Hamburg avoided a clash with Sunday's knockout phase of soccer's European Championships and its early-bird programme featured the €55,000 G3 Sparkasse Holstein Cup (Hamburger Stuten Meile) as the opening day highlight of the venue's G1 Deutsches Derby festival. This year's renewal of the one-mile staging post played host to a match-up of Classic distaffers, with last term's G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) third Sea The Lady (Fr) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) eyeballing this year's G2 German 1000 Guineas third Three Havanas (Ger) (Havana Grey {GB}--Three Ducks {GB}, by Diktat...

The Goffs London Sale scaled new heights in 2022 when G1 Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}) sold to Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Johnny McKeever for £1.2 million, while last year that sum was very nearly matched when the G3 Marble Hill S. winner Givemethebeatboys was bought by Bronson Racing for £1.1 million, less than 24 hours before his commendable fourth-place finish in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. Those results leave the 2024 edition of the London Sale with quite the act to follow, but...

The catalogue is now live for the Goffs London Sale, which takes place in association with Privat 3 Money on Monday, June 17 at Kensington Palace Gardens. Of the initial entries announced on Sunday, Karl Burke's Alaskan Gold (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) is the only lot to have been withdrawn, leaving a total of 20 to be offered on the eve of Royal Ascot. A late addition to the sale is the G2 Prix de Sandringham heroine Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) (lot 11), who is due to run in Sunday's...

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. Monday's Observations features the breeze-up topper from Goffs for the same connections as multiple Group 1-winning Vandeek. 18.10 Windsor, Novice, £9,950, 2yo, 6f 12yT ADRESTIA (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) debuts for KHK Racing and the Simon and Ed Crisford stable, who combined last year with Havana Grey's G1 Prix...

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. Tuesday's Observations features the full-brother to Elite Status and the son of dual Group 1 heroine Silasol. 18.45 Lingfield, Novice, £6,300, 2yo, 6f (AWT) SOLDIER'S HEART (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), a full-brother to the G3 Prix de Cabourg winner Elite Status (GB) who was the joint-highest-priced colt at Tattersalls...

Unbeaten colt Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) continues to progress in his preparation for the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock on May 25. The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained colt's long-term goal is Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup S. next month. A winner of all four of his starts including the early August G2 Richmond S., G1 Prix Morny later that month, and the G1 Middle Park S. in September, the colt is pleasing his connections. "He's coming along nicely now, so we're hoping we'll be all systems go at...

Less than 10 lots into the second session of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, lot 98 quickly equaled Tuesday's top price of 525,000gns, going, once again, to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin. Consigned, just like Tuesday's New Bay (GB) colt topper, by Katie Walsh's Greenhills Farm, the Havana Grey (GB) filly is a full-sister to four-time winner Secret Guest (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) from the family of G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Gilt Edge Girl (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}). She was picked up for 80,000gns out of the Tattersalls...

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. Saturday's Observations features the return of a multiple group-placed son of Justify. 15.30 Chelmsford, Cond, £100,000, 3yo, 8f (AWT) CAPULET (IRE) (Justify) is a big draw for Chelmsford in this Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes which acts as part of the "Road To The Kentucky Derby" series. Runner-up in...

The flooded fields that line the approach to Spigot Lodge might suggest differently, but spring has finally arrived in Middleham and that can only mean one thing in these parts. On Good Friday, as tradition dictates, a handful of the town's racing stables will invite the public in for a look behind the scenes as part of the annual Middleham Open Day, organised by Racing Welfare. Spigot Lodge promises to be the first port of call for many visitors, with trainer Karl Burke expecting to welcome between 200-300 people during...

   Juddmonte stallions Frankel (GB) and Kingman (GB) have been announced as the big winners in the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA)'s annual Flat statistical-based awards. The awards take into account British and Irish statistics for British-based stallions for 2023. Frankel took the BBA Silver Cigar Box for the second time in three years as Britain's leading sire by total earnings in 2023 with £7,143,651. Frankel, who was crowned champion sire in Britain and Ireland, sired 11 individual Group 1 winners in 2023, with his notable runners on home soil including...