Horizon Dore (Fr)

Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) will be given the chance to gain compensation for his "nightmare" run in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes when he makes his next intended appearance in the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, a race in which he filled the runner-up spot behind Paddington (GB) in 2023. Trainer Jerome Reynier was optimistic of a prominent showing at Royal Ascot from his stable star, who was having his first start since winning the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in March. In the event, however, Facteur Cheval never...

Granted the ideal conditions of fast ground and a true pace to run at, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}--Rhododendron {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) carved a landmark 400th group 1 success for Aidan O'Brien as he became the first Derby hero to come back and win at Royal Ascot since Royal Palace (GB) in 1968. Unique in his achievement in that he was augmenting his Blue Riband triumph with this feature prize in its current guise as a group 1, Ballydoyle's ground-breaking colt put any doubts that he was yesterday's...

Wednesday's Royal Ascot cards were finalised on Monday, with the feature G1 Prince of Wales's S. made up of 10 runners but not, as expected, White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}). The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner's absence is one less obstacle for Ballydoyle's star colt of 2023, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), with Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Yeguada Centurion's Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) looking the chief threats to the Ballydoyle runner. Blue Rose Cen is joined by compatriots Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}),...

Showing that she is now a regular presence in the top strata, Baron Edouard De Rothschild's Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Penne {Fr}, by Sevres Rose {Ire}) battled to a third top-level victory in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix d'Ispahan on Sunday. Needing all of the unique nine furlongs and 55 yards to get to Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), last year's G1 Prix Rothschild and G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner enjoyed the perfect tow under cover from Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and benefitted from a typically nerveless Alexis Pouchin...

Ascot is really where it all began for Frankie Dettori and after Saturday's opening salvo of QIPCO Champions Day it looked to have already given that farewell gift, but there was one final blessing to be bestowed on its favourite son as Amo Racing's King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Eldacar {GB}, by Verglas {Ire}) prevailed in the G1 QIPCO Champion S., a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. As deep into the feature 10-furlong contest as the final 100 yards, the glorious sign-off looked unlikely to...

As if conjuring the renowned Babet as a personal Tempest for his [probable] European goodbye, racing's true Duke of Milan rides back into his beloved Ascot on Saturday as the eye of the storm for a suitably dramatic instalment of the Qipco Champions Day. While this fixture has fast become a resounding success, despite its mid-October nook being that bit too far into the wet season to deliver a fair playing field, it always needs at least one dynamo per year to power it into the headlines. Officials are lucky...

Storm Babet has decided the final shape of the fields for Saturday's Qipco Champions Day fixture, with the softening ground ruling Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) out of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and making up Aidan O'Brien's mind as to where to point Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). That four-times group 1 winner takes up his engagement in the QEII, leaving a total of nine to take part in the G1 Qipco Champion S. Heading the list for the 10-furlong highlight is last year's winner Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay...

Patrice Cottier trainee Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}--Sweet Alabama {Fr}, by Enrique {GB}), who prevailed in July's G2 Prix Eugene Adam, doubled his pattern-race tally when snagging this month's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at ParisLongchamp and secured a fourth straight success when returning to the Bois de Boulogne venue for a taking victory Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Dollar. Unhurried and settled back in the field to race several lengths off the clear leader Jack Darcy (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in seventh until turning for home, the 7-10 favourite made eyecatching...

June's Listed Prix Ridgway victor Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}--Sweet Alabama {Fr}, by Enrique {GB}) followed up that second black-type victory with a personal best in July's G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud and added lustre to his palmares with an impressive triumph in Sunday's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at ParisLongchamp. Employing patient tactics several lengths off the tempo for the most part, the 3-5 favourite made effortless headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge with 300 metres remaining and powered clear once quickening to the fore...

   With no Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lurking in Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, the way is clear for Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) to bag that elite contest that his portfolio demands. Having met his match in Ace Impact (Ire) in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, Yeguada Centurion SL's G3 Prix de Guiche and G3 Prix la Force winner came up short against Cheveley Park Stud's high-class filly in Deauville's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois last month but that form...

Impressive in the Listed Prix Ridgway at ParisLongchamp last month, having chased home Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in Chantilly's G3 Prix de Guiche, the Patrice Cottier-trained Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) showed what he is made of in Saturday's G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud. Sitting off the early pace set by Knight To King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), the even-money favourite who sports the Gousserie yellow-and-green brushed the Dermot Weld challenger aside with a 10.51 split from the two to the one and surged to an emphatic...

If there was any doubt who was the Cock Of The North among the French 3-year-old middle-distance colts heading into Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche, Yeguada Centurion's Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}--Hardiyna {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) provided the emphatic answer with a dominant display at a rain-soaked Chantilly. Compared to Frankel (GB) by the commentary team of Racing Galop afterwards, the homebred first foal out of the owner-breeder's €72,000 Goffs November purchase from The Aga Khan's draft was more Old Vic (GB) as he sliced through...