Jeremy Brummitt

With €20,000, you could buy a full ISA top-up, a good second-hand car or a fancy kitchen. Or you might spend it on a filly capable of beating the illustrious Inspiral in a Group 1 race at Newmarket. If only it were so simple. On any Arc weekend, the focus is on the mighty breeding operations, the big spenders, the most famous silks. And while Bluestocking's win at Longchamp restated Juddmonte's eternal excellence at the elite end of the bloodstock game, the victory of another filly 24 hours earlier in the...

The sales action rolls on to Baden-Baden this Friday for Germany's major yearling auction, the BBAG September Sale. If the talk in the build-up is to be believed then there will be more overseas visitors than ever landing at Karlsruhe airport to make the short journey to the sales grounds and its neighbouring racecourse during a lively week of action in both spheres. They surely can't all be going solely for the excellent eve-of-sale barbecue, featuring the traditional jumbo bratwurst and Elvis impersonator. Far more important than that fun night...

David Menuisier, fresh off the Group 1 victory of Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in this week's Criterium International, remains on the crest of a wave and, having combined with Marie Velon to snag the Chantilly undercard's Listed Prix Isonomy earlier on Friday, legged up the rider once more to complete an afternoon black-type double with Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}--Tres Magnifique {Fr}, by Zoffany {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Miesque. The March-foaled bay hit the board going an extended seven furlongs at Ffos Las in her Sept. 14 debut and...

DEAUVILLE, France--The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trophy, a pared-down replica of Paris's mighty monument, was in residence at the Arqana restaurant, where diners were treated to a complimentary glass of champagne courtesy of the owners of Ace Impact (Fr), Serge Stempniak and Kamel Chehboub. Some of us had work to do, however, and a solid opening day of Arqana's October Yearling Sale had more than a little fizz about it here and there.  Frankel (GB) may rule at Tattersalls, but in Deauville we are in the court of France's...

First job in the Thoroughbred industry? Pupil assistant to Robert Baker at Manton. I did pretty much everything from laundry to mole catching. Not very well, but at least I got a workable mark. Biggest influence on your career? David Whiteley. He was meticulous and everything he did had a specific reason. Favourite racehorse of all time, and why? Montjeu. I cannot think of another that was on the bit at the distance in a Group 1 race. He was the most athletic mover and managed to pass it on...

There were days when we were drumming our fingers on our at-home desks or dining tables wondering what on earth to write about for tomorrow. But now that the shock of racing's shutdown has been completely erased by the return, finally, of racing in Ireland to complete a European full set, the panic is not what to write but how on earth to keep up with it all. No complaints here. The last few weeks since the French return in mid-May and Britain just over a week ago have provided...

The extended hiatus in the Thoroughbred business is forcing changes to the accepted calendar and offers the opportunity to make others. The extent of the issues to be resolved will be uncertain for some time, but there are two inevitable challenges to be faced: depression of the economy will reduce demand at the sales and there will be a loss of income for racing owing to reduced betting activity. There is one change to the sales schedule which would be constructive in the long term and pragmatic in the short:...

The state of lockdown has given a decent boost to TV viewing figures in Australia, where racing has been allowed to continue behind closed doors. The major feature this week is the Warrnambool May Carnival, which is perhaps best described as Victoria's answer to the Galway Festival, with its mixture of Flat and jumping action and, in a normal year, huge crowds. It's quieter at 'The Bool' this year but there are a few familiar names among the entries for anyone tuning in from this part of the world. In...

It Comes Up Mud (Damon Runyon), Educated Evans (Edgar Wallace) and Neck or Nothing (John Welcome) It Comes Up Mud has a blend of characters and emotions familiar to most racetrackers. It should be on the undergraduate syllabus for both English and Psychology. I read it when I was young and it left me with a healthy distrust of women who neither bet, nor own a horse, and a lifelong affection for horses who do not let you down when the going turns soft. I also find the Educated Evans...