John and Thady Gosden

With Royal Ascot looming large on the horizon, and racing about to switch from Newmarket's Rowley Mile to the July Course, John and Thady Gosden and Charlie Appleby took advantage of the latter for racecourse gallops for some of their Ascot runners on Tuesday morning.  Cheveley Park Stud's homebred Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was out first under Frankie Dettori ahead of what will be her first start since QIPCO British Champions Day last October. The treble Group 1 winner is heading to the G1 Queen Anne S. on the opening...

Impressive when off the mark by 4 3/4 lengths on debut at Haydock last month, Shadwell's Al Asifah (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Aneen {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) was prompting Classic talk after making light work of her first black-type test in Sunday's Listed Weatherbys Digital Solutions British EBF Agnes Keyser Fillies' S. at Goodwood. Not missed in the market as the 4-7 favourite for the 10-furlong contest, the John and Thady Gosden-trained relative of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas-winning sire Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) was settled a few lengths off the...

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 an auction star by Dubawi (Ire). 20.25 Haydock, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 6f 212yT ANCIENT WISDOM (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) caused a stir at last year's Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale when selling for €2 million and ending the auction as the second-highest-priced lot. Charlie Appleby has charge...

John and Thady Gosden had the misfortune of losing Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion) from the start of Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks as David Howden's charge backed out of the stalls and got loose, but the Clarehaven duo ultimately came up trumps as Lady Bamford's G3 Musidora S. winner Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) triumphed in style. Reserved in rear early by a Frankie Dettori in rare form even by his exalted standards, the 11-4 second favourite swooped on the 5-6 favourite Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and 40-1 shot Caernarfon...

So unlucky in the Oaks 12 months ago, TDN Rising Star Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) made amends back at Epsom on Friday with a command performance under Frankie Dettori in the G1 Dahlbury Coronation Cup. Sent off the 11-4 second favourite, the 4-year-old had the benefit of an extra year to fill her sizeable frame and added advantage of the mares' allowance in this 12-furlong highlight which may have made a crucial difference as Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) chased her to the line 1 3/4 lengths in...

Following in the steps of Lionel (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) 12 months ago, Normandie Stud's homebred Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) emulated that half-brother's success in Goodwood's Listed British EBF 40th Anniversary Cocked Hat S. on Friday. Heavily-supported into 4-7 favouritism having brushed aside decent yardsticks on debut over nearly 12 furlongs at Haydock in April, the John and Thady Gosden-trained bay raced behind the leading duo early. Notably unhappy on the unique terrain four out, he nevertheless kept responding to Rob Havlin's urgings to get on top passing...

Epsom Downs saw G1 Betfred Derby and Oaks hopefuls going through their paces Monday with Frankie Dettori partnering Juddmonte's Arrest (Ire), a homebred son of Frankel (GB), over just short of a mile at The Derby Festival Gallops Morning. Now in his final year in the saddle, Dettori likes his chances in the 244th running of the premier Classic over a mile and a half to be run on Saturday, June 3. "I have been fortunate enough to win The Derby twice and it is still the most famous race...

Shadwell already knew they had a special broodmare in Handassa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) before Friday, but the dam of Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is looking like a genuine goldmine after her 3-year-old colt Mostabshir (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) seized his TDN Rising Star badge at York. Pitched tellingly by John and Thady Gosden into the G3 Craven S. off the back of an impressive debut win at Kempton in November, the grey had finished failed to light any fires when fifth in Newmarket's leading...

George Strawbridge's 5-year-old mare Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Alive Alive Oh {GB}, by Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), seen out just once since 2021, was fit and raring to go for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York and collected a fourth straight pattern-race rosette with a narrow victory in the extended 10-furlong contest. The April-foaled bay, whose resume also features wins in the G3 Prix Minerve, G2 Park Hill S. and G2 Lancashire Oaks, was settled off a sedate pace in sixth until turning for home....

Allowed to start at 18-1 for York's G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. on Wednesday, Lady Bamford's Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Dream Peace {Ire}, by Dansili {GB}) threw her hat into the ring for the Oaks with a dominant display under Frankie Dettori. Ignored due to her tame effort when last in the seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. on testing ground at Newbury last month, the homebred travelled best of all with two behind early on ground without give for the first time. As TDN Rising Stars Infinite Cosmos (Ire) (Sea The...

18.45, Sandown, Listed, £50,000, 3yo, 8fT SLIPOFTHEPEN (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) takes in the Listed Heron S. which the John and Thady Gosden stable have employed for their G1 St James's Palace S. contenders in recent times. Successful in the former Easter S. at Kempton last month, The King and Queen's relative of the Oaks runner-up Flight Of Fancy (GB) (Sadler's Wells) looks likely to extend his unbeaten record and book his Royal Ascot ticket with just three relatively exposed rivals in opposition.

Swordlestown Little's Mariann Klay, who along with her husband Des Leadon bred the impressive G3 Chester Vase winner and new Derby favourite Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), says that soft ground will be key to the Juddmonte colt's Epsom challenge.  Arrest, trained by John and Thady Gosden, shot to the head of the Derby market after sluicing up in his favoured testing ground at Chester on Wednesday.  That prompted bookmakers to propel Arrest to Derby favouritism at odds of 6-1, usurping 2,000 Guineas disappointment Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Klay...