John Gosden

The Oppenheimer Family's Hascombe and Valiant Studs has bred the winners of each of the British Classics bar one, and next Saturday it has an opportunity to complete the collection with Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Investec Oaks. Kicking things off in 1982 was On The House (Fr) (Be My Guest), who was campaigned by Anthony Oppenheimer's father Sir Philip Oppenheimer and won the G1 1000 Guineas. The family also bred the G1 2000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand (GB) and G1 St Leger winner Harbour Law (GB), who...

For the past few years, we have celebrated the highs and sometimes lows, of the Royal Ascot meet with A Tip of the Top Hat awards. Originally over these five days, we presented `The Down the Stretch' awards, but the homestretch at Ascot is a gradual uphill tussle. I think it is much harder for a thoroughbred to pull, to dig down deep on the incline in the final three furlongs. Very trying and tiring. Thus, the Up The Stretch Awards. Here are the 2020 STRECHIE winners. The winner of...

There was a twist to Friday's G2 Hardwicke S., as the 4-year-old filly Fanny Logan (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) rolled back the years as a Frankie Dettori-ridden Royal Ascot winner in Sheikh Mohammed's vintage maroon-and-white silks. Building on a comeback second in Haydock's G3 Pinnacle S. over this mile-and-a-half trip last time June 7, last year's G3 Darley Pride S. scorer who campaigns under the Sheikha Al Jalila Racing banner was reserved in rear early off the honest tempo. Launched wide in the straight, the 17-2 shot struck the...

Soft ground? No worries. If anything, that extra dimension only served to exaggerate the superiority of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) as Bjorn Nielsen's chestnut entered immortality with an emphatic third G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Joining Sagaro (GB) and now only one off Yeats (Ire) with his awe-inspiring tally, the 4-5 favourite was always well within his comfort zone sauntering around this part of Berkshire that he has made his own. Switched off in his customary mid-division pitch throughout the early stages, he was lightly squeezed into...

With Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in her box at Clarehaven, John Gosden could have been forgiven for giving up on the 2020 G1 Prince of Wales's S. but instead he unleashed a secret weapon in the hugely-progressive Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and duly collected regardless. Despite the striking manner of his success in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Haydock just 10 days previously, it was still a surprise to see that his trainer believed he was worthy of being pitched in at this level and now we know...

With Ballydoyle off the mark at the 2020 Royal Ascot meeting, Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) bids to continue the momentum on Wednesday in a fascinating renewal of the G1 Prince of Wales's S. Impressive in the G2 King Edward VII S. over 12 furlongs at this meeting 12 months ago, having been third in the G1 Epsom Derby following an interrupted preparation, the bay enjoyed a fruitful campaign thereafter when taking the G1 Grand Prix de Paris in July and York's G1 Juddmonte International in August. Fourth in a vintage...

Capping an amazing opening day for Shadwell and Jim Crowley, Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) completed a notable treble with a hard-fought victory in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. Also providing John Gosden with a double on the day, the impressive June 3 Listed Snowdrop Fillies' S. winner confirmed her continuing upward mobility arriving from mid-division to wear down Agincourt (Ire) (Declaration of War) in the final 100 yards and score by a head, with 2 1/2 lengths back to Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal) in third. While this year's...

It's Royal Ascot once again, but not as we know it. No crowds, no fashion, no Queen. It is a case of "Royal Ascot At Home" for virtually everybody this year, even for the main players whose money makes it all possible. That said, at least there is still Frankie, Aidan O'Brien, Wesley Ward, Sir Michael Stoute and Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and all the other working equine and human cast and crew that make this week so special. One of Britain's most brilliant racehorses of recent years, Battaash...

The G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown remains the most likely comeback target for superstar mare Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). The two-time G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine was just denied in her bid for an historic third consecutive victory in the ParisLongchamp showpiece at the end of last season. Less than a fortnight later, Enable's owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah delighted racing fans by confirming his charge would stay in training as a 6-year-old--with a return to Paris in the autumn top of the agenda. Connections decided against an appearance at Royal...

John Gosden again has a now-customary clutch of high-class prospects among his 3-year-old fillies in 2020 and Juddmonte's Franconia (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was the latest to join in when winning Saturdays Listed Abingdon Fillies' S. at Newbury in the style of a ready-made Oaks contender. Sent off the 7-4 favourite despite having only finished second in a seven-furlong novice at Chelmsford in November, the homebred travelled strongly in a share of third off the honest pace and when sent to the front passing the two-furlong pole by Frankie Dettori drew...

It took a while for the penny to drop, but when it did Prince Faisal's homebred Seventh Kingdom (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was a class above going a shade over seven furlongs in Saturday's Betway Novice S. at Doncaster, earning a TDN Rising Star tag with a daylight triumph. He was caught napping at the break, but recovered to track the leaders in third after the initial strides. Niggled along to keep his mind on the task at hand from halfway, the well-backed 6-5 favourite swooped for control passing the quarter-mile...

The Royal Ascot Preview Evening, a live digital programme at 7:30 p.m. on June 11, was announced by Racing Welfare in association with Sporting Life on Monday. The event will be hosted by Racing TV's Nick Luck and feature panelists including: champion trainer John Gosden, Racing TV presenter Lydia Hislop, Sporting Life Lead Tipster Ben Linfoot and Sky Bet/Sporting Life Head of Sports PR Michael Shinners, who will be monitoring the betting market throughout the night. The panel will each be given £100 charity bets courtesy of the sponsor with...