Kodiac

Back in April, when major sporting events across the world were being cancelled left, right and centre, the management team at the Queen's racecourse took the decision that, if racing had resumed in time, Royal Ascot would go ahead behind closed doors. The announcement was met with incredulity in some quarters, particularly by those keen to blame the spread of coronavirus on the Cheltenham Festival, but thank goodness Ascot stuck to its resolve to go ahead, even in extraordinary circumstances. Of course the meeting lost some of its lustre, just...

Coming of age when winning the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup in September, Haras d'Etreham and Cambridge Stud's Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) sprung back into action with some gusto as he battled to victory in a thrilling G1 Diamond Jubilee S. under Kevin Stott on Royal Ascot's Saturday bonanza. Breaking rapidly before gradually making his way to the stand's side, the 4-1 second favourite had to work to subdue Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the last 75 yards and found the line as the strong-closing Dream of Dreams...

There was a piece of history made in the G2 Coventry S., as Clive Cox and Adam Kirby united to land the spoils with Nando Parrado (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) who at a stunning 150-1 is the longest-priced winner in the modern era at Royal Ascot. While his price was probably hugely inflated given that virtually every one of the 2-year-olds in this line-up was an unknown quantity in this irregular season, Marie McCartan's bay had not exactly shone when fifth on debut over this trip at Newmarket June 4. Always...

Providing Wesley Ward with that much sought-after Royal winner on the final day, Stonestreet Stables' Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) delivered a fourth renewal of the G2 Queen Mary S. for the meeting's most frequent flyer. Despite the potential poisoned chalice of stall one, the 9-2 second favourite was kept wide on the far flank by Frankie Dettori with her rider keen to have a target to aim at. Arriving at the fore alongside the smoother-travelling Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) heading to the final furlong, she had that bit...

2nd-Gulfstream, $42,000, Msw, 5-31, 2yo, 5fT, :55.66, fm. CAMPANELLE (IRE) (f, 2, Kodiac {GB}--Janina {GB} {SW-Eng}, by Namid {GB}), a 190,000gns TATOCT yearling, was sent off the 2-1 second choice in this unveiling. The bay filly broke alertly and grabbed the early lead. Pressed by stablemate and 8-5 favorite Royal Approval (Tiznow) through an opening quarter in :22.24, she scampered clear into the stretch and came home a 3 1/2-length winner. Royal Approval came home second, 9 1/2 lengths in front of longshot C.P.A Genius (Anthony's Cross). "Both horses early...

The first of two sessions of the Hong Kong International Sale took place Saturday morning in the parade ring at Sha Tin Racecourse, having been postponed from Hong Kong Derby weekend in mid-March owing to the COVID-19 outbreak. Some 16 lots, purchased in Europe and South America, were scheduled to go under the hammer before five withdrawals earlier in the week left 11 ready-to-run gallopers to be offered. Owner Kerm Din, who campaigned one of the HKIS's most notable graduates in the form of 'TDN Rising Star' and MG1SW Pakistan...

The former Irish handicapper Port Lions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) has enjoyed a new lease on life since being purchased privately and expatriated to Bahrain last fall, and he ran his win streak to six with a last-gasp victory over the G1 Nassau S. winner and heavy favourite Dierdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) in the 2100 metre Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup, the opening race of the Saudi Cup Card on Saturday. Port Lions has indeed been all over the map in his five years; a €220,000 yearling, he started out with...