Leicester Racecourse

Sir Michael Stoute, who announced his impending retirement earlier in the day, was very much in business-as-usual mode as 'TDN Rising Star' Formal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--Veracious {GB}, by Frankel {GB}) added to her impressive debut success at Newbury in July with an equally taking 2 1/2-length tally in Tuesday's British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Leicester. 3rd-Leicester, £9,000, Nov, 9-10, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:29.82, sf. FORMAL (GB) (f, 2, Dubawi {Ire}--Veracious {GB} {G1SW-Eng, $597,607}, by Frankel {GB}), who attained 'TDN Rising Star' status in her July 25 debut over this...

Ralph Beckett trainee Matauri Bay (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Matauri Pearl {Ire}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) a 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Aunt Pearl (Ire), made a winning debut in Sunday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes at Leicester. The May-foaled bay, let go as the 2-1 favourite, registered a 1 1/2-length success from Shah (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the straight seven-furlong contest. 2nd-Leicester, £9,000, Nov, 8-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.77, g/f. MATAURI BAY (IRE) (c, 2, Lope De Vega...

Irish National Stud resident Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when Spanish Phoenix (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}--Freedom March {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) graduated at the second time of asking in Saturday's £8,000 Atlantic Pale Ale Maiden S. over five furlongs at Leicester. The even-money favourite, who ran fourth in his Apr. 10 debut at Kempton, raced on the front end after a slick getaway and extended clear under mild urging once shaken up approaching the final...

Sir Michael Stoute trainee Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Bint Almatar, by Kingmambo) registered a first win for His Majesty King Charles III when defeating eight rivals by 4 1/2 lengths, and more, in Tuesday's Kube Leicester's Premier Event Hire Venue Handicap at Leicester. The Godolphin-bred 4-year-old gelding, sent postward as the 10-3 second favourite for the 10-furlong contest, came from off the pace under Ryan Moore to lead approaching the final furlong and lengthened clear in the closing stages to defeat Sea The Casper (Ire) (Sea The Stars...

Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when Lion of War (GB) notched a debut win in Saturday's British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Maiden S. over seven furlongs at Leicester. 1st-Leicester, £7,000, Mdn, 6-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.36, g/f. LION OF WAR (GB) (c, 2, Roaring Lion--Momentus {Ire} {SP-Eng}, by Montjeu {Ire}) raced off the pace in ninth through the early fractions of this debut. Tanking forward from halfway, the 7-2 chance seized control approaching the final furlong and was ridden out in the closing...

Banstead Manor Stud's first-crop sire Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) notched his first winner when the Ralph Beckett-trained debutant Sunny Orange (Ire) raced to an ultimately snug victory in Saturday's Madri Excepcional Maiden S. over five furlongs at Leicester. Juddmonte's 70,000gns Tattersalls December Foals acquisition went postward as the well-backed 2-1 second choice for the straight dash and was well away from an outer gate to track the leaders in fifth through the initial fractions. Making smooth headway from halfway, he was ridden to launch his challenge approaching the final...

Michael Tabor's Star Seeking (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) played the diva role during an elaborate loading process for Monday's British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice S. at Leicester and justified joint-favouritism with an impressive perfomance in the straight seven-furlong test to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. Boxed up separately to rider William Buick, the 3-1 chance was a keen fifth through the early strides until settling into a smooth rhythm behind the leaders. Inching closer once beyond halfway, she seized control approaching the final furlong and quickened clear in...

Leicester Racecourse's planned fixture on July 7 will go ahead following consultation with relevant authorities after a COVID-19 spike prompted increased lockdown measures in the area earlier this week. The area lockdown has reinstated restrictions to what they were on June 14, at which point racing was permitted under strict guidelines. Owners will not be permitted at Leicester on July 7. The British Horseracing Authority has liaised with Racetech to ensure stalls handlers will be available for the fixture; Tuesday evening's meeting at Leicester was conducted without starting stalls. A...

Despite the city of Leicester's return to lockdown following a spike of COVID-19 cases, Tuesday evening's meeting at Leicester Racecourse has been permitted after consultation between local health authorities and the British Horseracing Authority. After almost 1,000 new cases in the past fortnight were reported in the city, all non-essential businesses, as well as schools, have once again been forced to close. The planned nationwide lifting of restrictions from July 4 will have to stay in place in Leicester until July 18 at the earliest. The BHA tweeted: "Following confirmation...