Malcolm Bastard

It's early-February and already the Flat enthusiasts are getting excited about what stallion will end the season as champion first-season sire. A futile exercise, one would have thought? Not a bit of it. Even the greatest handlers of young stock, Malcolm Bastard, Alan McCabe, Joseph O'Brien, Conor Hoban and Dick Brabazon, men who know better than most the folly that comes with predicting 2-year-old talent, are keen to have their say on which up-and-coming stallion can make the biggest splash this season.  O'Brien is sticking loyal to Ten Sovereigns (Ire)...

Godolphin's Arqana Breeze-Up@Doncaster £675,000 sale topper Chancellery (Ire) (Medaglia d'Oro) was all the rage for Thursday's Prix de Fontenoy at ParisLongchamp and justified odds-on favouritism in the one-mile newcomers' test to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status with an impressive debut performance. The 7-10 pick shuffled for early positioning and found a slot stalking the pace in second by halfway. Looming large on the bridle approaching the quarter-mile marker, he was comfortably on top with 250 metres remaining and powered clear under minimal coaxing before gearing down to easily outclass Woozle...

NEWMARKET, UK—The first British breeze-up sale will be staged in Newmarket on Thursday when the curtain rises on the Tattersalls Craven Sale, which will be swiftly followed that same afternoon by the Tattersalls Ascot Breeze-up. Horses catalogued for both sales breezed on the Rowley Mile on Monday and extended, staggered viewing periods have been in operation at Park Paddocks over the last few days to allow agents, trainers and other prospective purchasers ample time for inspections within the confines of social distancing. Earlier in the week Prime Minister Boris Johnson...