Mickael Barzalona

Impressive in the Listed Prix Ridgway at ParisLongchamp last month, having chased home Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in Chantilly's G3 Prix de Guiche, the Patrice Cottier-trained Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) showed what he is made of in Saturday's G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud. Sitting off the early pace set by Knight To King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), the even-money favourite who sports the Gousserie yellow-and-green brushed the Dermot Weld challenger aside with a 10.51 split from the two to the one and surged to an emphatic...

Darley's first-crop sire Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) became Europe's latest freshman off the mark when Godolphin's homebred juvenile Will Scarlet (GB) eased to a smooth victory in Thursday's €34,000 Prix du Bassin Parisien over seven furlongs at ParisLongchamp. 1st-ParisLongchamp, €34,000, Cond, 6-15, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.60, gd. WILL SCARLET (GB) (c, 2, Masar {Ire}--Lady Marian {Ger} {G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ger, $546,566}, by Nayef), a May 25 debut runner-up tackling 6 1/2 furlongs at this venue last time, recovered from a sluggish getaway to stalk the tempo in a handy third...

There was a surprise in store in Sunday's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains as Jaber Abdullah's Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}--Danega {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) edged out Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) to provide his owner-breeder and trainer Andreas Schutz with a red-letter day at ParisLongchamp. Sitting handy in fourth early under Mickael Barzalona, the relative of Galileo's luminary Soldier Of Fortune (Ire) who was second to American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau last month surrendered first run to...

Godolphin's Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}--Fair Daughter {GB}, by Nathaniel {Ire}), who hit the board in last term's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, took care of business in Saint-Cloud's G3 Prix Edmond Blanc on seasonal return last month and revisited the Parisian venue to dominate Monday's G2 Prix du Muguet. The 27-10 second choice broke smartly from the inside stall to gain early control and held a two-length advantage into the home straight. Untroubled throughout, he was shaken up with 300 metres remaining and ridden out inside the final furlong to...

Coolmore's first-season sire Magna Grecia (Ire) (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) proved an instant hit in 2023 as his first runner Myconian (Ire) captured Saint-Cloud's 4 1/2-furlong Prix du Debut on Thursday. Always prominent under Mickael Barzalona, the Amy Murphy-trained son of the Listed Tipperary S. winner and G3 Curragh S. third Sirici (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) who traded as the 19-5 favourite outbattled The Fixer (Ire) (No Nay Never) inside the final 50 metres for a gutsy 3/4-of-a-length success. The dam hails from the family of the dual listed-winning sprinter Dazed And...

Ballymore Thoroughbred Racing's undefeated 3-year-old filly Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Painter's Pride {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) delivered a spectacular winning debut last month, attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status with a four-length tally atop Chantilly's all-weather surface, and made a smooth transition into black-type company with an impressive pillar-to-post victory on the turf in Thursday's Listed Prix Rose de Mai at Saint-Cloud. The 1-2 favourite broke smartly and held sway throughout the 10-furlong contest. Unflustered and dominating into the straight, she was allowed an inch of rein soon after passing...

Coolmore and Westerberg's dual Group 1-placed 4-year-old colt Ancient Rome (War Front--Gagnoa {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells) returns off a ninth in June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club when last seen and registers a stylish comeback win at Chantilly in his first start for over nine months. 6th-Chantilly, €18,000, Cond, 3-7, 4yo, 9f (AWT), 1:50.78, st. ANCIENT ROME (c, 4, War Front--Gagnoa {Ire} {MGSW & MG1SP-Fr, G1SP-Ire, $597,492}, by Sadler's Wells) snagged the G3 Prix des Chenes and placed in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International as a...

Andre Fabre's team has hit the ground running as winter slowly transitions to spring and the veteran maestro unleashed G1 Prix de Diane entry Algolia (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Viva Rafaela {Brz}, by Know Heights {Ire}) to claim 'TDN Rising Stardom' with a scintillating performance in Tuesday's Prix du Soissonnais over one mile at Chantilly. Her victory was the middle leg of a Fabre hat-trick on the card, the trainer also successful with the dual Group 1-placed Ancient Rome (War Front) coming back off a nine-month break and capping a...

Having celebrated a maiden-breaking victory in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial over seven furlongs Dec. 23, MIMI KAKUSHI (f, 3, City of Light--Rite Moment, by Vicar) ran out a convincing 4 1/2-length winner of Friday's $150,000 Listed UAE 1000 Guineas at Meydan. The bay, fourth in her first two trips to the races over sprint distances in November and early December, jumped well enough for Mickael Barzalona, but was beaten for speed by Awasef (Cairo Prince) to the outside and was ultimately eased back and into the two path to...

First job in the Thoroughbred industry? Actually, my first job in the Thoroughbred industry is my current one, manager of our racing operation. Biggest influence on your career? Without hesitation, my dad from the beginning. I have a very high regard for him, and for what he has done. He is a self-made man. Favourite racehorse of all time, and why? Miesque, she had everything. A magnificent racehorse with a sturdy character, and in addition, she was a wonderful mare. Who will be champion first-season sire in 2023? Ten Sovereigns....

Coronavirus dictated that it wasn't exactly business at usual at Happy Valley Racecourse for the staging of Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship. But there was a return to at least some semblance of normalcy, as a crowd of about 11,000 fans filed into the stands and into the beer garden to watch Silvestre de Sousa finish level with Tom Marquand to cause a dead heat for just the third time in the history of the event. The duo shared HK$700,000 (£73,544) in prize money. COVID-19 had already resulted original IJC...

Philippe Sogorb trainee Fancy Me (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}--Besotted {Ire}, by Dutch Art {GB}), who ran fourth in July's Listed Criterium du Bequet at Tarbes, posted a runner-up finish in a seven-furlong conditions heat at Toulouse last month and stepped forward to claim a career high upped to one mile in Tuesday's G3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville. The 93-10 chance raced second through the early strides, but was shuffled back to track the leaders in fourth by halfway. Rowed along to reduced arrears off the home turn, she regained second...