Nashwa

After knocking on the door so many times--finishing second or third in four Group 1 events in his four most recent starts--Team Valor and Gary Barber's Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}--Jawlaat {Ire}, by Shamardal) got one of his own in an ultra-competitive renewal of the $5-million G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday. Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the Dubai Turf the last three years and seeking an historic four-peat, broke a bit awkwardly, but despite recovering quickly, finished off the board. The U.S. hope Catnip (Kitten's...

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- Headed by the first appearance from the seven World Cup night horses from the yard of Aidan O'Brien, there was a buzz of activity on both the dirt track and turf course Tuesday morning at Meydan proper as well as back on the Tapeta track a couple of furlongs down the road. The Ballydoyle septet slowly ambled out of the tunnel near the 1600-metre starting point on the the dirt surface, led by G3 Red Sea Turf H. hero Tower of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire},...

We may bemoan the fact that Flat horses come and go in what feels like the blink of an eye, but this season we are fortunate to be welcoming back not just the Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) but the four best fillies and mares in the world last year: Liberty Island (Jpn), Inspiral (GB), Emily Upjohn (GB) and Nashwa (GB). The last three named are all trained at John and Thady Gosden's Clarehaven Stables and both Emily Upjohn and Nashwa will make their return to the track next weekend...

Five returning champions and one previous champion highlight the prospective fields for the Dubai World Cup meeting to be held at sprawling Meydan Racecourse in Dubai Saturday, Mar. 30. The connections of 106 horses from no fewer than 12 racing jurisdictions have accepted invitations to the eight Thoroughbred races on a $30.5-million program that begins with the $1-million Dubai Kahayla Classic for the Purebred Arabians and concludes with the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup. The main event has attracted a field of 15 that is led by its defending champion...

Top-class older filly Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is being readied to make her seasonal return in the Dubai Turf at Meydan next month.  Winner of the French Oaks and the Nassau S. as a three-year-old in 2022, the John and Thady Gosden-trained mare notched a third Group 1 win in last season's Falmouth S. at Newmarket, as well as being placed in the Nassau, the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion S. She was well-beaten on her final start of the year in the Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot,...

Hollie Doyle has returned to her home country after a successful two-month stint in Japan, where she rode 13 winners from 101 mounts. The arrival of the new year means one thing: the number of winners was dialled back to zero, and the hard work behind the scenes begins again. As someone who doesn't crave the limelight, Doyle is modest, reserved, and always the ultimate professional. It is fair to say that acknowledging her success doesn't come naturally, but since 2019 she has ridden more than 100 winners in each...

NEWMARKET, UK--Whether up top or down below, the consignors at Park Paddocks all agree that the major redevelopment work that has been carried out by Tattersalls over the last few years has been a huge boost. The extended yards of R, S and T in the Somerville Paddock seem to have almost doubled in size during the levelling-up process, with extra rubber runways making the business of showing and viewing horses that bit easier. Gerry Meehan, the yearling manager of Blue Diamond Stud, is delighted with the position for his...

Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud is the new owner of Stonereath Farm in Kentucky in a purchase which "underlines the intention of the stud to compete on the world stage". The Kuwaiti-born owner-breeder of Group 1 winners Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) has a burgeoning involvement in racing and breeding in North America, where his Blue Diamond Stud has been represented this season by the homebred Wonderful Justice (Justify), winner of the Black Gold S. at Fair Grounds. The 3-year-old colt is trained by...

We've a while to wait before any firm conclusions can be drawn about this year's crop of first-season stallions, though Darley's Blue Point (Ire) and Ballyhane Stud's Soldier's Call (GB) are pulling ever clearer in what has developed into something of a duel at the half-way stage of the Flat season. In the Coolmore camp, Calyx (GB) was the first to strike with a group winner when Persian Dreamer won Friday's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S.  As an aside, one wonders how much the clamour to run two-year-olds at Royal...

Beaten but unbowed. That is the mood in the Gosden camp after dual Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) suffered a surprise defeat on the all-weather at Newcastle on Friday. The four-year-old is reported to have come out of the race in good shape, however, and Gosden is hoping the real Nashwa can show up as the season progresses.  "I wasn't too unhappy with her. She will be fine. She is taking her time to come to herself. A lot of fillies can take time," John Gosden said. He...

Top jockey Hollie Doyle, who has been recovering from an elbow injury suffered in a fall at Wolverhampton on Jan. 17, is set to make her return to the saddle on Friday at Newcastle after over two months on the sidelines. The 26-year-old rider will pilot the Archie Watson-trained Rhythm N Hooves (GB) (Pearl Secret {GB}) at Newcastle, while her weekend rides at Doncaster include Richard Spencer's Revich (Ire) (Requinto {Ire}) in the Lincoln, and Wilderness Girl (Ire) (No Nay Never), trained by Adrian Nicholls, in the Cammidge Trophy. The...

With two of the Blue Diamond Stud broodmares having produced European Classic winners last season, there is much to look forward to at the Newmarket farm, including a full-sibling to the Prix de Diane and Nassau S. winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Stud owner Imad Al Sagar is also branching out by buying some new blood in America, and he talks us through his mating plans for 2023.   ABSCOND (m 6, Blame--Solitary Life, by Grand Slam), booked to Not This Time We were keen to invest in a Roberto-line...