Nashwa

Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), one of the shining lights of the Flat season, is set to tackle the G1 Prix de l'Opera on her next start while fellow John and Thady Gosden-trained filly Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will take on the boys in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on Sunday after pleasing connections in a key workout on Tuesday.  The Prix de Diane winner Nashwa lit up Goodwood when successful in the Nassau S. and, according to Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for the filly's owner Imad Al...

Blue Diamond Stud is by no means a new name in the industry, and it has been in the news plenty this season courtesy of the dual Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), but where it has not been seen before is on the list of yearling consignors. That changes this week with the stud's debut selling yearlings under its own banner at the Arqana August Sale. And as debuts go, it is a pretty dazzling one as the stud's owner Imad Al Sagar will be offering a sibling...

Aside from perhaps the odd delay at the Channel Tunnel for British-based visitors heading to Deauville, the Arqana August Sale should be just about back to normal this year for the first time since 2019. A loaded plane will jet in direct from Saratoga on Thursday morning, when the scene will be set for three days of trade at the auction which routinely acts as the bellwether for the European yearling market. Small changes to the format can be found this year in the fact that the August Sale is...

Goodwood's trio of Group 1 races all went the way of owner-breeders, results that are both pleasing to see for the people who invest so much thought and money into the sport over generations, and which also highlight how hard it can be for prospective owners to get into horses at the top level. This season, ten European Classics have been won by homebreds, with two of those, Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), having been offered for sale by their breeders but bought back. Only...

Plans for G1 Prix de Diane runner-up La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Ire}) to race in America are on hold with connections opening the door to a tilt at the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after their star filly went down fighting behind Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at Chantilly on Sunday.  It had been suggested that La Parisienne would be trained in America at some point in her career but part-owner Peter Bradley revealed on Monday that the filly will remain in the care of the father and son team...

Just when you thought a fully-charged Royal Ascot couldn't be topped, along came Hollie Doyle.  The royal meeting was sadly missing The Queen for all five days this year but, France's republican tendencies aside, there are few in the racing world who would deny that Doyle is now the queen of Chantilly after reaching yet another milestone to become the first woman to ride a Group 1 Classic winner in Europe. Her great triumph came aboard Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for Imad Al Sagar, who was achieving an important landmark...

Andre Fabre has four chances to win this French Classic for a fifth time and, as one would expect in a race of this quality, the line-up includes some pretty fancy homebreds for top breeders. But those who have been through a sale ring include a €1,500 yearling, with prices working up to a €450,000 half-sister to Breeders' Cup heroine Aunt Pearl (Ire).   AGAVE (GB), Dubawi (Ire)--Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) Owner/Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Trainer: Andre Fabre Pedigree Notes: She is the second foal of a winning half-sister to...

They might be making history as the first husband and wife to ride against each other in a British Classic, but Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle insist they "won't give each other an inch" when they go head to head in Friday's G1 Cazoo Oaks. The childhood sweethearts have been riding against each other since their pony racing days and tied the knot in Hertfordshire in March this year before jetting off to compete at the Dubai World Cup just a few days later. And while they encounter each other...

Hollie Doyle has described Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as being "everything you want in a racehorse" ahead of her bid to become the first female rider to win a Classic when she partners John and Thady Goden's rapidly-improving filly in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom on Friday.  Doyle is well used to breaking boundaries at this stage, with her tally of 152 winners in 2021 surpassing her own record of winners in a calendar year for a female jockey. She has also ridden two five-timers, became the first woman to...

Tom Clover enjoyed his greatest day on a racecourse when emerging star Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) advertised her Classic credentials when landing an Oaks Trial at Lingfield last month and now the trainer is looking forward to rolling the big dice at Epsom. A Shadwell castoff who was picked up for just 35,000gns at the Mares Sale at Tattersalls last December, Rogue Millennium has already proved to be one of the finds of the season, building on her debut success at Wetherby to run out a gritty winner of...

It is 15 years since Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) streaked down the hill at Epsom to give Frankie Dettori his first win in the Derby. For the colt's owners Imad Al Sagar and Saleh Al Homaizi it was also a first Derby victory, but it was their second Classic winner in as many years as Araafa (Ire) (Mull Of Kintyre {Ire})) had landed the previous season's Irish 2,000 Guineas before going on to win the St James's Palace S. Such success at the highest level for the duo who had...

John Gosden has labelled Cazoo Oaks favourite Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) as being in the same league as Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who he first won the Epsom Classic with in 2014, after overseeing the unbeaten filly work at the track on Monday morning. Emily Upjohn is a general even-money shot to provide Gosden with a fourth Oaks success following a stylish victory in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York earlier this month. Gosden, who shares his training licence with his son Thady, also...