Neil Callan

Royal Ascot began with a one-two for Frankel (GB), but it was the 33-1 shot Triple Time (Ire) and not the higher-profile Inspiral (GB) who came out on top after a thrilling finale to Tuesday's opening G1 Queen Anne S. Remarkably, both were having their seasonal debuts but were able to shake off any rustiness to ensure that Juddmonte's giant dominated proceedings in this qualifier for the $2-million GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita in November. Denied a run in the G1 Lockinge S. due to a bout...

The Covex Kid (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Mobaadel (Speightstown) gave jockey Neil Callan, trainer Hesham Al Haddad and Al Mohemediya Racing a double as the Bahrain Turf Series continued on Friday. The Al Adiyat Cup, an 1800-metre conditions race and local Bahraini Group 2, went to The Covex Kid, who was winning his second race of the Bahrain Turf Series after taking the Al Dana Cup last out. It was also a trifecta for Al Haddad, who also trains the runner-up Tawaareq (Ire) (Shamardal) and the third home, Zagato (GB)...

A pair of Bahrain-based horses won the third and fourth Bahrain Turf Series races--the Al Riffa Cup and Al Dana Cup--in Riyadh on Friday. Dark Shadow (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), in the hands of Hector Crouch, produced a sharp turn of foot over 1200 metres to fend off a challenger in the closing stages of the Al Riffa Cup and returned to the winner's enclosure in the familiar colours of Al Mohamediya Racing. "It all went pretty smoothly for me," said Crouch. "We were drawn high and he's a horse...

Newmarket's G1 Royal Bahrain Sun Chariot S. can throw up a surprise from time to time and Saturday's renewal was responsible for one of the biggest of that kind as Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's 16-1 shot Fonteyn (GB) (Farhh {GB}) denied TDN Rising Star Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in a 3-year-old domination. Reserved early off the strong pace by Neil Callan, the Kevin Ryan-trained homebred whose previous best success had come in the Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies' S. at York May 13 enjoyed a run up the stand's...

The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup went to Team Great Britain and Ireland at Ascot on Saturday. They earned 132 points and won five of the eight races. Second in the standings was the Ladies' Team at 81 points, with Team Rest of the World at 72 points and Team Europe at 51 points. Jockey Neil Callan, part of the winning team, was awarded the Alistair Haggas Silver Saddle Award after riding two winners on the day--Orbaan (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises Classified...

In conversation with Neil Callan, you would never guess that the nickname given to the jockey in Hong Kong was 'The Iron Man'. He is quietly spoken with a soft Irish lilt that indicates his nation of birth, despite the fact that he refers to his return to England in July as "coming home". Newmarket is indeed home to his wife Trish, whose grandfather David Ringer trained successfully for many years from Saffron House Stables, where he lives still and which is now leased to the swiftly rising George Boughey....