Newbury

Seven furlongs was not beyond Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) as he continued the winning thread in Saturday's G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham S. at Newbury. Tracking Marc Chan's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) as that rival proved too fresh and free on the front end, the 6-4 favourite was sent by him a furlong from home and answered Christophe Soumillon's call to...

Godolphin's incredible start to the season continued apace on Saturday as Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) took a competitive renewal of the G3 Dubai Duty Free S., or Fred Darling.  Reportedly due to be aimed at the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, last year's GI Natalma S. winner who was fifth behind Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Newmarket's G1 Fillies' Mile was at the fore of the group racing towards the stands early. Taking time to get on top overall, the 3-1 second favourite outstayed the 11-4 market-leader Jumbly (GB)...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to Group 1 winner and sire Aclaim (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).    16.00 Cork, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo/up, 10f 30yT Aidan O'Brien trainee FLEET COMMANDER (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is a full-brother to this year's G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup hero Russian Emperor (Ire) and makes his...

This year's 2000 Guineas looks shaped already, with the Appleby and O'Brien guns loaded with two barrels each, but there is always an opening for the winner of Saturday's G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham S. at Newbury. Whatever its impact on the Newmarket Classic, the latest renewal of the seven-furlong trial is fascinating in its own right, with Marc Chan's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) taking on Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's G1 Prix Morny and G1...

In partnership with Watership Down Stud, sponsors of next Saturday's G3 Watership Down Too Darn Hot Greenham S., Newbury has launched a competition to name one of the stud's most recent arrivals, a bay filly born Mar. 10 by champion Frankel (GB), out of the group winning mare, So Mi Dar. A Group 3 winner, So Mi Dar also finished third in the G1 Prix de l'Opera. She is out of the Watership Down Stud-campaigned MG1SW Dar Re Mi (GB), who has produced four group performers, including European Champion 2-year-old...

Group 3 winner Eve Lodge (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) is pointing to Newbury's G3 Fred Darling S. on Apr. 16. The Charlie Fellowes trainee was last seen running ninth in the Sept. 25 G1 Cheveley Park S. The Mathis Stables, LLC runner has wintered well and holds a G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas entry. If she does not start in the Sirenia, she would instead run slightly earlier that month in the G3 Nell Gwyn S. at Newmarket on Apr. 12. Both races are over seven furlongs. "Eve Lodge is really well,"...

Dual Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) will likely make his 3-year-old bow in the Apr. 16 G3 Greenham S. Sponsored By Watership Down Stud at Newbury for trainer Richard Fahey. The Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum colourbearer has won four of his six starts. He emerged a narrow winner of the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot last June and added the G1 Prix Morny in France two starts later. In his season finale, the bay was a half-length winner of the G1 Middle Park S. on...

David Simcock has an above-average crop of juveniles this term and the Never Say Die Partnership's Light Infantry (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) provided a further boost to the stable with success in the G3 Virgin Bet Horris Hill S. at Newbury on Saturday. Off the mark by 6 1/2 lengths in a six-furlong Yarmouth novice Sept. 14, the 4-1 shot was held up in rear early tackling this extra furlong by Jamie Spencer racing a touch freely. Gently cajoled into contention as the testing conditions took their toll on the...

It is a rare season that Clive Cox and Adam Kirby do not combine with a juvenile of note and Isa Salman Al Khalifa's Wings of War (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) stepped up to the plate for the combo in Saturday's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. at Newbury. Runner-up last time in the G3 Sirenia S. over this six-furlong trip on Kempton's Polytrack Sept. 4, the grey was keen early directly behind the leader Hierarchy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) after a start delayed by the withdrawal of the G2...

The furious intensity of last weekend's European action gears down a notch with the 50th renewal of Newbury's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. the main ingredient in Saturday's hangover cure. Ten juvenile colts are declared for the £75,000 six-furlong test won in recent years by subsequent top-level luminaries Excellent Art (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Dark Angel (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), Lord Shanakill (Speightstown), Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), and Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). This year's cast features Poseidon Thoroughbred Racing's Dhabab (Ire) (No Nay Never), who drops in trip...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features 'TDN Rising Star's at Newbury and Chantilly. 13.00 Ayr, Nov, £14,000, 2yo, 7f 50yT Jaber Abdullah's 120,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling MARHABA THE CHAMP (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is a son of MGSW G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features the first foal out of Group 1 winner Persuasive (Ire) (Frankel {GB}. 1.07 Newbury, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, f, 6fT Cheveley Park Stud's homebred PERSIST (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the first foal out of G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. heroine Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and debuts...