Newmarket

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 full-sister to a Group 1 winner. 16.15 Newmarket, Mdn, £20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation's famed green-and-white silks will be carried by DIGUB (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is a 360,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 full-sister to G1 Australian Cup hero Fifty...

Abundant rain turned Newmarket's ground to heavy before Friday's action and while it sunk the much-vaunted Formal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes, it proved no hindrance to fellow TDN Rising Star Bubbling (Ire) (No Nay Never--Lumiere Noire {Fr}, by Dashing Blade {GB}) as she became the latest Ballydoyle juvenile filly to register a black-type win in 2024. Partnered by Ryan Moore after the stable's Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) was taken out due to the going, the impressive Galway maiden winner and Listed...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 a Medaglia d'Oro at Dundalk. 17.45 Dundalk, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) DRAMATIC (Medaglia d'Oro) is one of two Ballydoyle newcomers in the line-up and apparently the second-string on jockey bookings, but as a $1.5-million Keeneland November Foal purchase and half-sister to the high-class Honor...

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. Thursday's Observations features a son of Kingman (GB). 15.20 Newmarket, Group 3, £60,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT MONUMENTAL (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) returns to Britain 12 days after his G2 Champagne Stakes second as he flies the flag for Ballydoyle in the G3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes. From the Urban Sea family...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 Victor Ludorum (GB). 13.35 Newmarket, Novice, £8,500, 2yo, f, 8fT PEARL OF HOPE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a notable Godolphin newcomer, being a half-sister to Shamardal's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire Victor Ludorum (GB). Charlie Appleby sticks...

The events comprising the Henry Cecil Open Weekend I Newmarket on Sept. 21-22 were revealed on Wednesday. A total of 26 trainers will open their yards to the public, while there will also be the My Pension Expert Racing Personality Show Jumping Competition and the My Pension Expert Shetland Pony Grand National among other events. In addition to raising money for the events charity partners--Newmarket Housing Trust and Racing Welfare--the open weekend is also part of National Racehorse Week. Access to the British Racing School, the Injured Jockeys Fund's fitness...

Sir Michael Stoute, the ten-time champion trainer in Britain, has announced his intention to retire from the training ranks at the end of this season. Now 78, Stoute is one of the longest-serving trainers in Newmarket, where he has been based since 1972. With more than 4,000 winners to his credit, he has been responsible for six Derby winners among his 16 British Classic triumphs, beginning with Shergar in 1981 and, most recently, the 2022 winner Desert Crown.  "I would like to thank all my owners and staff for the...

Dubai Millennium (GB) (Seeking the Gold), arguably the greatest horse to ever carry the Godolphin silks, has won a hotly contested three-week public vote for which 'Turn of the Century' horse should be inducted to the QIPCO Hall of Fame. In so doing, he was chosen over Daylami (Ire), Giant's Causeway and Montjeu (Ire). Dubai Millennium won nine of his 10 career trips to the post from 1998-2000, his only career defeat coming when failing to see out the 12-furlong trip in the Derby in 1999. He won his other...

Newmarket's mile maiden on Friday evening's card holds a special place as the race that hosted the debut of Frankel (GB), not to mention Motivator (GB) and others who went on to make their mark in the big league, and this year it was the turn of Julian Richmond-Watson to enjoy the spoils courtesy of his newcomer Anniversary (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Lixirova {Fr}, by Slickly {Fr}). Racing prominently from the outset under Rob Hornby, the 16-1 shot gained the edge approaching the furlong marker and stayed on strongly to...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 a Tattersalls October Book 1 millionaire. 17.45 Newmarket, Mdn, £9,000, 2yo, 8fT Godolphin's hitherto untried ARABIAN POET (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), one of two entries from Charlie Appleby's local nursery, made a mark when purchased for the round one million at last year's Tattersalls October Book 1...

The catalogues for Books 2-4 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale are now available online. Book 2 comprises 773 yearlings and takes place from October 14-16, while 571 lots are scheduled to go under the hammer from October 17-18 when Book 3 takes centre stage. Book 4 has a further 81 yearlings also selling on Friday, October 18, immediately following the conclusion of Book 3. Recent graduates of Book 2 include a number of Group 1 winners this year, headed by the Queen Anne Stakes scorer Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 son of Tepin (Bernstein). 13.45 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 7fT DELACROIX (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the first big Ballydoyle runner on a big day for the stable and looks certain to start at prohibitive odds given the promise he showed when second on his Leopardstown...