Oaks

Ezeliya (Fr), winner of this year's Oaks for HH Aga Khan and trainer Dermot Weld, has been retired from racing. The news was announced on Saturday morning by the Aga Khan Studs. A post on the operation's social media accounts read, "The Aga Khan Studs regret to announce that 2024 Oaks winner Ezeliya has been retired from racing. The filly suffered a setback in training and will join the broodmare band." In June, Ezeliya, ridden by Chris Hayes, became the first daughter of Dubawi (Ire) to win the Oaks at...

In the 1960s British racing had the chance to own bookmaking. But it's happening the other way round. Bookmakers are moving closer to owning racing. Betfred's headline sponsorship of all five Classics - the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, Derby, Oaks and St Leger - from 2025 is manna to racecourse execs whose job it is to find backers for marquee events. With the Qatar-owned Qipco stepping back from sponsorship of the Guineas meeting and King George at Ascot from next year (they're maintaining their support for Champions Day), the prestige...

Betfred will be the new sponsor of Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas from 2025 onwards, it was announced on Thursday. The multi-year agreement means the bookmaker will become the first brand to sponsor all five of Britain's Classics--the others being the Betfred Oaks and Betfred Derby at Epsom and Doncaster's Betfred St Leger--at the same time. To mark their sponsorship of the prestigious contests, Betfred have also announced that a £2-million bonus will be on offer to connections of any horse who completes the 'Betfred Triple Crown' by winning...

On the 15th anniversary of the passing of Vincent O'Brien, his successor at Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien, extended his record at Epsom to 10 wins in the Derby. Vincent O'Brien's daughter and son-in-law Sue and John Magnier were not at Epsom on Saturday but several of the late, great trainer's grandchildren were in the winner's circle to greet City Of Troy. Their own family is now so strongly enmeshed with the man who shares their grandfather's surname but is no relation to the creator of Ballydoyle. Just like City Of Troy,...

EPSOM, UK--With squally showers and a freezing wind, it wasn't really the day for a 99, unless you're the Aga Khan.  Ezeliya (Fr), the bonny bay filly from a family replete with class and stamina, made the Oaks her own from a long way out, and in so doing broke the Epsom hoodoo of her sire Dubawi (Ire) in becoming the 99th individual Group 1 winner for her stalwart of a breeder. "Days like this are why we all do it," said a beaming Pat Downes, manager of the Aga...

By Adam Houghton and Brian Sheerin A royal runner in this fillies' Classic at a meeting which her late breeder, Queen Elizabeth II, rarely missed, is just one highlight of an intriguing Oaks field. The runners range from the top-priced, seven-figure filly at Tattersalls October Book 1 to a €27,000 Goffs Autumn yearling purchase, with four smart homebreds in play as well. CAUGHT U LOOKING (Ire) Harzand (Ire)--Wild Mix (GB), by Mastercraftsman (Ire) Bred by Peter Kelly, she was sold by The Castlebridge Consignment for €27,000 to Peter Nolan and...

Aidan O'Brien has issued a positive bulletin on his big hopes for Classic glory at Epsom, with Betfred Derby favourite City Of Troy (Justify) and Oaks market leader Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) reported in good spirits. City Of Troy must bounce back from a disappointing display in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket where he trailed home in ninth behind Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). However, he was an odds-on shot for that contest on the back of last year's sensational juvenile exploits, which featured an ultra-impressive Dewhurst triumph, and...

Noel Meade has provided an upbeat bulletin on Classic hope Caught U Looking (Ire) and said it would "be a dream" if the daughter of Harzand (Ire) proved herself good enough to compete in the Oaks this season. Caught U Looking, winner of the G3 Weld Park S. at the Curragh last year, will get her campaign underway in the G3 Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on April 7.  Owned by Tally-Ho Stud's Tony O'Callaghan and popular bloodstock agent Peter Kelly's wife Sabina, Caught U Looking was bought for...

Following its inaugural sponsorship last year, Betfred has increased its support of the Derby meeting and now has naming rights to the two-day fixture at Epsom, which will be branded the Betfred Derby Festival.  The company's partnership with the Jockey Club will continue until at least 2026. Betfred will now sponsor six of the races across Oaks day and Derby day, including those  two Classics, with the original three-year deal extended by a further 12 months. "Following on from a memorable two days at Epsom last year we are delighted...

Craig Bennett of Merry Fox Stud, joint-breeder of arguably the most exciting juvenile filly in training Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}), recalls how a visit to Coolmore Stud a number of years back made a lasting impression.  Not for the sheer expanse of the operation, or the might of the stallions the world-renowned County Tipperary stud could offer potential breeders, but for how Coolmore marks its successes. "When I went to Coolmore a couple of years ago, I can remember looking out at one of the paddocks where the stallions...

The BoyleSports odds for Frankie Dettori to be named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year have shortened from 16-1 to 6-1, prior to his G1 DahlBury Coronation Cup/G1 Betfred Oaks double over the Epsom Downs on Friday. The Italian reinsman is retiring at the end of the year, and Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, where he will ride Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), is set to be his final appearance in the historic Classic. Arrest currently sits at 9-2 with BoylesSports, with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) eased to 3-1....

Saturday's Betfred Derby at Epsom has been boosted by one supplementary entry, with the Niarchos family opting to pay the £85,000 fee to add Dante S. third Passenger (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) to the line-up.  At the confirmation stage, 16 colts remain in contention, with Coolmore's Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Godolphin's Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) vying for favouritism.  The latter is trained by Charlie Appleby, who will be aiming for a third Derby success following Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in 2018 and Military Order's full-brother Adayar...