Pontefract

While the key action was taking place at Deauville on Sunday, Britain's Northern track Pontefract delivered something special in its opening six-furlong maiden as the Richard Fahey-trained newcomer Powerful Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}--Wouldntitbelovely {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) lived up to his name to earn TDN Rising Star status. Bought for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum by Blandford Bloodstock for £190,000 at the Goffs UK 2yo Breeze Up, the bay who was bred by the Marnanes tanked his way to the front after the first furlong with Oisin Orr unable...

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. Sunday's Observations features a half-brother to Coolmore sire Sioux Nation. 15.45 Pontefract, Mdn, £22,000, 2yo, 6fT DASH DIZZY (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) represents Nurlan Bizakov and the Charlie Johnston stable and is a half-brother to Scat Daddy's G1 Phoenix Stakes and G2 Norfolk Stakes-winning sire Sioux Nation. Unsold at...

All the signs are that Tweenhills Farm's first-crop sire Kameko is taking off and the son of Kitten's Joy had his fourth winner in under a fortnight on Monday as Juddmonte's homebred filly Ardeur (GB) dominated her six-furlong maiden at Pontefract. Sent off the 30-100 favourite having finished fourth in a well-contested novice at York last month, the Ralph Beckett-trained daughter of the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. third Chaleur (GB) (Dansili {GB}) was quickly in control at the head of affairs under Rossa Ryan. Asked to stretch turning for...

Six meetings have been confirmed for the 2023 Sky Bet Sunday Series (SBSS), Sky Bet announced on Wednesday. Worth £1.2 million, the series is an industry-wide collaboration between ITV, Racecourse Media Group, and Sky Betting and Gaming, which will showcase the sport in a Sunday twilight slot on terrestrial television during the summer. The schedule for the 2023 Sky Bet Sunday Series is as follows: Musselburgh, Apr. 30 Hamilton, May 14 Beverley, June 11 Pontefract, June 25 Haydock, Aug. 6 Sandown, Aug. 20 Steve Birch, Sky Betting & Gaming CCO...

Labelled a TDN Rising Star on his winning debut over seven furlongs at Newmarket Aug. 5, Godolphin's Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Really Special {GB}, by Shamardal) was fifth in a strong edition of York's G3 Acomb S. 12 days later before returning to winning ways in a Sandown mile novice Sept. 14. Sent off the even-money favourite for Monday's Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Silver Tankard S. at Pontefract, the Charlie Appleby-trained relative of Dubawi's luminaries Yibir (GB) and Wild Illusion (GB) was sheltered behind the pace early by William...

Hootenanny (Quality Road) became the latest freshman sire off the mark when the Kevin Ryan-trained Louisiana-bred filly Esken Rose shed maiden status on debut in Thursday's Northern Commercials Service, Sales & Parts Novice S. at Pontefract. The $4,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling and £38,000 Goresbridge@Newmarket breezer, who sported the colours of Hambleton Racing, made all to defeat Clarets Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) by a length. 1st-Pontefract, £7,200, Nov, 9-16, 2yo, 6fT, 1:16.39, g/f. ESKEN ROSE (f, 2, Hootenanny--Eskenforandreya, by Eskendereya) was the sharpest of nine into stride and seized...

Additional British races have been added to Horse Racing Ireland's IRE Incentive scheme. IRE Incentive races will be held at Nottingham, Newbury, Pontefract, York, Musselburgh, Salisbury and Goodwood in August and September. The IRE Incentive scheme awards a €10,000 Irish Sales voucher to the owners of Irish-bred winners of designated races. Vouchers can be spent on Irish-breds at Irish public auction Sales. Since the scheme launched in March 2021, €480,000 in vouchers has been distributed to 39 individual owners. Find out more about the IRE Incentive scheme and view a...

Darley's Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when the Karl Burke-trained 9-4 favourite Almohandesah (GB) graduated in Sunday's EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice going six furlongs at Pontefract. The 18,000gns Tattersalls December foal and 16,500gns Tattersalls February yearling prevailed by a head from Shouldavbeenmore (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}). 1st-Pontefract, £6,000, Nov, 6-20, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:17.13, g/f. ALMOHANDESAH (GB) (f, 2, Postponed {Ire}--Chocolate Hills {Fr}, by Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a June 1 debut runner-up over this distance at Redcar in her only prior...