Ralph Beckett

Unseen since annexing Goodwood's G2 Vintage S. in July, Marc Chan's 2-year-old colt Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), dented a host of lofty reputations and pounced late for a game success in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere - Grand Criterium at ParisLongchamp, a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar next month. The Listed Pat Eddery S. runner-up had snagged two low-key heats, at Salisbury and Pontefract, in his first four starts and was sent postward as an 11-2 chance for...

Marc Chan's Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), not seen since winning the G2 Vintage S. at Glorious Goodwood on July 27, will resurface in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Oct. 3 at ParisLongchamp. A progressive colt for trainer Ralph Beckett, Angel Bleu broke his maiden at Salisbury on Apr. 25 before taking a Pontefract conditions race on May 28, and he won the Vintage just three days after finishing second in the Listed Pat Eddery S. at Ascot. "All being well he'll head for the Lagardere on Arc...

During a session which saw just 10 horses through the ring fail to change hands, the Ralph Beckett-trained and Juddmonte Farms-owned Fabilis (GB) (Frankel {GB}) fetched 350,000gns to establish a new record at the Tattersalls August Sale in Newmarket. The transaction easily eclipsed the previous top price of 220,000gns from last year's inaugural event. An own brother to G3 Darley Club S. hero Monarchs Glen (GB) and produced by a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat), Fabilis, cataloged as lot 380, was a maiden...

Classic winner Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris already this summer, will line up for Godolphin in the G1 Cazoo St Leger on Sept. 11, one of 18 colts and fillies left in the fall Classic. G1 Cazoo Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who also races for Godolphin, will not take part, and instead target the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Richard Hannon's Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), one better than...

Racehorse owner Marc Chan saw his silks in the spotlight not once, but twice last week at Glorious Goodwood when Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) supplied a significant Tuesday double in the G2 Vintage S. and G2 Lennox S. And while the rise of Chan--an owner in Britain for just a year--to the pinnacle of the sport seems to have happened suddenly, it is in fact the apex of a lifelong passion that was sparked when Chan started going to the races with his...

With overnight soft-ground conditions deteriorating to heavy, Tuesday's G2 Unibet Vintage S. was shorn of G2 July S. victor and likely protagonist Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) on a card struck by multiple scratchings. Step forward Marc Chan's Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who followed up a one-length second in Saturday's Listed Pat Eddery S. to post a career high in Glorious Goodwood's day one juvenile feature. The 10-3 second choice and Ralph Beckett trainee had previously finished 13th behind the reopposing Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) when contesting...

LEXINGTON, KY--This year's European contingent at the Breeders' Cup includes a handful of accomplished trainers sending out their first runners at the meeting-the likes of Michael Bell, James Fanshawe, Nigel Tinkler, John Quinn and Ger Lyons. They will, no doubt, all be hoping to follow in the mould of trainer Ralph Beckett, who won with his first ever Breeders' Cup starter, Muhannak (Ire) (Chester House), in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Marathon at Santa Anita Park. The Andover-based Beckett has exhibited a special touch with fillies over his 20-year career as...

Ralph Beckett trainee Lullaby Moon (GB) (Belardo {Ire) bagged two of her first three outings before hitting the board in Ayr's Sept. 19 G3 Firth of Clyde Fillies' S. and broke through for a first black-type success in Redcar's Oct. 3 Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy last time. Sent postward as the 11-10 odds for Saturday's G3 Prix Miesque at Chantilly, she overcame a troubled passage to justify favouritism and earn a career high in the seven-furlong contest. The eventual winner was swiftly into stride and on the lead early, but was...

There was a first black-type winner for the Ballylinch Stud-based New Bay (GB) (by Dubawi {Ire}) on Friday as Marc Chan's New Mandate (Ire) got up close home in Doncaster's Listed bet365 Flying Scotsman S. Keen early for Frankie Dettori restrained towards the rear of the group racing up the centre, the Aug. 23 Sandown nursery winner who was sent off at 17-2 found a gap up the far rail to wear down Laneqash (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the final strides for a head success, with the 5-4 favourite...

Last year's G3 Zetland S. winner Max Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is pointing towards the Sept. 12 G1 St Leger, but will only take up that engagement if ground conditions are suitable, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. Max Vega beat just two home in the G1 Investec Derby, but looked a stayer in the making when second to Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. on Aug. 15 despite rider Harry Bentley dropping his whip late on. "Max Vega will go to Doncaster,...

Dual Classic heroine Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of six fillies and mares holding their ground for the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks over the Knavesmire on Aug. 20. The Aidan O'Brien trainee dominated the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas by 4 1/4 lengths in June, and extended her winning margin to nine lengths over 1 ½ miles in the G1 Investec Oaks on July 4. The Coolmore representative faces two from the John Gosden yard, with Juddmonte's MSW Franconia (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Anthony Oppenheimer's Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}),...

Goodwood's Qatar Festival has lived up to its "Glorious" tag all week and Saturday sees the culmination with the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. the key race for the staying fillies and mares. Despite there being only four participants, they are all notable performers in the category and last year's winner Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) will have to be at or near her best to bring up the repeat. Twelve months ago, the Shadwell representative gave a stone and a five-length beating to Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de...