Shartash (Ire)

Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot will see a field of 14 sprinters line up in an open-looking renewal which includes last year's surprise winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Jamie Spencer, who partnered that Charles Hills-trained 80-1 shot 12 months ago, will instead be on Fitri Hay's other runner Mitbaahy (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) from the same stable following his success in The Curragh's G2 Greenlands Stakes last month. Peter Harris's G2 1895 Duke of York Stakes winner Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) represents the Jane...

Following Monday's confirmation stage, 19 horses remain in contention for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot, the feature race on the final day of the meeting on Saturday, June 22. They include five of the first six from last month's G2 Duke Of York S. in which Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) held on by a nose from Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}). Last year's G1 Champion Sprint S. hero Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) could manage only fifth on the Knavesmire, but he too...

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 Insights features the third foal of MG1SW Winter, who already claims a TDN Rising Star to her docket as a broodmare. 13.45 The Curragh, Debutantes, €17,000, 2yo, 7fT LONDON CITY (Justify) is the third foal out of the G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation S....

by Tom Frary Sunday's card at Naas sees some of the leading Irish sprinters build towards next month's Royal meeting, with the six-furlong G3 Goffs Lacken S. the feature. There was no mistaking the authority of the filly Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in Navan's Listed Committed S. last month and although that was on heavy ground, she hails from the Jessie Harrington stable carrying all before it at the moment. Saturday's Listed Carnarvon S. placegetter Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) and the re-opposing The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel...

It is rare that The Aga Khan's silks are at the forefront this early in the major two-year-old contests, but when they are it is always a good sign and Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Shamreen {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}) showed he had the precocity to go with his illustrious pedigree in Saturday's G2 GAIN Railway S. at The Curragh. Kept fresh by Johnny Murtagh following his Naas conditions win May 7, the son of the dual G2 Blandford S. winner was held up early as the Listed First Flier S....