Task Force

Six homebreds take on five sales graduates for the opening Classic of the British season. The spotlight will very much rest on odds-on favourite City Of Troy, who is one of five Classic runners for his Triple Crown-winning sire Justify in Newmarket and Kentucky in the space of three days. Shamardal, his sons Lope De Vega and Blue Point, and grandson Phoenix Of Spain are each represented by a runner, as is Dubawi and his two sons Night Of Thunder and Too Darn Hot. For the complete field, please click...

In Europe, the TDN Rising Stars are awarded by Sean Cronin and Tom Frary, and no amount of begging, bleating or bribery from other members of the editorial team or external forces can persuade this duo to award one if they are not in agreement. Their decisions are based on performance, pedigree and, as the award title suggests, the likelihood of that individual becoming a stakes winner. Following the first five selections published yesterday, Tom Frary selects his five to keep an eye on in 2024. This could prove a...

It's the time of year which most trainers must dread as they juggle spending time in their yards and at the races with attending yearling sales here, there and everywhere. One who will doubtless be patrolling the sales grounds of Doncaster and Baden-Baden this week with an extra pep in his step is Ralph Beckett. Marc Chan, one of Beckett's principal owners, had four runners in the past week and all four won. Even more remarkably, three of those victories came in stakes contests on the same day at three...