The Lowdown

There's no City Of Troy but Aidan O'Brien still saddles half of the eight-strong field as he seeks a remarkable sixteenth victory in the premier Irish Classic. Los Angeles looks the pick of the Ballydoyle contingent, having finished third behind his feted stable-mate in the Derby, but the son of Camelot has work to do to reverse the Epsom form with runner-up Ambiente Friendly. James Fanshawe's British raider is set to be a warm order to continue a red-hot run of form for Coolmore's own Gleneagles, the sire of another...

Per usual, entrants in the latest Classic on the European calendar run the gamut from blueblooded homebreds and auction purchases at a range of prices. The luckless Tamfana is returning off her fourth in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, and is one of the leading fancies, and there are several fresh shooters that will be trying Group 1 company for the first time from France and farther afield. Last year, Churchill's Blue Rose Cen took the G1 Prix de Diane Longines, and the Coolmore stallion is represented by the group-placed...

by Emma Berry & Heather Anderson Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club is an enticing affair, with Group 1 winner Sunway appearing poised to return to his best form. There are several intriguing new shooters, including listed winner Fast Tracker, who will be making his debut in the Wathnan Racing colours. British raider and group winner Ghostwriter, who ran fourth in the 2000 Guineas, will be plying his trade in France for the first time. All in all, most of the field is in with a chance, with the...

Several challengers for the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday have already grasped that brass ring, with Group 1 winners Fallen Angel and Opera Singer both entered. Blueblooded homebreds include a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and top-level sire The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). Vespertilio, third in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, also returns on short rest.   A LILAC ROLLA (IRE) Harry Angel (Ire)--Mejala (Ire) (Red Ransom) Sales info: Offered by Castledillon Stud, the bay was picked up for €40,000 out...

Six-figure yearlings River Tiber and Unquestionable, both by Wootton Bassett, head the home defence in the first Classic of the Irish Flat season, but they face stern opposition from a pair of British raiders trained by Richard Hannon. Bargain-buy Haatem, from the first crop of the 2019 winner of this race, Phoenix Of Spain, ran a huge race when finishing third in the Newmarket equivalent, but he has work to do to reverse the form with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Rosallion, runner-up on the Rowley Mile and a...

High-born sale-ring graduates and some bargain buys liberally dot the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches field, with some quality homebreds tossed in for good measure. The race could see the unbeaten Italian wunderkind Folgaria add a first Group 1 to her resume, but it could just as easily be another European Guineas for Godolphin with Romantic Style or Rock'n Swing. Coolmore's Content is another in with a chance and only time will tell when the gates fly.   ROUHIYA (FR) Lope De Vega (Ire)--Rondonia (Ire) (Raven's Pass) Pedigree/form notes:...

A baker's dozen go to post in the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, and the field is fairly evenly matched, homebreds versus sales graduates. Coolmore's G1 National S. hero Henry Longfellow is the highest-rated horse in the field, and he's backed up by 2.4 million gns Tattersalls Book 1 alum and Group 2 winner Diego Velazquez. The home team should field a fierce defence, however, and His Highness The Aga Khan's Keran and Roshvar could both step up to give their breeder his seventh French...

The first British fillies' Classic of the season sees a fairly even split of homebreds versus sales graduates. The latter group features a seven-figure filly--Ylang Ylang--all the way down to a €20,000 purchase in Tamfana. Several of these are also related to noteworthy Classic winners, but Guineas form is few and far between. May the best filly win. For the full Guineas field, please click here.   CINDERELLA'S DREAM (GB) Shamardal--Espadrille (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) Pedigree/form notes: The Godolphin homebred and second foal out of her winning dam is undefeated in...

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...