Vandeek

Vandeek (GB), the brilliant dual Group 1-winning juvenile, has been retired and will stand at Cheveley Park Stud.  The highest-rated son of Havana Grey (GB), Vandeek landed the Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes in what was a spellbinding two-year-old campaign in 2023.  Last seen finishing third being Mill Stream in the July Cup, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Vandeek retired as a winner of four of his six starts and with a peak official rating of 119. He joins Twilight Son, Ulysses and Unfortunately on the Cheveley Park...

Last year's star juvenile Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) will miss his intended engagement in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville after suffering a setback. The news was released by joint-trainer Ed Crisford on X and came just 24 hours after Vandeek was put through his paces on the July course at Newmarket on Saturday. Ed Crisford said, "Unfortunately Vandeek has met with a setback and it is too early to say how much time he will need before resuming full training. It is very frustrating for everyone...

The Commonwealth Cup has been blown wide open after market leaders Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) were ruled out of Friday's Group 1 at Royal Ascot.  Bucanero Fuerte was reported to have suffered from travel sickness by his owners Amo Racing while Vandeek will miss the six-furlong contest due to a poor blood count. A statement released by Simon and Ed Crisford on Monday morning read, "Unfortunately Vandeek will not be able to run in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot this Friday...

NEWMARKET, UK--Vandeek (GB), who is currently co-favourite for Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, was put through his paces by James Doyle on Newmarket's Limekilns gallop on Saturday morning. Easing clear of his two older work-mates, the son of Havana Grey (GB) galloped over six furlongs in what co-trainer Ed Crisford described as "a nice topping-up bit of work". Unbeaten last season in four starts, including the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S., Vandeek, who is owned by KHK Racing, ended 2023 as the highest-rated juvenile in...

Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) is firmly on course for the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. That is despite the fact that Simon and Ed Crisford's dual Group 1-winning juvenile star lost his unbeaten record in the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock.  However, connections have reported the colt to have come out of that seasonal return effort in rude health, and that it is full steam ahead to the royal meeting.  "He's come out of the race very well, Simon and Ed Crisford have been pleased with his...

Kevin Ryan has confirmed that Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) will be supplemented for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot following his dominant victory in the Sandy Lane S. at Haydock. Inisherin became the first horse to take the scalp of Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who could only manage third, on Saturday. Ryan reports the colt to have come out of the 6f contest in rude health and says it is all systems go for Ascot.  "I was delighted with him on Saturday, he's a horse with a lot of speed,"...

DEAUVILLE, France--The temperature is rising at Arqana and so, too, are the stakes. Breeze-up consignors young and old have made no secret about the fact that trade this year has been tricky, particularly at the middle to lower tiers.  All duck or no dinner, feast or famine--whatever way you want to describe it, vendors have had to negotiate some choppy waters, meaning a lot is still on the line at Arqana when the sale gets underway at 11am on Saturday. But, weirdly, the optimism is palpable. Maybe it's the baking...

The catalogue for the first of this year's European two-year-old sales is now online, with 180 lots catalogued for the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-up Sale set to be sold on April 16 and 17. With the high-class dual Group 1 winner Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) as its poster boy for last year, the Craven sale has been represented by some notable graduates in recent seasons, including the Classic winners Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}). The latter's half-brother by Mehmas (Ire) is among those on...

Tattersalls has renewed its £250,000 Craven Breeze-up Sale Bonus for 2024.  The scheme pays £100,000 to the owner and £25,000 to the vendor of any Craven graduate to win one of the six two-year-old races at Royal Ascot. Should that horse go on to win any of the 15 Group 1 races for juveniles this season in Britain, Ireland or France, a further £100,000 and £25,000 will be paid out to the owner and vendor.  Godolphin's champion two-year-old Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and KHK Racing's Vandeek (GB) (Havana...

Kelly Thomas enjoyed a banner year with Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who she bred at her Maywood Stud, going unbeaten in a spellbinding two-year-old campaign that featured Group 1 wins in the Prix Morny and Middle Park S.  In this week's Q&A, Thomas revealed how some people in the industry have shared with her that she has become an inspiration for smaller breeders. She also lifted the lid on her own hopes and dreams for Vandeek this season and explained her philosophy to breeding.  You have had lots to...

Friday marked a breakout result for five-time Group 1-winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) as a filly by Coolmore's freshman sire out of the Oaks winner Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) topped the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls on 575,000gns. The aggregate fell 11% compared to this day 12 months ago to 17,943,000gns while the clearance rate climbed 7% to 87%. The average fell 13% to 95,952gns and the median dipped 9% to 62,000gns. It was bloodstock agent Jill Lamb, bidding on behalf of Newsells Park Stud, who came out on...

As the darkness draws in on the Monday and Tuesday afternoons of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, it is a signal for the those around Park Paddocks to head ring-wards for the bloodstock world's version of captivating theatre. Who present, shoulder to shoulder in the packed auditorium over recent years, can forget moments such as the sale of Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) for 6 million gns? Even her trainer Sir Mark Prescott, always ready with a witticism, was for once lost for words in the drama of it all.  A...