Vandeek (GB)

Peter Harris's Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Swirral Edge {GB}, by Hellvelyn {GB}) had been coming of age so far this season and his big moment duly came in Saturday's G1 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket. Successful in the G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes and third in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on his last two starts, the 11-1 shot was held up early by William Buick with the pace strong up front. Staying on powerfully down the wing to wear down the QEII...

After Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) had crossed the line in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup, all logic pointed to Newmarket and Saturday's G1 My Pension Expert July Cup. Imperious there, as he had been in Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane Stakes the previous month, Kevin Ryan's latest sprinting luminary is unbeaten over this six-furlong trip and open to abundant improvement from a family which breeds class acts at a ridiculous rate. Whatever his obvious merits, the fact is that with the ground drying out by the hour...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and KHK Racing's G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes victor Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) will lock horns for a second time in Saturday's £600,000 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket. The duo, first and third in May's G2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, have been drawn alongside each other, in stalls six and five, in a field of 12 declared for the six-furlong dash. Aidan O'Brien trainee and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas third River...

Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), an impressive winner of last month's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, and last year's unbeaten two-year-old Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) head the sponsor's ante-post betting for the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock on Saturday, September 7, with both horses featuring in a list of 35 as the first entries were released on Tuesday. Barry Orr, head of racing PR at Betfair, said, "This is a top list of entries, although there is a lot of water to pass under the sprinting bridge between...

It remains all systems go for the rematch between Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) after both horses featured among 13 confirmations for Saturday's G1 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket. Inisherin was an emphatic winner when the pair met in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in May and Kevin Ryan's colt followed that effort with another top-class performance when also winning the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last time. He is a general 7-4 favourite to confirm himself the outstanding sprinter in...

Royal Ascot winners Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and English Oak (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) both feature prominently in the betting for the G1 My Pension Expert July Cup after the latest entries were released on Tuesday. A total of 23 horses remain in contention for the first big clash of the generations at the six-furlong trip, which will be run at Newmarket on Saturday, July 13 and offers total prize-money of £600,000. Inisherin ran out a dominant winner of the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, having been sent off a...

As expected, G2 Sandy Lane S. hero Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) was supplemented to Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, as fields for the fourth day of the meeting were revealed on Saturday. G3 Horris Hill S. hero Orne (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) has also been supplemented at a cost of £46,000 to bring the current field to 22. The two late entries face dual Group 1 winner and co-favourite Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the six-furlong race. Other notables signed on include G3 Prix de Cabourg scorer and May...

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. Monday's Observations features the breeze-up topper from Goffs for the same connections as multiple Group 1-winning Vandeek. 18.10 Windsor, Novice, £9,950, 2yo, 6f 12yT ADRESTIA (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) debuts for KHK Racing and the Simon and Ed Crisford stable, who combined last year with Havana Grey's G1 Prix...

Bouncing out of an increasingly-strong looking edition of the 2,000 Guineas, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal--Ajman Princess {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) converted instantly and successfully to leading sprinter of his generation by taking Haydock's G2 Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane S. on Saturday. Producing sensational splits when beating the smart filly Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) in a mile novice at Newcastle in March before acquitting himself with credit when sixth in the Newmarket Classic three weeks ago, the Kevin Ryan-trained blueblood travelled strongly...

Twenty-one colts remain in contention for the G1 Betfred Derby following the latest scratching deadline for the Classic, which will be run at Epsom on Saturday, June 1. Aidan O'Brien, who saddled a record-extending ninth winner of the Derby when Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was successful in 2023, could be mob-handed this year with up to seven runners. His entries include the outstanding two-year-old of 2023, City Of Troy (Justify), who will be trying to emulate Auguste Rodin by bouncing back from a disappointing return to action in...

The unbeaten Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) features among 11 entries for Saturday's G2 Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane S. at Haydock. Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, Vandeek proved himself a high-class sprinting two-year-old in 2023 when he signed off with back-to-back Group 1 victories in the Prix Morny at Deauville and Middle Park S. at Newmarket. Already a short-priced favourite for next month's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, Vandeek is set to warm up for that assignment on Merseyside this weekend, with Chris Wall, racing...

Unbeaten colt Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) continues to progress in his preparation for the G2 Sandy Lane S. at Haydock on May 25. The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained colt's long-term goal is Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup S. next month. A winner of all four of his starts including the early August G2 Richmond S., G1 Prix Morny later that month, and the G1 Middle Park S. in September, the colt is pleasing his connections. "He's coming along nicely now, so we're hoping we'll be all systems go at...