Westerberg

Coolmore and Westerberg's G2 Ribblesdale S. heroine Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Sea Siren {Aus}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was unable to land a telling blow when fifth behind stablemate Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in last month's G1 Irish Oaks and stepped out of the shadows to claim a career high in a thrilling renewal of Thursday's G1 Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks, becoming the 99th Group 1 winner for her sire. The 9-1 chance, who had earlier outbobbed Irish Oaks runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) in Newbury's...

Coolmore and Westerberg's Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}--Fluff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had failed to get his nose in front in three starts since saluting in last term's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud and bounced back under a Ryan Moore masterclass to claim a career high in Wednesday's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. at York. Detached in rear and patiently ridden as the hitherto undefeated Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) set searching fractions up front, the 4-1 chance inched ever closer in the straight to launch his challenge...

Saturday's Bord Na Mona Recycling Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh has been a springboard to success in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. for Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who annexed two of the last three editions. This year's renewal witnessed the emergence of another potential candidate after Aidan O'Brien trainee Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) romped to 'TDN Rising Stardom' in the seven-furlong contest. He had already caused a stir at Newmarket last October, when knocked down for 2.4-million guineas at...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Shambolic {Ire}, by Shamardal), who made all for a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette with an impressive 2 3/4-length debut tally tackling seven furlongs at the Curragh in her only prior start, maintained her perfect record with a carbon-copy performance in Thursday's G3 Jockey Club Of Turkey Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown. The prohibitively priced 1-4 favourite was slick from the inside gate and seized an early two length advantage in this black-type bow. Untroubled through halfway, she was shaken up with 1 1/2...

A couple of hours after Aspen Grove (Ire) conjured up a 15-1 surprise in the GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks, Verifying (Justify) validated a quote of 3-5 favoritism--if only just--to best Raise Cain (Violence) in the GIII Indiana Derby. Away alertly for Marcelino Pedroza, Jr, the $775,000 Keeneland September yearling--a half-brother to the magnificent Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute)--was content to lie second and allow the rail-drawn Transect (Gun Runner) to carve out the early fractions. Georgie W (Tapiture) tracked three wide from his high draw, while Cagliostro (Upstart) enjoyed the run...

There was an abundance of pre-race hype surrounding the Aidan O'Brien-trained debutante Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Shambolic {Ire}, by Shamardal), who was hammered down to 8-13 favouritism for Friday evening's Kildare House Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh, and she rewarded that faith with a 'TDN Rising Star' display in the seven-furlong test. Relaxed under Ryan Moore during the preliminaries, she was professional on the lead throughout and extended her margin of superiority, keeping on powerfully under mild coaxing, inside the final quarter-mile to easily account for Dollerina...

Last term's G1 Prix Saint-Alary and G2 Blandford S. heroine Above The Curve (American Pharoah--Fabulous {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) encountered stellar opposition in Sunday's G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud and halted a three-race losing streak with a pillar-to-post victory in the 10 1/2-furlong contest. Coolmore and Westerberg's 'TDN Rising Star' was undone by Saint-Alary runner-up Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and the reopposing Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) when third in October's G1 Prix de l'Opera before running seventh in both November's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare...

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. Sunday's Insights features the return of TDN Rising Stars Ramatuelle (Justify) and Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in a Saint-Cloud conditions event. 13.58 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 6fT Christopher Head trainee RAMATUELLE (Justify) created a deep impression first time out when powering home by 4 1/2 lengths over...

Team Ballydoyle got off to a perfect start on Irish 2000 Guineas day when the once-raced Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Strawberry Lace {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) powered clear of his five rivals in Saturday's Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at the Curragh for a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette. The July 2 G2 Railway S. entry lined up as the 4-6 favourite coming back off a promising debut third in this month's Listed First Flier S. and broke sharply to seize an immediate lead upped to six furlongs...

Last year's G3 Prix de Cabourg victor The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) opened this term with a third in Navan's Listed Committed S. and led from pillar to post in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. His eight-race juvenile campaign included three encounters with Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), hitting the board behind that now-retired former stablemate in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park. The Antarctic broke sharply and led along the far-side rail from flagfall. In...

Coolmore and Westerberg's 575,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling and 'TDN Rising Star' Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}--Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) made a winning seasonal return in last month's G3 Alleged S. at the Curragh, having been on the shelf for almost a year after running seventh in last term's G1 2000 Guineas, and added to his tallies in 2021's G3 Tyros S. and G2 Futurity S. with a battling effort in Friday's G2 IRE-Incentive It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley S at Chester. Positioned in second passing the...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Daddys Lil Darling, by Scat Daddy) shed maiden status with a game frontrunning display over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown last month and stormed to the head of ante-post betting lists for Epsom's G1 Oaks after unleashing a spectacular performance in Wednesday's Listed Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks at Chester. The 8-11 favourite's only moment of worry came at the break, when hampered as the gates opened, and she was bustled along early to retain contact with the main cluster. Inching forward inside the last...