Westover (GB)

Classic hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the end of June, will be freshened after his unplaced run in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. on Saturday. A winner of the G3 bet365 Classic Trial in his seasonal debut in April, the Juddmonte colourbearer ran third in the G1 Cazoo Derby for trainer Ralph Beckett. The bay set a contested pace in the King George. "I think it just wasn't our day," said Barry Mahon, general manager...

Juddmonte homebred Westover (GB)'s seven-length thumping of the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby field last month was the second consecutive Irish Derby victory by a son of Frankel (GB) after Hurricane Lane (Ire) in 2021, but his achievement was also a timely reminder of the potency of his late broodmare sire Lear Fan. Born in 1981, the dark bay has also featured as the broodmare sire of another prominent Sadler's Wells-line runner, the two-time U.S. Champion Sire Kitten's Joy (El Prado {Ire}), who died at Hill 'n' Dale Farm...

All six contenders stood their ground for Saturday's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. at Ascot as final declarations were confirmed Thursday morning. Juddmonte's G1 Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB} and G1 Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), set to make her first start in the Watership Down silks, will take on their elders with the advantage of a sizeable weight allowance afforded the Classic generation in the £1.25 million 12-furlong test. They have drawn gates six and three, respectively. Prince Faisal's...

Last month's G1 Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is pleasing trainer Ralph Beckett in advance of his next start in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. on Saturday. The field for the Ascot prize is high on quality, with the G1 Oaks second Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), also signed on for the 3-year-old brigade. The 2021 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), as well as fellow Group 1 winners Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Pyledriver (GB)...

Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby had been teed up as a match between Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Mirabilis, by Lear Fan) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), but in the ultimate assessment it was really a matter of no contest as Ralph Beckett's powerhouse colt overwhelmed all assembled for the Curragh Classic. Always travelling in a beautiful rhythm for Colin Keane granted a perfect lead by French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}), the 11-8 joint-favourite took control at the top of the straight and had already stretched into an unassailable...

Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be contested by seven colts and the filly Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) after Aidan O'Brien confirmed just that G1 Oaks heroine for The Curragh's €1 million Classic. Drawn in stall one as she bids to become the first of her sex to prevail since Balanchine (Storm Bird) in 1994, she meets Juddmonte's G1 Derby third Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who will break from stall five. With Rosegreen's Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set to go elsewhere, the...

Overnight contenders for Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish were reduced by half, leaving eight declared for the Curragh's €1,000,000 12-furlong Classic. Aidan O'Brien took the most drastic measures and reduced his team of six to just one with G1 Cazoo Oaks heroine Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) set to depart from stall one in her bid to become the first filly to prevail since Balanchine (Storm Bird) in 1994. Her chief rival, Juddmonte's G1 Cazoo Derby third Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), has drawn stall five.

There were stage-managed fireworks exploding from Epsom's stands minutes before the 243rd staging of the G1 Cazoo Derby In Memory of Lester Piggott, but the real pyrotechnics were provided on the grass by Saeed Suhail's superb Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Desert Berry {GB}, by Green Desert) as he proved a class apart in this special edition. Sent off the 5-2 favourite for a race which looked deep both numerically and in terms of talent and promise, the unbeaten TDN Rising Star marked the occasion with a performance to place alongside...

Juddmonte's Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown on Apr. 22, will forego another start prior to an intended run in the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 4, according to Barry Mahon, Juddmonte's General Manager of Ireland and European racing. The colt will have a workout over the Epsom Downs however, during the Cazoo Derby Gallops Morning on May 23. "He's a beautiful looking horse, by Frankel who is excelling at present and [trainer] Ralph [Beckett] is very happy with him," said Mahon. "If...

Last year's G3 Sandown Classic Trial was a momentous renewal and Friday's is another to keep a close eye on after a trio of likely types finished clear led home by Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Last seen finishing runner-up in Pontefract's Listed Silver Tankard S. in October, Juddmonte's imposing bay raced freely for Rob Hornby tracking the 6-5 favourite Goldspur (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) throughout the early stages. Edging ahead a furlong from home, the 5-1 shot was initially wayward but honest enough to give extra and hold off the late...