Where did they come from?

by Heather Anderson & Brian Sheerin The final leg of the original Triple Crown, the G1 Betfred St Leger features nine colts, with several homebreds and auction graduates, including two at €440,000. If Their Majesties' Desert Hero (GB) pulls off the victory, he would be the first royal winner since Queen Elizabeth's Dunfermline (GB) in 1977. Aidan O'Brien, gunning for his seventh edition, will saddle a quartet of individuals, all in with a chance, and the choice of Ryan Moore is the G2 Great Voltigeur S. hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's...

by Emma Berry & Heather Anderson    A field of eight make up Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, and a strong Irish contingent faces just one English challenger, Juddmonte's Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}). Aidan O'Brien runs four fillies, including the favourite, Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The Aga Khan homebred Azazat (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is another who is taking her chance in this 1 1/2-mile Classic at the Curragh, and will attempt to become the third winner for her owner/breeder after Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in 1997 and Shawanda (Ire) (Sinndar...

The first, third and fourth from Epsom all meet again after the Derby form was given a boost by the imposing runner-up King Of Steel when winning the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot. Three sons of Galileo take on six of his grandsons, while five Aidan O'Brien-trained runners face one trained by each of his sons, Joseph and Donnacha. AUGUSTE RODIN (Ire) Deep Impact (Jpn) - Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg Breeder: Coolmore Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Pedigree notes:...

by Emma Berry & Heather Anderson From homebreds, to pricy auction purchases, the 15 G1 Prix de Diane Longines's contenders run the gamut of backgrounds. G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victress Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) will try to add another Classic to her resume, but she faces strong competition in the form of the unbeaten Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and the Gosdens' Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion) among others.   NOVAKAI (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire)--Elasia (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) Owner/Breeder: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Trainer: Karl...

Trainer Christopher Head and owner-breeder Leopoldo Fernando Pujals have already taken home the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches trophy with Blue Rose Cen (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) and their year could become even more memorable should favourite Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) take another step forward in an impressive season to date. There's a strong homebred feel to the line-up, and only five of the runners have ever appeared at an auction. Four are graduates of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, while Winter Pudding (Fr) will be flying the flag...

   Dermot Weld is hunting for his second consecutive edition of the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, and he saddles Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), who enters on the back of a strong second in the English equivalent. Also represented by Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal), Weld faces a strong contingent from Ballydoyle, among others, with GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), who renews her rivalry with the former, the best of her rivals.   ASPEN GROVE (IRE), Justify--Data Dependent (More Than Ready) Owner: Craig Bernick Breeder: Glen...

by Heather Anderson & Brian Sheerin    A strong field of 11 has been drawn to the Curragh to dispute Classic honours, with a typically robust challenge from Aidan O'Brien led by Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). Several horses who contested the English equivalent are also testing their mettle in Ireland, as third-place finisher Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) was a £45,000 supplementary entry, joining Guineas runner-up Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).   AGE OF KINGS (IRE), Kingman (GB)--Turret Rocks (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) Owner: Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Brant Breeder:...

by Heather Anderson & Brian Sheerin    Yeguada Centurion's Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen has already prepped for this race with a 1 1/2-length victory in the G3 Prix de la Grotte in April, however Lindy ran second that day and reopposes on Sunday. The Coolmore partners run Never Ending Story in this fillies' Classic, and she, too, enters off a win--the G3 1000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown.   SWINGALONG (IRE), Showcasing (GB)--Pilates (Ire) (Shamardal) Owner: Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum Breeder: Mountarmstrong Stud Trainer: Karl Burke Sales...

by Heather Anderson & Brian Sheerin    Will His Highness The Aga Khan's explosive G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Tahiyra build on her brilliance from last autumn, or will the Coolmore partners' Meditate consolidate her Breeders' Cup victory in Classic fashion? An even score of fillies test their mettle on the Rowley Mile, and with the changeable weather, it is anyone's guess who will emerge triumphant.   CAERNARFON (GB), Cityscape (GB)--Royal Ffanci (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) Owner: Hunscote Stud, P Humphreys & J Sweeney Breeder: Hunscote Stud Trainer: Jack Channon...

The G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas sees a contentious field of 14 try their hands at gaining an all-important Classic next to their names. Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners bring two striking colts to the fray in potential G1 Betfred Derby headliner Auguste Rodin and G1 Phoenix S. winner Little Big Bear. Juddmonte's star Chaldean is looking for redemption after dislodging retiring reinsman Frankie Dettori in the G3 Greenham S. last month. If the latter duo succeed, it would be the Italian's fourth Guineas. We took a look at the...

Although the €500,000 G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks will not be a clash of the G1 Cazoo Oaks one-two Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the latter withdrawn due to transportation issues at the 11th hour on Friday morning, there is plenty of quality in the seven-horse field still signed on. Aidan O'Brien is not empty-handed with the withdrawal of Tuesday either, as he will still run three for the Coolmore partners, led by Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).   CAIRDE GO DEO (FR), Camelot (GB)--Elusive...

1) WE THE PEOPLE, c, Constitution--Letchworth, by Tiznow Owner: WinStar Farm, Bobby Flay, CMNWLTH, Siena Farm Breeder: Henley Farms (KY) Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset Sales History: $110,000 Keeneland November weanling, $220,000 Keeneland September yearling, $230,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream 2-year-old Pedigree Notes: Trying to become the second Belmont winner in three years for WinStar's star fourth-crop sire (Tiz the Law in 2020), We the People is the second foal to race out of Letchworth, a $40,000 Keeneland January purchase by Henley Farms at Keeneland January in 2019. Letchworth is a daughter of Harmony...