York

Twenty career wins, 18 in group company. Those that wrote off Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) had to think again on Friday as Bjorn Nielsen's legendary chestnut popped up to keep his unbeaten tag on York's Knavesmire intact with a third G2 Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup. Travelling with all the gusto of his earlier days, the 6-4 favourite who was largely dogged by unsuitable ground and a dash of bad luck in 2021 sliced between younger rivals heading to two out with the crowd in raptures. Taking the measure...

There will be time to reflect on the career of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) at a later date, but for now his is a story still unfolding with perhaps the best yet to come. Whatever happens in Friday's G2 Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup, the horse that took to acquiring millions with the same aplomb as his hedge fund trader and investor owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen is heading to his own personal crescendo. Odds-on for the race he garnered in 2018 and 2019, the Gosdens' beloved chestnut may be attracting...

The G1 Cazoo Derby just got much more interesting after TDN Rising Star Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Desert Berry {GB}, by Green Desert) injected much-needed adrenaline into the mix by registering an impressive success in Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. at York. Sir Michael Stoute may have tried to hide the light of Saeed Suhail's once-raced colt under a bushel, describing him as "workmanlike" at home, but the news about him had nevertheless spread like wildfire through Newmarket and now we know why. Impressive enough on his...

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. Thursday's Observations features the final foal out of Marlinka (GB) (Marju {Ire}). 4.45 York, Mdn, £20,000, 2yo, 6fT UBETTABEQUICK (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the joint top-priced filly at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale at €350,000, debuts for Martin Webb Racing and the Nigel Tinkler stable who teamed up...

It's May, it's sunny, it's the Dante meeting in the county of England known as "God's Own Country" and we have a Sir Michael Stoute Derby plunge horse about to appear. While the kingpin of Newmarket is still prepared to train racehorses, there will continue to be moments like these and this time the bearer of the Freemason Lodge standard is the unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. Bred at Gary Robinson's Teversham-based Strawberry Fields Stud, Saeed Suhail's...

Unexposed over six furlongs, Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night of Thunder {Ire}--Pure Illusion {Ire}, by Danehill) stormed on to the sprinting scene with an emphatic success in Wednesday's G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper Logistics S. Trading strides with the ultimately-disappointing Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) until after halfway, the John Quinn-trained mare who was race-hardened after four outings so far this year put that 11-4 joint-favourite to bed soon after.  Despite drifting left, the 11-2 shot was still able to hand Spycatcher (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}) a 2 3/4-length beating,...

She may be named after a key character in a Marx Brothers film, but Emily Upjohn's "day at the races" is no laughing matter on Wednesday as the daughter of Sea the Stars (Ire) is concerned as she goes through the gears again in York's G3 Musidora S. at York. The Gosdens' latest 'TDN Rising Star' has already shown form good enough to make her presence felt in most renewals of the Epsom Classic and barring surprises here will be on the Downs with bells on on the first Friday...

High-class stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and G1 Cazoo Derby hopeful Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will both be in action at York in mid-May, co-trainer John Gosden revealed. The former holds an entry in the G2 Paddy Power Yorkshire Cup S. on May 13. After winning the G2 Doncaster Cup S. in September, the Bjorn Nielsen-owned chestnut ran second in the G1 Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp a month later, and finished his season with a third in the G2 British Champions Long...

Allocating an additional £100,000 to the total prize fund, the European Breeders' Fund announced the British EBF 2yo Series will offer £200,000 in 2022. The series of races was designed to provide high-value end of season goals for offspring by middle market stallions. The finals, which are staged at Group 1 independent racecourses, will be held between early September and October. Goodwood and York both pledged the full financial support; match-funding the £100,000 British EBF prize money contribution. A full list of qualifiers can be accessed here. Race conditions for...

Group 1-winning sprinter Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) will make his six-year-old bow in the G2 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics S. on May 11. The Roger Teal-trained gelding was second in the event a year ago, but improved to take the 2021 G1 King's Stand S. Oxted has been away from the racecourse due to injury since finishing third in the G1 July Cup. After getting a bone chip removed, he is back in training with a clean bill of health. "He's back in full work and we're just stepping...

The late Harry Beeby, formerly a DBS (now Goffs UK) Chairman, has been honoured by that sales company with the renaming of the Premier Yearling S. held at York's Ebor Meeting. Created by Beeby and his son Henry in 1997 to ensure the growth of the Doncaster St Leger Yearling Sales (now the Premier Yearling Sale), the six-furlong event will now be known as the £250,000 Goffs UK Harry Beeby Premier Yearling S. The juvenile race is open to graduates of the Premier Yearling Sale and Silver Sale and will...

As York's Ebor festival draws to a close, with the ever-popular £500,000 handicap after which it is named the feature event on the Knavesmire, Saturday has something for every angle with abundant pattern-race action across three countries thrown into the bargain. While the 22-strong field assembled for the extended 15-furlong Ebor headed by the May 27 G3 Brigadier Gerard S. and July 2 Listed Gala S.-winning veteran Euchen Glen (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) offers a punting puzzle in Europe's version of the Melbourne Cup, the purists can revel in a string...