Mon, 08/18/2025 - 13:58

Delacroix, Ombudsman stand out in Juddmonte International

Focusonracing.com

Delacroix (right) outduels Ombudsman to win the Eclipse Stakes last month at Sandown.

Delacroix, getting 10 pounds and a great ride from Ryan Moore, nipped Ombudsman by a neck in the Eclipse Stakes on July 12 at Sandown Park. The weight spread between 3-year-old Delacroix and 4-year-old Ombudsman drops marginally to eight pounds Wednesday in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York.

John Gosden has trained or co-trained the International winner three of the last seven years, and Gosden, who trains 4-year-old Ombudsman with his son Thady, has proven masterful at bringing later-developers like Ombudsman along at their own pace.

Sun, 08/17/2025 - 13:29

France: Diego Velazquez surprises with Prix Jacques le Marois win

By Marcus Hersh

Diego Velazquez upset the Prix Jacques le Marois on Sunday at Deauville Racecourse in France, though the story regarding the Group 1 Marois included key roles for the runner-up and a non-participant.

Racing just four days after being purchased by owner Sam Sangster, who plans to stand 4-year-old Diego Velazquez at stud after this racing season, Diego Velazquez, making his 11th start, won for the first time at the Group 1 level. Aidan O’Brien trains the winner, whose task became easier when likely favorite Rosallion was scratched because of a bruised hoof.

Fri, 08/15/2025 - 13:23

Lemaire has Japanese filly for homecoming in Jacques Le Marois

By Marcus Hersh

Docklands beats Rosallion in Queen Anne at Ascot June 17 2025

Megan Coggin

Docklands (left) and Rosallion, one-two in the Queen Anne at the Royal Ascot meet, renew acquaintances in the Jacques Le Marois.

The jockey Christophe Lemaire’s return to France comes on a filly who has yet to race anywhere in Europe.

Ascoli Piceno, a high-level Japan-based sprinter-miler, traveled to Australia last September, finishing a subpar 12th, and went to Saudi Arabia in February, winning the 1351 Turf Sprint, so named because of its distance in meters. Sunday, she starts in the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville Racecourse in France, Lemaire’s home country and riding base before he became a full-time Japanese jockey in 2015.

Wed, 08/13/2025 - 12:11

Australia: Private Eye takes on former North American stars in Lawrence Stakes

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Moira will shorten up to a sprint in Friday's Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield in Australia.

A week later than expected, the 8-year-old gelding Private Eye will be favored to win a Group 2 sprint in Australia in Friday’s $196,300 P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield. He faces a field that includes three former North American-based mares.

Sun, 08/03/2025 - 14:24

Ryan Moore Blog: Preis der Diana ‐ German Oaks Day

By The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Dusseldorf | Race 5: Preis der Diana ‐ German Oaks

I’m looking forward to the trip to Dusseldorf on Sunday for the German Oaks.

GARDEN OF EDEN has improved throughout the season, especially as she’s gone up in trip.

She was a good winner at Naas (2100m) and then followed that up nicely at Ascot over further in the Ribblesdale Stakes (2400m). That form gives her leading claims in here.

Sun, 08/03/2025 - 13:23

France: Fallen Angel flies high with narrow Prix Rothschild triumph

By Marcus Hersh

Fallen Angel, winning at the Group 1 level for the first time in 14 months, captured the Group 1 Prix Rothschild by a head Sunday at Deauville Racecourse.

The early leader in the Rothschild, a straight-course mile for fillies and mares, Fallen Angel was headed inside the final furlong by favored January but came back and eked out a narrow victory, her first top-level score since the Irish 1000 Guineas in late May 2024.

Fri, 08/01/2025 - 14:22

Matilda takes big swing in Prix Rothschild

By Marcus Hersh

Goodwood Racecourse

Qirat, the huge upset winner of the Group 1 Sussex, will be pointed to the Breeders' Cup Mile.

The German-bred filly Matilda finished fifth at 19-1 debuting March 30 at Cologne in a conditions race. Two starts and four months later, much has changed – including her owner, trainer, and jockey, and country of residence.

At odds of 9-1, Matilda romped second time out in another Cologne conditions race, and at 25-1 on May 18, she absolutely crushed eight rivals, six of them colts, in the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas. Tracking the leader in a one-turn mile, Matilda took command in midstretch and powered to a 6 1/2-length victory.

Thu, 07/31/2025 - 14:50

Whirl wires Nassau field at boggy Goodwood

By Marcus Hersh

Goodwood Racecourse

Whirl wins her second straight Group 1 against older rivals in the Nassau Stakes Thursday at Goodwood.

The 3-year-old filly Whirl beat older horses in the Pretty Polly Stakes last month in Ireland for her first Group 1 win, and she beat them again for her second in the Nassau Stakes on Thursday at Goodwood Racecourse in England.

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 13:16

Ryan Moore’s World Pool blog: Nassau Stakes Day

By The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia

Ryan Moore discusses his rides for Nassau Stakes Day at Goodwood.

Goodwood | Race 1: 3yo Handicap

This is one of those typically competitive Goodwood handicaps over a mile and a quarter (2000m) for three-year-olds. I ride PAROLE D’ORO for Michael Bell. He didn’t run badly in the Britannia at Royal Ascot and was then beaten a short-head in a mile (1600m) handicap at Newmarket’s July meeting. He steps up a couple of furlongs here (400m) and hopefully that will bring about some more improvement.

Wed, 07/30/2025 - 12:26

Qirat wins Sussex Stakes as 150-1 shocker

By Marcus Hersh

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Ralph Beckett had to convince owners Juddmonte Farms to supplement Qirat into the Sussex.

Qirat, a 150-1 shot in England and a mere 61-1 on the American tote board, scored a shock upset Wednesday in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse.

Trained by Ralph Beckett, Qirat is a Juddmonte Farms homebred whose entry in the one-mile Sussex had as much to do with the Juddmonte homebred Field of Gold, the odds-on Sussex favorite trained by John and Thady Gosden, than his own participation. Qirat had other ideas, stepping outside his role a bit player to steal the Sussex show, holding clear a strong finish from Rosallion to win by a neck.

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