Mon, 07/13/2009 - 00:00

Beheshtam tops Grand Prix de Paris

Beheshtam, as low as 10-1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, puts his tall reputation on the line at Longchamp on Tuesday in the Group 1, $836,000 Grand Prix de Paris in which he will face four horses saddled by Aidan O'Brien and two owned by Sheikh Mohammed.

Sun, 07/12/2009 - 00:00

Sariska doubles up in Irish Oaks

It was a stroll in the park for Sariska at the Curragh on Sunday as the English Oaks winner doubled her classic pleasure with the easiest of victories in the $701,000 Irish Oaks. In a performance that recalled that of Montjeu in the 2000 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, and that of Millkom in the 1995 Man o' War Stakes, Sariska cruised to a three-length victory over longshot Roses for the Lady. Midday, a head runner-up in the English Oaks, was a well beaten third, 7 1/2 lengths behind the impressive winner.

Fri, 07/10/2009 - 00:00

Top two vulnerable at Curragh

Sariska and Midday, first and second in the English Oaks five weeks ago at Epsom, will renew their rivalry at the Curragh on Sunday in the $701,000 Irish Oaks. Sariska outlasted Midday by a head that day on good ground, but with the weather forecast calling for rain on race day, there is no telling how these two might fare this time around.

Fri, 07/10/2009 - 00:00

Fleeting Spirit wins despite antics

Fleeting Spirit, fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, gained a well-deserved first Group 1 win despite zig-zagging through the final furlong of the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Thursday - the fourth leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

Thu, 07/09/2009 - 00:00

Doctor Fremantle benefits at Newmarket

l? S?antle pulled off a narrow victory in a messy renewal of the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

The Godolphin-owned Schiaparelli was allowed an uncontested lead and was still in front when he hung a right across the course approaching the eighth pole and squeezed Alwaary against the rail. Doctor Fremantle took advantage to edge out Schiaparelli by a half-length, covering the 1 1/2 miles on good turf in 2:30.80.

Wed, 07/08/2009 - 00:00

Goldikova rebounds in Falmouth

Goldikova got back on track at Newmarket on Wednesday when she scored a professional half-length victory in the Group 1, $322,000 Falmouth Stakes. Returning from a dull seventh in the 1 1/8-mile, 55-yard Prix d'Ispahan, the Breeders' Cup Mile winner was much more comfortable over this straight mile. Settling nicely in second for Olivier Peslier, Goldikova, the 7-4 favorite, led at the quarter pole and held runner-up Heaven Sent safe, with Spacious another half-length back in third.

Tue, 07/07/2009 - 00:00

Alwaary a threat to his elders at Newmarket

Alwaary can show his older rivals who's the boss in the Group 2, $162,000 Princess of Wales's Stakes on the Newmarket July Course on Thursday.

The lone 3-year-old in the 1 1/2-mile Group 2 contest, Alwaary, trained by John Gosden, won a 1 3/8-mile listed race at Goodwood last time.

This will be just the fifth outing for Alwaary, an improving son of the hot stallion Dynaformer, the sire of Sunday's German Derby winner, Wiener Walzer.

Mon, 07/06/2009 - 00:00

Goldikova out to rebound

Goldikova will try to get back on track at Newmarket on Wednesday in a hot renewal of the $323,000 Falmouth Stakes, a Group 1 mile for fillies and mares.

The brilliant winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, Goldikova showed none of her old sparkle when she finished seventh against males in her seasonal debut going a 1/8 miles, 55 yards on soft ground in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan, so a return to a mile on good to firm ground against her own sex could be just what the doctor ordered. Trainer Freddie Head will employ Olivier Peslier in the saddle.

Mon, 07/06/2009 - 00:00

Lord Shanakill hangs on in Prix Jean Prat

Lord Shanakill held on gamely to win a Group 1 mile, the $556,000 Prix Jean Prat for 3-year-olds at Chantilly on Sunday, defeating Oiseau de Feu by a head. Lord Shanakill, a Kentucky-bred son of Speightstown trained in England by Karl Burke and ridden by Jim Crowley, was never worse than second, leading at the quarter pole while getting the mile in 1:38.90 on good ground. It was a half-length farther back to German 2000 Guineas winner Irian, with the 2-1 favorite Westphalia fifth, his chances ruined as he was never able to settle.

Sat, 07/04/2009 - 00:00

Sea the Stars beats older horses in Eclipse

Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Sea the Stars holds off Rip Van Winkle to win the Grade 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on Saturday.

Sea the Stars completed a extraordinary triple at Sandown Park on Saturday with a comprehensive victory in the $823,000 Eclipse Stakes as he repelled the late challenge of Rip Van Winkle, leaving Breeders' Cup Turf winner Conduit a well beaten third in the 1 1/4-mile Group 1 test, the first major inter-generational conflict of the year. His performance was so exciting, winning owner Christopher Tsui fainted in the winner's circle.