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.

Fri, 07/03/2009 - 00:00

Le Havre, French Derby winner, retired after injury

Le Havre, winner of this year's French Derby, has been retired to stud after failing to recover from a tendon injury sustained when he won the Prix du Jockey-Club on June 7.

Fri, 07/03/2009 - 00:00

Irian perfect going into Jean Prat

Irian puts his perfect 3-for-3 record on the line at Chantilly on Sunday in the $560,000 Prix Jean Prat, a Group 1 mile for 3-year-old colts. A son of Tertullian trained by Jens Hirschberger, Irian is coming off a 1 1/2-length victory in the Group 2 Mehl-Muhlens-Rennen, or German 2000 Guineas, and is capable of handling this step up in class. Stephane Pasquier picks up the ride.

Thu, 07/02/2009 - 00:00

Sea the Stars challenges Conduit

Dual classic winner Sea the Stars will make his first start against older horses at Sandown Park on Saturday when he takes on Breeders' Cup Turf winner Conduit in the $823,700 Eclipse Stakes.

Scratched from last Sunday's Irish Derby due to the yielding ground, Sea the Stars, winner of both the 2000 Guineas at a mile and the Epsom Derby at 1 1/2 miles, will be cutting back to the intermediate distance of 1 1/4 miles in the Eclipse, but that should not present a problem to the versatile Sea the Stars.

Sun, 06/28/2009 - 00:00

Spanish Moon scores off three-month break

Spanish Moon made good in his first start in three months with a convincing victory in the Group 1, $556,000 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in which the favored Youmzain failed once again in finishing third.

Sun, 06/28/2009 - 00:00

Dream Journey captures Takarazuka Kinen

Dream Journey scored his first Grade 1 victory in nearly three years at Hanshin on Sunday when he won the $2.6 million Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin. The 5-year-old Yasutoshi Ikee-trained son of Stay Gold beat Sakura Mega Wonder by 1 3/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite Deep Sky disappointed again in finishing third, a neck behind the runner-up.

Sun, 06/28/2009 - 00:00

Fame and Glory grabs Irish Derby by five

Fame and Glory took full advantage of the absence of Sea the Stars to romp home in the $2 million Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday, leaving his Aidan O'Brien-trained stable companion Golden Sword five lengths in his wake in the 1 1/2-mile Group 1 classic.

Sat, 06/27/2009 - 00:00

Dar Re Mi earns BC berth in Pretty Polly

Dar Re Mi led throughout to take the Group 1, $314,000 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday, thus ensuring herself a place in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, a race her owner Andrew Lloyd-Webber is keen to take on.