Crimson Palace, the South African-bred winner of the Beverly D. Stakes, has been retired after having failed to recover from a nagging injury that had forced her to miss the Flower Bowl Handicap last month.

, owned by Godolphin, was being prepared for a start in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager, stated on the Godolphin website that Crimson Palace "wasn't right after training at the weekend. Unfortunately, we have run out of time with her, and she will not run in the Breeders' Cup."

Haafhd emerged from his summerlong doldrums on Saturday to land the $640,000, Group 1 Champion Stakes on a Newmarket course that was nearly waterlogged after three days of rain.

The winner of the 2000 Guineas on May 1, Haafhd had looked like anything but a classic winner in his next two starts, finishing fourth in the St. James's Palace Stakes and ninth in the Sussex Stakes. Trainer Barry Hills then rested the colt for 11 weeks, and the freshening did him wonders.

A British-bred, Italian-trained 3-year-old named Electrocutionist puts his 3-for-3 record on the line against seasoned veterans from throughout Europe in Sunday's Group 1, $275,000 Gran Premio del Jockey Club and Coppa d'Oro at San Siro in Milan at 1 1/2 miles.

Names like High Chaparral, Fantastic Light, Daylami, and Pilsudski have a certain ring to them. They were all absolutely first-class horses whose reputations preceded them en route to their famous victories in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

No such names will be dropped into the BC Turf pre-entry box on Monday, unless one counts Ouija Board, the English and Irish Oaks winner who was a fast-closing but unlucky third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Azamour can nail down honors as the best 1 1/4-mile horse in Europe with a victory in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, the richest day on the British racing calendar, when seven group races and a handicap worth a total of $1.9 million will be run.

The administrative council of France-Galop, French racing's ruling body, met on Tuesday in Boulogne, near Paris, to debate the changes proposed by its president, Edouard de Rothschild, to decrease the distances of the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) and other major races on the French calendar.

Kitten's Joy, Magistretti, Hard Buck, Star Over the Bay, Pico Central, and Soaring Free head the list of North American horses nominated to the four Hong Kong International Races worth a total of $7.2 million at Sha Tin on Dec. 12.

Somnus cemented his credentials as Europe's champion sprinter elect with a three-quarter-length win in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret.

Given a confident ride from off the pace by Mick Kinane, Somnus ran strongly in the final furlong to take the lead close to home.

The 13-5 favorite, Somnus will not race again this season, unlike runner-up Denebola. Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos Family, said Denebola will be pointed to the Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Five English raiders clash with two French-trained ones in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret over seven furlongs at Longchamp on Saturday. Although they are outnumbered, the French can keep this race at home.

Denebola, owned by the Niarchos family and trained by Pascal Bary, was beaten just over a length by Grey Lilas in the one-mile Prix du Moulin, also at Longchamp, on Sept. 5. This shorter trip will suit her well. It should also help Le Vie dei Colori, who finished not much more than a length behind Denebola in the Moulin.

PARIS, France - Var, a former Calder claimer, gave Europe's best sprinters their comeuppance on Sunday with a stunning front-running victory in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp.