Sun, 08/11/2024 - 14:34

France: Charyn prevails in Prix Jacques Le Marois, gains BC Mile berth

Eclipse Sportswire
Charyn wins the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville Racecourse in France on Sunday.

Charyn’s rise in Europe’s mile division is complete. There is even a chance the brilliant colt is on his way to the United States this year.

After winning the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in Britain in June for his first win at the highest level, Charyn was the easy winner of Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville Racecourse in northern France.

Charyn, trained by Roger Varian for owner and breeder Nurlan Bizakov, earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2 with the win.

Fri, 08/09/2024 - 13:40

Inspiral needs to step up to win record third Jacques Le Marois

A one-two finish by Inspiral and Big Rock in the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville, France, last August led to milestone achievements for the pair later in the year.

Inspiral won the richest race of her career last November by a neck in a thrilling running of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita. A few weeks earlier, Big Rock had won his first Group 1 on Champions Day in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in Britain.

Thu, 08/08/2024 - 14:59

Australia: Schwarz kicks off 4-year-old campaign in Missile Stakes

Unraced at 2, Schwarz compensated by winning three of seven starts, including two stakes, during his 3-year-old season in Australia from last October to June.

Southern Hemisphere runners turned 4 on Aug. 1. Schwarz will be favored to continue the success of his 3-year-old season in Friday’s Group 2 Missile Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

Thu, 08/01/2024 - 12:49

England: Elders, new distance no problem for Opera Singer in Nassau

Goodwood Racecourse
Trying 1 1/4 miles for the first time, and racing against older fillies and mares, Opera Singer (inside) held on to win Thursday's Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

A new distance of 1 1/4 miles was no problem for the 3-year-old filly Opera Singer in her debut against older fillies and mares in Thursday’s Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in Britain.

The race was part of summer campaign designed to have Opera Singer ready for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at 1 1/2 miles against older males at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 6, trainer Aidan O’Brien said.

“There is every chance she will get a mile and a half,” O’Brien told the press. “She’s very classy.”

Wed, 07/31/2024 - 13:47

With Rosallion a scratch, Notable Speech steps up in Sussex Stakes

Goodwood Racecourse
William Buick celebrates after winning the Group 1 Sussex Stakes on Notable Speech Wednesday at Goodwood.

Notable Speech rebounded from a disappointing performance at Royal Ascot in June, and the absence of a leading rival, to win his second Group 1 race of 2024 in Wednesday’s $1.28 million Sussex Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in Britain.

Benefiting from a stalking trip, Notable Speech, who paid $7.20 in American pools, rallied from third in a field of five to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 6-1 Maljoom.

The win gave Notable Speed a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Mon, 07/29/2024 - 13:15

Rosallion leads strong 3-year-old contingent in Sussex Mile

Megan Coggin
Rosallion (left) takes the measure of Sussex rival Henry Longfellow in the St. James’s Palace.

The Sussex Stakes at the Glorious Goodwood Festival marks a departure point for 3-year-old milers, the sophomores leaving age-restricted competition to set out in the world of weight-for-age racing against older rivals. Few accord the older set much chance on Wednesday in the Group 1 Sussex.

Mon, 07/29/2024 - 13:15

Nassau favorites all trying to break losing streaks

Benoit Photo
Inspiral, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, is 8-1 in the early betting of Thursday's Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

Opera Singer has never been tried at 1 1/4 miles, never faced older fillies and mares, and has not won since October.

Despite all that, Opera Singer is an early favorite with British bookmakers to win Thursday’s Group 1 Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles at Goodwood Racecourse in Britain.

Sun, 07/28/2024 - 17:46

Mqse De Sevigne notches second consecutive Prix Rothschild

Mqse De Sevigne won the Prix Rothschild at Deauville Racecourse on Sunday for the second year in a row, and this time it wasn’t that close.

Always moving like a winner, Mqse De Sevigne turned a pacestalking trip under Alexis Pouchin into a one-length Rothschild victory, her third win a row and fifth in six races. Her lone defeat during that span was a second-place finish behind Inspiral in the Sun Chariot Stakes last fall.

Sat, 07/27/2024 - 15:24

Ascot: Goliath powers to easy upset in King George VI and Queen Elizabeth

Megan Rose Photography
Goliath was a 25-1 upset winner of Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Ascot.

Goliath didn’t merely pull a 25-1 upset Saturday at Ascot in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, he crushed his eight rivals, winning, eased up, by 2 1/4 lengths over the filly Bluestocking.

Left bobbing in Goliath’s wake was favored Auguste Rodin, who faded to fifth after coming up the fence and challenging for the lead turning into the Ascot homestretch. Expectations ran much higher for Auguste Rodin, though the colt improved considerably upon his 10th-place showing in the 2023 King George.

Fri, 07/26/2024 - 16:20

Soft ground should suit Mqse de Sevigne in Prix Rothschild

Mqse de Sevigne won her last two races, including the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan over males going 1 1/8 miles, and last August captured the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet going 1 1/4 miles. Even so, a Sunday cut-back to one mile in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild on Sunday at Deauville Racecourse won’t keep the mare from winning her third race in a row and fourth from her last five starts.