Today’s International News Briefing Latest
Six for Sottsass
Dr Rascal (2 c ex Little Miss Rascal by Zoffany) became the sixth individual stakes winner for Sottsass (Siyouni) when landing Tuesday’s Vintage Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at Glorious Goodwood. Ridden by Kaiya Fraser for trainer Oliver Cole, the juvenile colt squeezed through a gap up the far-side rail and kept on well to deny Haffner (Justify) by a half-length. There was a further short-head back to Al Hudaiba (Dark Angel) in third place. Bred and raced by Charlie and Julia Rosier, Dr Rascal is a half-brother to winner Miss Rascal (Havana Gold) being the second foal out of the unraced Zoffany (Dansili) mare Little Miss Rascal, herself a half-sister to Group-placed winner Up And Under (Lope De Vega) and from the family of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Gr 1, 8f) winner Line Of Duty (Galileo). Sottsass stood the 2026 northern hemisphere breeding season at Shizunai Stallion Station.
UK: Scandinavia backs up Ascot with second Goodwood Cup
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Scandinavia (4 c Justify – Fabulous by Galileo) supplemented his last-start win in the Ascot Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2m 4f) with a second-straight victory in Tuesday’s Goodwood Cup (Gr 1, 2m) at Glorious Goodwood. Ridden by Ryan Moore, the four-year-old colt faced off against his Ascot rival Trawlerman (Golden Horn) but the battle could never really get into full swing, with the loose-running Amiloc (Postponed) coming across Trawlerman down the home straight and effectively handing Scandinavia with the lead. However, it is unlikely the result would have changed given the winner pulled eight and a half lengths clear of the Godolphin horse. There was a further three-quarters of a length back to the third-placed Rahiebb (Frankel). “I was just talking to Aidan there and it’s probably as good a staying performance as he’s ever seen,” Moore said. “I never asked him for everything either. It was nice for him to have a horse to follow all the way, he probably thinks he got beat! Very good horse. Unbelievable race record now. His stride never shortened, he just kept galloping all the way to the line. What more can you say? He couldn’t have done anymore than what he done today. He likes fast ground, he’s a high class horse and hopefully there’s a few more good days to come.”
UK: Lake Forest leaves it late in Lennox
William Haggas’ 2024 Golden Eagle (1500m, then non-stakes race) winner Lake Forest (5 g No Nay Never – Lady Aquitaine by El Prado) secured his second career Group-race success and third stakes win when taking out Tuesday’s Lennox Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at Glorious Goodwood. Ridden by Cieren Fallon, the son of No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) produced a strong late run to lead late on and hold on by a neck from Rogue Diplomat (Calxy). There was a further three-quarters of a length back to the front-running Witness Stand (Expert Eye), who won the 2025 renewal, in third.
UK: Bow Echo bids for Group 1 hat-trick in Sussex
Unbeaten three-year-old Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) will chase a third consecutive Group 1 victory when he renews his rivalry with Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) in Wednesday’s Sussex Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Goodwood. The George Boughey-trained colt has already won the English 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) and St James’s Palace Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) this season, with Boughey describing him as the fastest horse he has trained. Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath) shapes as another leading contender after the Jebel Hatta (Gr 1, 1800m) winner finished third following a front-running effort in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) at Royal Ascot. Charlie Appleby reported Opera Ballo had recovered well from that performance, while jockey Billy Loughnane, who has ridden both runners, said he would not swap Bow Echo despite holding the Godolphin colt in high regard. Lake Forest is also entered but contested, and won, Tuesday’s Lennox Stakes so is an unlikely runner.
UK: Dual Group 1 winner Ghanaati dies aged 20
Shadwell homebred Ghanaati (Giant’s Causeway), winner of the English 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) and Coronation Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) in 2009, has died at the age of 20. Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold described Ghanaati as an outstanding miler who provided the operation with two memorable Group 1 victories during the spring and summer of 2009. Trained by Barry Hills, Ghanaati won three of her six starts, including 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ghanaati produced seven winners from as many runners, her leading progeny including three-time Group 2 winner Mutasaabeq (Invincible Spirit), Mahab Al Shimaal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) winner Wafy (Dubawi) and Royal Hunt Cup (1m) winner Afaak (Oasis Dream).
IRE: Goffs catalogs 482 yearlings for Orby Book 1
Goffs has catalogued 482 yearlings for its Orby Book 1 Sale, which will be held on September 28 and 29 before the two-day Orby Book 2 auction. The catalogue features siblings to 22 Group 1 winners and a further 46 Group 2 and Group 3 winners. Every yearling offered across Orby Books 1 and 2 will be eligible for the 2027 Goffs Two Million Series, comprising the €1 million (approx. AU$1.63 million) Goffs Million (7f) and an additional €1 million in €50,000 (approx. AU$81,640) bonuses attached to designated two-year-old races in Ireland and Britain. Orby Book 1 will commence at 10am on both sale days, with the Orby Book 2 catalogue to be released on Wednesday.