Third time lucky for Battaash in King’s Stand
Runner-up in the last two editions of the race, Battaash (Dark Angel) finally landed a well-deserved victory in the King’s Stand Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at Royal Ascot yesterday, the fourth elite-level win of his career. Battaash had finished second to Blue Point (Shamardal) in the race in 2018 and 2019 but with the entire... Read More
Distinct Australian flavour to day two at Royal Ascot
Even with no Australian-trained runners at Royal Ascot this year, the second day of the five-day festival has a strong antipodean flavour, even behind closed doors. Day two at Royal Ascot this year features a horse coming off two top-level wins down under and the son of a four-time Australian Group 1 winner seeking to... Read More
Magic Millions National Sale catalogue goes live and so is the auction
The Magic Millions Gold Coast National Sale, the biggest breeding stock auction in the southern hemisphere, is certain to be conducted as a live event after the company released its catalogue and schedule for the major bloodstock trading market. A relieved Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch last night revealed a seven-session format for the... Read More
Firsts for Real Impact and Territories
New winners Air Force Blue – Former Coolmore shuttler Air Force Blue (War Front) sired his second first-crop winner on Wednesday when Chief Little Hawk (2 c ex Marylebone by Unbridled’s Song) took out a 5f maiden at Navan on debut. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt defeated The Blue Panther (Buratino) by a length and a... Read More
Group 1 glory for Moore with Saturn
A brilliant tactical ride by Frenchman Jean-Baptiste (J B) Hamel sealed victory for Hostwin Saturn (Stratum) in Saturday’s Macau Guineas (Listed, 1500m), giving fledgling trainer Nick Moore his first local Group victory – let alone a local Group 1 – in what is his first season as a trainer. Moore and Hamel devised a pre-race... Read More
Juddmonte confirms sale of breeding rights to Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Siskin
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Khalid Abdullah, has confirmed that Juddmonte Farms have sold the breeding rights to the operation’s homebred undefeated Irish 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Siskin (First Defence). Rumours that such a deal had been stuck have circulated for some time following the colt’s juvenile campaign, which culminated with success in... Read More