International Latest
41 for Frankel
Juddmonte’s breed-shaping stallion Frankel (Galileo) sired his 41st individual elite-level winner on Friday when Thundering On (3 f ex Thundering Nights by Night Of Thunder) ran out an impressive winner of the Epsom Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f) at Epsom. Bred and raced by Shapoor Mistry, Thundering On is the first foal out of the Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) mare Thundering Nights who landed the Pretty Polly Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) in 2021 but died prematurely as a seven-year-old. Frankel is standing at Banstead Manor Stud for a fee of £350,000 (approx. AU$661,970).
UK: Seagulls Eleven continues resurgence in Diomed Stakes
The Hugo Palmer-trained Seagulls Eleven (4 g Galileo Gold – Thrilled by Kodiac) maintained his good run of recent form when toughing out a success in Friday’s Diomed Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 1/2f) at Epsom. Having won the Prix de Montretout (Listed, 1600m) and run a narrow second in the Prix du Muguet (Gr 2, 1600m) on both of his prior starts as a four-year-old, the son of Galileo Gold (Paco Boy) added another success as he gamely fought off the challenge of 2025 Diomed winner Persica (New Bay) by a nose at the line. There was a further two lengths back to Boiling Point (Too Darn Hot) in third. Seagulls Eleven was Group 1 and Group 2 placed as a juvenile.
68 for Twirling Candy
Lane’s End Farm stallion Twirling Candy (Candy Ride) chalked up his 68th individual stakes winner on Thursday when West End Kid (3 c ex To A Friend by Scat Daddy) scored in the Pennine Ridge Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Saratoga. The William Walden-trained colt was ridden by Tyler Gaffalione and defeated Blackmail (Not This Time) by a length and a quarter with a further half-length back to the third-placed Bottas (Vekoma). A US$350,000 purchased for his owners Mo Speed Racing at the 2025 Ocala Spring 2YO Sale, West End Kid is a half-brother to winner Baron Of Sealand (Liam’s Map) being out of the Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) mare To A Friend, who herself is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Starting Over (Liam’s Map). Twirling Candy is standing for a fee of US$75,000 (approx. AU$105,770).
US: Tawny Port lands Melbourne Cup spot via Gold Cup win
The Miguel Clement-trained Tawny Port (7 h Pioneerof The Nile – Livi Makenzie by Macho Uno) booked his spot in November’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) when landing Thursday’s Belmont Gold Cup Stakes (Gr 2, 16f) at Saratoga. Ridden by Flavien Prat, the seven-year-old entire has a ballot-free spot in the Cup after defeating Navy Seal (Dubawi) by two and a half lengths in the Grade 2 contest. There was a further six and a half lengths back to Miztertonic (Mission Impazible) in third place. “Going into the race, we were sure that he needed the run,” Clement said. “He’s seven years old so he’s not quite a spring chicken but I guess like French wine, he gets better with age.” Meanwhile, winning rider Prat revealed he was yet to visit Australia. “Miguel was confident and he said the distance would be his friend,” Prat said. “I’ve not been to Australia but I guess I’ll go. It is still a long way to go but it is very exciting.”