Latest horse racing news from UK, Ireland, and around the world.

Harrington hoping for maximum Impact in Irish Derby

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Green Impact winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby would be “top of the list” according to Jessica Harrington, eclipsing her Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Chase-winning exploits over obstacles.

Harrington is perhaps mostly known for the long and distinguished career of star two-mile chaser Moscow Flyer and the subsequent blue riband win of Sizing John, but she has also made her mark on the level and having bagged the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks previously now has her eye on the Curragh’s elite contest for three-year-old colts.

Harrington said: “These are very important races and ones that are recognised worldwide – just like winning a Champion Chase and Gold Cup in the National Hunt sphere, but winning an Irish Derby would be fantastic.

“It would very much be top of the list, so I would love to win the Irish Derby.”

Green Impact has won three of his four starts since narrowly beaten on debut at the Curragh during Irish Derby weekend 12 months ago.

He impressed when winning the Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown earlier this month, a welcome confidence booster after losing a shoe at a vital stage of the 2000 Guineas on his return.

Harrington added: “I wouldn’t say he didn’t get the run of the race in the 2000 Guineas as he travelled into the race great, but when he got down to the dip he went to change his legs and went to go and try to win the race and he then just lost a shoe and got a bit unbalanced and ended up finishing sixth.

“At the time I was disappointed but coming out of that race afterwards he was sore and so we gave him a bit of time. The intention was to go to the French Derby but we didn’t get there, so we gave him the run in Leopardstown and all roads lead to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby after that.”

Trainer Jessica Harrington would love to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
Trainer Jessica Harrington would love to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Mike Egerton/PA)

Now the son of Wootton Bassett is a best price of 10-1 for his Classic assignment, as he prepares to tackle a mile and a half for the first time in a race that could feature the first three home from the Epsom equivalent.

“I think he’ll benefit for the step up in trip, he won over a mile as a two-year-old and usually if they do that they stay,” added Harrington.

“He’s by Wootton Bassett and out of a Galileo mare and he’s also a very laid-back character and very relaxed and easy to do anything with, so I think he will stay.

“It’s a big task and everyone looks and sees only 10 runners, but the majority of those 10 runners are quality horses.”

Calandagan back in search of elusive Group One gold

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Connections of Calandagan are confident the ground will be in his favour for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday.

The Aga Khan Studs-owned gelding excelled last season when winning a pair of Group Threes at ParisLongchamp before a hugely impressive six-length triumph in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

But his step up to Group One level has so far seen a series of near-misses, with second-place finishes in the Juddmonte International, Champion Stakes, Dubai Sheema Classic and Coronation Cup.

Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: “He worked on Tuesday morning and worked well. He took his run at Epsom very well and he’s going to run in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday.

“It’s going to be a very hot race this year, but he’s in great form and I think he’ll get his ground.”

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is also set to be represented by last year’s King George winner Goliath, who returned to winning ways in the Group Three La Coupe at ParisLongchamp last time out.

The six-strong possibles list is completed by Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa, Andre Fabre’s Junko, the Christophe Ferland-trained Aventure and Iresine, representing the stable of Jean-Pierre Gauvin.

Options aplenty for impressive Albany heroine Venetian Sun

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Connections of Venetian Sun will be dreaming big after she rose admirably to the challenge at Royal Ascot to land the Albany Stakes.

The filly has clearly always been held in high regard by trainer Karl Burke, and demonstrated exactly why when overcoming a difficult draw to take Group Three honours by a length and a half last week.

While there is no great hurry to formulate an immediate plan for the two-year-old daughter of Starman, a handful of races have been identified as possible next targets for the Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy-owned youngster.

Bloom’s racing manager Sean Graham said: “Karl said she came out of the race in great order.

All smiles for the Venetian Sun team at Royal Ascot
All smiles for the Venetian Sun team at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“You’ve Newmarket for the Duchess of Cambridge, which is six furlongs at the July meeting, and you’ve got the Lowther over six furlongs at York. Later in the season you’ve also got the Moyglare over seven furlongs at the Curragh.

“We said to Karl that we’d let the hare sit after Royal Ascot and not be in any mad rush to make any definite decisions, but those races are certainly on our radar.

“If you win the Albany from a dreadful draw you probably have a much better filly still, she had no cover and was on the wide outside – everything went wrong and yet she still won.”

The Guineas was mentioned in the immediate aftermath of the Ascot contest, with all connections singing from the same hymn sheet with regards to Venetian Sun’s potential, while remaining mindful that her three-year-old season is a distant prospect still.

Graham added: “I think most trainers would automatically be thinking about the Guineas with an Albany winner, but her owners are very aware that an awful lot can happen between now and then so we won’t get too ahead of ourselves.”

Connections looking to to see the real Falakeyah next time out

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Connections of Falakeyah are keen to put a line through her disappointing performance at Royal Ascot, with Goodwood’s Nassau Stakes identified as a potential stage for redemption.

Having bolted up on her Wolverhampton debut in November, the Owen Burrows-trained filly looked every inch a top-class performer in the making when running away with Newmarket’s Pretty Polly Stakes on her return to action in the spring.

After sidestepping the Oaks at Epsom and being ruled out of the French equivalent, Falakeyah dropped back to a mile for the Coronation Stakes, but ended up racing too enthusiastically for her own good on the front end before weakening in the home straight.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “It was a pity, as I was very pleased with her before the race. She settled beforehand, I thought, she was good and calm in the ring and Jim (Crowley) said she went down brilliantly relaxed.

“I’ve only seen the replay once, but it looked to me like for the first 50 or 60 yards of the race she was OK and then when Hollie (Doyle, riding Duty First) came upsides her she just put her head in the air and took off basically. It just set her alight and that was it.

“On a hot day like that, she was never going to be able to keep going at that pace, so we’ll just give her a bit of time. We didn’t learn anything regarding distance or anything like that, all we learnt was she’s not going to win races if she races like that.”

He added: “We know she’s considerably better than that, her work at home is very high class and that run didn’t bare any resemblance to her work at home. We’ll obviously have to try to settle her next time and maybe we’ll have a look at something like the Nassau. We’ll just see how everyone feels nearer the time.

“At home she settles beautifully and is quite happy to take a lead and doesn’t fight the jockey, so we’ve just got to get her to do that on the racecourse if she’s going to have any chance of finishing off her races.”

Racing Bulletin for 25/06/2025

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My Cloud pencilled in for step up in Summer Mile

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My Cloud could step into Group company back at Ascot after his impressive Royal Hunt Cup triumph.

Trained by Roger Varian for KHK Racing, the Blue Point colt took the one-mile handicap by three-quarters of a length having won another contest over the same course and distance in April.

He has clearly taken a liking to the track at Ascot, and may now move out of handicap company in a third start at the Berkshire track – this time at Group Two level.

“We were very happy with his performance, it was an obvious target for him from back in the spring and we were very pleased that Roger and his team were able to execute the plan,” said Chris Wall, racing manager for Shaikh Khalid’s operation.

“We had the right horse at the right weight and the right draw, everything went according to plan.

“He’s a talented horse, we haven’t settled on a target as such but we’d like to test the water in stakes company.

“The first opportunity to do that would be in the Summer Mile at Ascot, where he’s now won two nice races.

“It would be on the round course, not the straight course, but nevertheless I think Ascot suits him well and we’ll map out the rest of his season from there.”

The KHK team also enjoyed another Royal Ascot winner, with Adrestia taking the five-furlong Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes in good style under Oisin Murphy.

She too could be due to set to graduate to more exalted company for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford.

“She won very nicely and was another horse we had Ascot in mind for from a long way back,” said Wall.

“She’s another one where you’re asking ‘do we stay in handicap company for another race or do we move her up to stakes company?’.

“She is probably a stakes filly, it’s just a case of finding the right opportunity to do it.

“We need to have a conversation, Simon, Ed, Shaikh Khalid and myself. We don’t have a firm plan for her at the moment, but we’ll work something out in the coming days.”

Staya brought home some money from the meeting, too, finishing fifth in the Group Two Queen Mary for trainer George Scott to leave connections pondering a step up in trip.

“She ran a nice race, we were very happy with that,” said Wall.

“On that day there was a strong bias towards horses drawn on the stand side and unfortunately we were drawn low on the far side.

“I don’t suppose that cost her a win, I think the O’Brien filly (True Love) won very nicely, but it probably cost her a place because we were only beaten a nose and a short head for third.

“We came away thinking she might stay six furlongs and so if everything is OK, we’ll be thinking of running her in the Duchess of Cambridge at the July meeting.

“If that comes a bit quick then something like the Princess Margaret might be on the agenda, or even the Prix Robert Papin out in France.”

Lambourn on course to bid for Epsom-Curragh Derby double

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Betfred Derby hero Lambourn will face a maximum of nine rivals when he bids to follow up in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.

The son of Australia provided trainer Aidan O’Brien with an 11th victory in the premier Classic at Epsom and is set to turn out three weeks later in a bid to emulate his sire and several other past Ballydoyle stars in becoming a dual Derby winner.

He could renew rivalry with the second and third from the Derby in Charlie Johnston’s Lazy Griff and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Tennessee Stud, although connections of the former have warned rain is required if he is to make the trip across the Irish Sea.

Green Impact has won three of his five starts for Jessica Harrington and is a major contender if staying the mile and a half, while Ralph Beckett’s Dante Stakes winner Pride Of Arras has the opportunity to put Epsom disappointment behind him on this more conventional track.

Beckett has also confirmed Sir Dinadan, with the potential field completed by four of Lambourn’s stablemates in Puppet Master, Serious Contender, Thrice and Shackleton

The previous afternoon sees Group One honours up for grabs in the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes, for which 15 fillies and mares have stood their ground.

Andrew Balding’s Kalpana could return to the Curragh a month after finishing third behind Los Angeles and Anmaat in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, while O’Brien senior has left in Oaks second Whirl and French Oaks runner-up Bedtime Story, as well as Ecstatic.

Estrange was an impressive winner at Haydock
Estrange was an impressive winner at Haydock (Martin Rickett/PA)

Other contenders include Henry de Bromhead’s Higher Leaves and David O’Meara’s potential British challenger Estrange, who was tremendously impressive in winning the Group Three Lester Piggott Stakes at Haydock on her most recent start.

Chris Richardson, managing director for Estrange’s owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: “We’re just going to have a look. We’re probably favouring the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock the following week, but we’re just going to watch the rainfall.

“It’s all to play for really, I don’t quite know what we’re going to do. I think they’re likely to get some rain at the end of next week at Haydock and they’ll probably get some in Ireland as well, but I think the trip of a mile and a half at Haydock will probably suit her better, rather than going back to a slightly shorter trip on Saturday.

“We’ll see what Mrs Thompson (owner) wants to do.”

Frost At Dawn has Breeders’ Cup as big end-of-season target

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Frost At Dawn will be aimed at a range of major five-furlong sprints before another trip to Del Mar.

William Knight’s four-year-old missed out by just a neck in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Jim Goldie’s American Affair taking first prize in an incredibly tight finish.

The run was a return to five furlongs for the filly, and she is now set to remain at the minimum trip throughout the domestic season, after which she will set sail for another tilt at the Breeders’ Cup.

“She’s been given a King George entry for Goodwood and that’s the plan, then we’ll go for the Nunthorpe and then hopefully Del Mar on the turf is where we’ll end up,” said Knight.

“We’ve always held her in high regard and I think five furlongs is definitely the right trip, the visor has just helped her concentrate and travel. She’s looked a better filly this year and since we’ve put the visor on she’s put some really good performances together.

“I thought the stiff five furlongs at Ascot would really suit her, Jim’s horse ran an absolute blinder and we were probably beaten fair and square. It was a bittersweet feeling to go so close in a Group One, but coming second has still got to enhance her breeding value and that is important.”

Another horse of Knight’s to miss out at the meeting by a small margin was Holkham Bay, who was fourth in the Wokingham Stakes when just three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

He was drawn in stall 29 and mounted a late challenge down the inside, but found the line came just a fraction too soon for him to get his head in front.

“In probably another five or 10 yards he’d have been the winner, the draw didn’t help as he had to do it all by himself,” said Knight.

“If you were down the middle there you had the pace to aim at, but he loves it at Ascot.

“We’ll be trying to campaign him there throughout the rest of the year and he’s been given a Stewards’ Cup entry as well.

“There’s a five-furlong heritage handicap on July 12 and that’s what we’ll aim at for now.”

Summer break for Zarigana before plans for rest of the year are made

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French 1000 Guineas heroine Zarigana is set for a summer break following her narrow defeat at Royal Ascot.

The Siyouni filly won four of her first five starts for Francis-Henri Graffard in the colours of the late Aga Khan, claiming Classic glory in the stewards’ room following the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches after first past the post Shes Perfect was demoted.

Zarigana was the hot favourite to claim another Group One victory in the Coronation Stakes, but after travelling strongly to the front, she was outfought by Joe Murphy’s surprise winner Cercene and beaten half a length at the line.

Nemone Routh, manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: “On the day we were a bit frustrated because she obviously came there to win her race and then stopped or tied up close home and the winner got back at her.

“She’s come back and she’s quite light and I think she needs a bit of a break. It was the first time she’d travelled, it was very hot and she’s quite a highly-strung filly and I think we’ll see if we can send her back to the stud for a summer break before coming back for the autumn.”

While connections will not rush to make any decisions regarding future targets for Zarigana, Routh wonders whether she could prove effective back over a shorter distance.

“She just does everything so easily and travels so well and quickens up very well, but she doesn’t really like being in front and then battling,” she added.

“It’s a question of delivering her very late and holding on to her, or is it a question that she’s not quite getting home in her races? The sire (Siyouni) was a very fast horse and a five-furlong two-year-old and I always thought he never quite got a mile, so it’s not impossible to think that you might consider dropping her back to seven furlongs. We’ll see.

“She’s had three proper races and it will just do her good to have a break both mentally and physically, relax a bit at stud and get her head down and think about other things.”

Another Aga Khan-owned and Graffard-trained filly to go close at the Royal meeting was Rayevka, who justified the team’s decision to supplement her for Friday’s Commonwealth Cup with an excellent effort to finish a close-up third.

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Royal Ascot
Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Routh said: “She ran an absolute cracker and she conversely took her race very well.

“She’s a very solid filly and a real sprinting type. There’s not a huge amount of options for her, but we have got her entered in the Maurice de Gheest and the way she finished out her race we don’t think another half-furlong will be problematic for her.

“We’ve always held her in high regard so we might take a look at that, but the ground would need to be good as she loves good, fast ground.”

The Aga Khan’s improving stayer Candelari was considered a leading Gold Cup contender, but he was ultimately disappointing in finishing sixth and Routh added: “I think it was just a big ask for him. He didn’t have as much experience as the other horses in the race, everything had happened so quickly for him this year and racing in France is not the same as those races, particularly the Gold Cup which is such a test.

“The winner (Trawlerman) is such a seasoned horse and went such a pace I think it just found him out. Mickael (Barzalona) said he was actually travelling well, but when they quickened up seven furlongs from home the horse was a bit lost.

“He’s going to have a break now. If we have an Indian summer we could consider races like the Prix du Cadran in the autumn, but I think in the back of our heads we’re all thinking he’s a horse for the Dubai Gold Cup next year.”

Fabre relishing ‘proper competition’ for Sosie in the Eclipse

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Andre Fabre is looking forward to bringing Sosie to England for what should be a thrilling clash of the generations in the Coral-Eclipse.

The Sandown highlight is traditionally the first time the Classic generation meet with their elders and this year is no different.

Currently the favourite is John and Thady Gosden’s hugely impressive Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Ombudsman, ahead of Sosie, the winner of three Group Ones and fourth in last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Representing the Classic form this season is Aidan O’Brien’s Camille Pissarro, winner of the French Derby.

“Sosie is still on target for the Eclipse, I’m very happy with him,” said Fabre.

“He’s shown good form this season and the owners are keen to run him.”

Ombudsman was a very impressive winner at Royal Ascot
Ombudsman was a very impressive winner at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Looking at the likely opposition, Fabre said: “I was very impressed with Ombudsman, he looks a very nice colt and did it well.

“It could be a small field, we’ll see. The Prix du Jockey Club winner could run too and he looks a nice horse.

“It should be a good race, that is what you expect, proper competition.”

Another top-class middle-distance performer who remains in contention for the Eclipse is the Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat, winner of last season’s Champion Stakes and best of the rest behind Ombudsman at the Royal meeting last week.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “We were delighted with Anmaat’s run in the Prince of Wales’s, he travelled very well again, came to win his race and was beaten by what looked an outstanding horse to me who quickened better than him.

“I don’t think we have any excuses. You could say he’d prefer easier ground, but that’s not the reason he got beaten – he got beaten because a better horse beat him.

“I spoke to Owen yesterday (Monday) and he said the horse seems in good shape. The Eclipse certainly comes soon enough for a horse we know can handle soft ground better than some, so we don’t want to put him through the mill right through the summer in every top Group One and find we don’t have a horse left in the autumn.

“We’ll monitor him and the ground and the race. The early signs are good that he’s come out of it OK, but he is a seven-year-old and we’ve got to do the right thing by him.

“You’ve got the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion and obviously the Champion Stakes again later in the year, so we’ll look at all of them. He’s a star and the only top horse we’ve got at the moment, so we’ve got to look after him a bit.”

Lake Forest could be back in action at York on Saturday

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Lake Forest could be in line for a quick return to action in the Al Basti Equiworld Criterion Stakes at York on Saturday.

The William Haggas-trained four-year-old was most recently seen finishing fifth in the Queen Anne on the opening day of Royal Ascot, where he was beaten less than three lengths in a field of 10.

He is a prior Knavesmire winner, taking the Gimcrack as a two-year-old, and may now head back to the scene of that victory for the Group Three Criterion, formerly run at Newmarket’s July course.

“The way the race was run at Ascot just didn’t suit him, they went slowly and then about four furlongs out they just blasted for home,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to co-owner Tony Bloom.

“He was caught in no man’s land, but he wasn’t even beaten three lengths and I thought it was a decent run. It was a proper Group One with some very good horses involved. He’s entered for York on Saturday and William is thinking of running him.

“He’s a tough, hardy horse and he likes the quick ground – we’d like to get another run into him before the weather changes.”

Lake Forest’s last victory came in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill in November, where he defeated Jerome Reynier’s Lazzat by half a length in a field full of top-level horses, earning the best part of £3million for first place.

Lazzat was also at Royal Ascot, advertising the form of their prior meeting with success in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

“In the race he won in Australia there were eight or nine Group One winners. He’s got the form in the book there, he just needs to reproduce that run,” Graham said.

“The key to the horse is he needs a strong, evenly-run pace, the prize-money is very good at York for a Group Three so hopefully they’ll all run and there’ll be a true gallop in the race.”

Irish Oaks bid on the cards for surprise Coronation winner Cercene

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Cercene could be supplemented for next month’s Juddmonte Irish Oaks following her surprise Coronation Stakes success at Royal Ascot.

Third behind Lake Victoria in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the daughter of Australia took her game to another level on the penultimate day of the Royal meeting, finishing powerfully under Gary Carroll to get the better of French Guineas heroine Zarigana as a 33-1 shot.

While the result was a shock to many, trainer Joe Murphy expected a bold showing.

He said: “If you go back and look at the Irish Guineas, she was the only filly that passed three horses over the last furlong. If they went another furlong, I’m not saying we’d beat the Ballydoyle filly (Lake Victoria), but we could have been second and there’s no harm being second best to her.

“I’m delighted with the way she came home, she licked the pot and we’re thrilled with her.”

With Cercene yet to race beyond a mile, Murphy admits to having doubts about whether her stamina will stand up to the mile and a half of the Irish Oaks, but feels it could be worth rolling the dice.

Trainer Joe Murphy and jockey Gary Carroll celebrate with the Coronation Stakes trophy
Trainer Joe Murphy and jockey Gary Carroll celebrate with the Coronation Stakes trophy (David Davies/PA)

“We have our Group One in the bag now and she’s finished third in a Group One and second in the Athasi Stakes from seven runs, so we’re in a very happy place,” he added.

“We’re thinking of supplementing her for the Irish Oaks. We’ll probably make an entry for the Nassau in Goodwood as well, but we have to figure out the timing.

“The Pretty Polly this weekend comes too soon after Ascot. You could go over a mile and a quarter in the Nassau, but you’re taking on older fillies, whereas in the Oaks you’re only taking on your own age group.

“She has her Group One, so if she doesn’t stay I’ll take the blame and we’ll go back (in trip) and start the engine again.”

The Fethard-based trainer also has big plans for the second half of the season, with a trip to California in early November very much on the agenda.

Murphy said: “We have have the Matron Stakes (at Leopardstown) and then probably the Breeders’ Cup, so that’s the programme going along. We’re looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup as we think she’ll handle it – she’s very well balanced and tough and honest.

“The dream is more alive than it was before Ascot.”

Racing Bulletin for 24/06/2025

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Nostrum poised to debut for David O’Meara at York

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Nostrum is due to make his first start for new connections in the relocated Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes at York on Saturday.

The Kingman gelding was previously trained by Sir Michael Stoute for Juddmonte, who bred the talented five-year-old – who was third in the Dewhurst in his juvenile days – and campaigned him for three seasons before selling him via Tattersalls last autumn.

He was purchased for 120,000 guineas by Thoroughbred British Racing and moved to David O’Meara’s yard, with his first start for new connections likely to be in the Group Three on the Knavesmire this weekend.

The race was previously held on Newmarket’s July course, with Nostrum’s run in second last year one of several Group placings he has collected throughout his career so far.

“He’s obviously been a very good horse in the past, but he hasn’t run for a while,” said O’Meara.

“He has had a good prep, but he will probably benefit for the run and for the outing. But still, all being well, he’ll turn up on Saturday.

“We’ve had him since the October horses in training sale, the new owners bought him there and we gave him a little bit of a break before starting work with him in January.

“We’re going to see how he goes on Saturday and then we’ll plan from there.”

Middleham Park looking to the Curragh skies for Lazy Griff

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Lazy Griff’s participation in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be a late call and depend on how much rain falls at the Curragh this week.

Charlie Johnston’s charge outran his odds of 50-1 under Christophe Soumillon in the Derby at Epsom, getting closet to impressive winner Lambourn, just has he had done in the Chester Vase.

However, connections are keen not to ask him to race on ground which they deem to be too quick.

“It was good, good to firm this morning and we’re in the same situation as applied at Epsom, we don’t want to run him on fast ground,” said Mike Prince of owners Middleham Park Racing.

Christophe Soumillon returns aboard Lazy Griff
Christophe Soumillon returns aboard Lazy Griff (PA)

“We’ll keep him in at the forfeit stage (on Tuesday) and then play it by ear. I’ve seen some forecasts suggest plenty of rain  midweek, but others saying only two to three millimetres.

“All we can do is keep him in and keep monitoring, it keeps changing every time I look.

“It will probably be the Grand Prix de Paris if he doesn’t run. It’s the German Derby next week or the Grand Prix the week after, those are the options and France is more likely than Germany currently.

“He doesn’t have to leave until Friday so we don’t have to decide until declarations.”

He added: “He’s been fine since Epsom, Charlie’s really happy with him and we’re going to check in with Christophe, just to see what is what.”

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