Two brilliant displays at Royal Ascot, news of US sprint hope, German Classic star moves to France, landmark for Doug O'Neill – all this and more in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Royal Ascot: Field Of Gold takes starring role on Day 1
GB: Field Of Gold (John & Thady Gosden/Colin Keane) stole the show on Day 1 of Royal Ascot’s five-day stand on Tuesday [June 17], looking a superstar in the making with a scintillating victory in a clash of the Guineas winners in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Having been an unlucky loser in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket before an emphatic victory at the Curragh, the Juddmonte star emulated his sire Kingman with an odds-on success – with his Newmarket conqueror Ruling Court among those well beaten in a stunning 3½-length victory. “That was a great performance,” said John Gosden.
The Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood looks next for the winner, before a step up to a mile and a quarter for the Juddmonte International, sponsored by his owners at York in August. More here
Also trained by the father-and-son Gosden team – an almost as impressive – on Wednesday’s card was the brilliant Ombudsman, who overcame trouble in running under William Buick to win the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes – the richest race of the week with a £1m prize fund.
The race is part of the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge and connections suggested the BC Turf was indeed a possibility for the Godolphin four-year-old, who has now won five out of six career starts. More here
Royal Ascot: Qatar Racing buy into US sprint hope Shisospicy
GB: Qatar Racing bought into American-trained Shisospicy, who has been supplemented into the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on Friday [June 20] at a cost of £46,000.
Trained by Jose D’Angelo, who saddled Galbaldon to finish second at the royal meeting in 2024, the filly is unbeaten on turf and scored by 4½ lengths last time out in a G3 contest at Churchill Downs. She will be ridden by champion jockey Oisin Murphy.
Also added to the Commonwealth Cup at last week’s late entry stage was Rayevka, who carries the colours of the Aga Khan Studs for trainer Francis Graffard, the owner/trainer team behind Coronation Stakes favourite Zarigana. More here
• Ghost Writer sold to Amo Racing for £2m at Goffs London Sale More here
German Guineas heroine Matilda joins Graffard after Brant sale
Germany: Spectacular German Classic winner Matilda will move to France to be trained by Francis-Henri Graffard after being sold to owner Peter Brant.
Matilda, a daughter of Soldier Hollow, recorded a stunning 6½-length victory over her male counterparts in G2 German 2,000 Guineas at Cologne racecourse, where she was sent off a 25-1 shot for former trainer Yasmin Almenrader. She had won her previous outing in a conditions race at the same venue by five lengths.
According to Paris-Turf, Matilda will now be aimed for the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville on August 4, when she will carry the colours of Brant’s White Birch Farm. Graffard teamed up with the US billionaire industrialist to claim last weekend’s Prix de Diane (French Oaks) with Gezora. More here
Mystik Dan set for Airdrie Stud after racing career
USA: Last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan will stand at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky, upon the conclusion of his racing career, the stud announced on Monday [June 16].
The four-year-old regained the winning thread for the first time since his Derby triumph back at Churchill Downs last month when he claimed the G3 Blame Stakes. He is now set to run in the G1 Stephen Foster on June 28 before heading to the Breeders’ Cup.
“I trained a great sire in Harlan’s Holiday,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. “I promise you Mystik Dan is every bit as good or better than Harlan’s Holiday ever was.” More here
3,000-win landmark for Doug O’Neill
USA: Dual Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill reached a significant milestone on Sunday [June 15] with his 3,000th winner in North America.
O’Neill, 57, recorded his landmark success via a 6½-length victory when two-year-old Hero Or Zero completed a double for the trainer on the card at Santa Anita with a maiden victory. The juvenile is a homebred for O’Neill’s longtime patrons Reddam Racing, for whom he trained both I’ll Have Another (2012) and Nyquist (2016) to win the Kentucky Derby.
“I couldn’t have picked it better,” said O’Neill, who has five Breeders’ Cup winners among 44 G1 wins altogether in the US. He has also notched a number of significant overseas winners, including the Japan Cup Dirt in 2003 with Fleetstreet Dancer and the three editions of the Godolphin Mile on the Dubai World Cup card. More here
Hero Or Zero’s rider Umberto Rispoli booted home six winners on Sunday’s card. More here
• Phil D’Amato and Antonio Fresu claim Santa Anita meet titles More here
Relief all round as Fair Grounds dispute resolved
USA: Racing is set to continue at Fair Grounds for their 2025-26 meet following the resolution of a dispute surrounding the New Orleans racetrack.
Alarm bells were ringing when the track’s owners, Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI), claimed recent legislation concerning video-gaming terminals would render the Louisian Derby unviable for racing. However, reports suggest agreement has been reached and the winter-spring meet will go ahead as scheduled. More here
Ciaron Maher takes over at Leilani Lodge
Australia: Melbourne’s champion trainer Ciaron Maher (right) has been handed the keys to the famous Leilani Lodge Stables at Randwick in Sydney by the Australian Turf Club (ATC).
The famous yard was the home of the Cummings dynasty for five decades until Anthony Cummings, son of the legendary ‘Cups King’ Bart, was forced to vacate the stables when his licence was revoked .
Maher has already established a new national prize-money record this term with A$57.2m ($37m/£27.5m). “Never have I been more excited than I am now,” commented Maher. “Leilani Lodge is an incredible piece of racing real estate and we are committed to upholding the standard and spirit that has defined it for decades.” More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: ICE locks down Delta Downs in search for undocumented workers More here
USA: It’s official – Belmont Stakes Festival back at Saratoga for 2026 More here
Australia: Three-month ban for Noel Callow after altercation with fellow rider More here
South Africa: Death of ‘true gentleman’ Ronnie Napier, aged 89 More here
Japan: Former world #1 Equinox enters Hall of Fame More here
Japan: Dubai Turf winner Soul Rush out for three months with fracture More here
Canada: ‘Woodbine Cares’ initiative is relaunched More here
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