Sunday 28th June, 2026 Magnier against decision to open Arc to geldings

By Gary Carson, Press Association

John Magnier believes “most of the purists” would be against the proposal to open up the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to geldings from 2027.

Staged on the first Sunday in October, the ParisLongchamp showpiece attracts some of the best horses from around the world, but the decision to bar geldings from the race has been the subject of debate for several years.

Board members at France Galop “overwhelmingly” voted to remove the restrictions from 2027 at a meeting on Monday, meaning the European Pattern Committee will now need to approve the change for it to be ratified.

Coolmore supremo Magnier, who has enjoyed two victories in Europe’s premier middle-distance contest as a part-owner – with Dylan Thomas in 2007 and Found in 2016 – is of the opinion that the proposed change is not a good one, however.

Speaking after seeing Benvenuto Cellini win the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday, Magnier said: “I hope they don’t let the geldings into the Arc. I think most of the purists would be against it.

“There are two sides to every coin but I’m only giving it from the breeding side and from the breed as a whole. The Arc is one of the real races and it won’t be any more if you include geldings.

“My father-in-law (Vincent O’Brien) used to always say that if he was training a yard of geldings the bookmakers would be in worse trouble!”

Sunday 28th June, 2026 July Stakes under consideration for Adaay Of Scarlett

By Nick Robson, Press Association

Hugo Palmer is contemplating a tilt at the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes at Newmarket for his speedy juvenile Adaay Of Scarlett.

Having won his first two races at Newmarket at Ascot, the Mehmas colt was beaten in his Royal Ascot prep race at Sandown and was subsequently sent off at 40-1 for the Coventry Stakes.

However, he outran those odds with a brilliant effort to finish a half-length second to Aidan O’Brien’s Great Barrier Reef.

“Adaay Of Scarlett improved no end for going up in trip,” said Palmer.

“I think it is probably fair to say he was advantaged by his stall position, but the overwhelming majority of the field were on that side and he didn’t make the running – he had to come through and he was very tough.

“We felt on the day that he’d thought he’d won his race, he didn’t see the winner who nabbed him late. To say he was unlucky would be unfair but he didn’t get the chance to fight back, so to that extent he was a slightly unfortunate loser.

“Because he’d already been beaten at Listed level I hadn’t put him in the Prix Robert Papin or the Phoenix Stakes in Ireland whereas Sale Shark, who won his side in the Windsor Castle, is in the Phoenix.

“I think Sale Shark will go to the Rose Bowl at Newbury next, which leaves the possibility of supplementing Adaay Of Scarlett for the Papin. However, I believe an unpenalised Orthodox is going there so I’m not sure I want to do that and I’d have thought the July Stakes (July 9) looks the obvious one for us.”

Another Manor House Stables inmate to perform well in defeat at the Royal meeting was Fitzella, who led the field a merry dance for much of the way in the Commonwealth Cup before being headed and then running on gamely to finish fifth.

Options back at five furlongs are now being considered, including the Nunthorpe at York, but she will first go back against her own sex on the Knavesmire next month.

“Fitzella put up a huge performance and she will almost certainly go to the Summer Stakes at York (July 10) next,” Palmer continued.

“The Nunthorpe hasn’t closed yet but I did put her in the King George at Goodwood. If she runs well at York, even if she doesn’t win, we can give her the Nunthorpe entry.

“What was interesting about her run at Ascot was she finished about the same distance behind Venetian Sun as she did in the Albany 12 months ago, but last year Venetian Sun towered over her. She looked like a four-year-old against babies, but this year there wasn’t much between them.

“Venetian Sun is still a beautiful filly and a remarkable horse to boot, but Fitzella has grown in a way I wasn’t sure she was going to, so it gives real hope for not only the rest of this year but that she’ll train on at four.”

Palmer was also thrilled by the performance of Glacius in the Hampton Court on his first run of the season.

“It was a tremendous run, most of ours ran super at the meeting to be fair,” he added.

“We felt afterwards that had he been able to have a run prior to the race or even had a clear run in the race, he might have won. Being stopped in his run, having to regather, all on his first run for 250 days was just too many obstacles, but we were delighted.

“He hadn’t taken a lame step but he just wasn’t there, he hadn’t blossomed. We had to be incredibly patient and let him come before we could really train him and that happened in the last four weeks, we couldn’t have run him any sooner.”

Sunday 28th June, 2026 Benvenuto Cellini rewards Moore’s faith in Irish Derby

By Gary Carson, Press Association

Benvenuto Cellini put his Epsom disappointment behind him by leading home a one-two-three for Aidan O’Brien in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

The Chester Vase winner was the clear favourite to provide the Ballydoyle handler with his 12th victory in the Derby at Epsom three weeks ago, but a slow start and slow ground saw him finish down the field before he was controversially declared a non-runner after it transpired he still had a leg on a shelf in the stalls when the gates opened.

With Ryan Moore sticking with him, rather than switching to Epsom hero and stablemate Christmas Day, the son of Frankel was the 7-4 market leader to reward those who kept the faith – and while he missed the break slightly again, he soon recovered and travelled smoothly into contention before knuckling down to see off Christmas Day by a length and three-quarters.

Pierre Bonnard was just a neck further behind in third, with previously unbeaten Raaheeb back in fourth.

Sunday 28th June, 2026 Tyson Fury among the winners at Cartmel

By Press Association Sport Reporters

Tyson Fury was among the winners on Sunday after Big Gypsy King landed a knockout blow in the opening race at Cartmel.

The four-year-old provided the two-time heavyweight champion with his first success as a racehorse owner when scoring at Chelmsford last year, since when she has left Oliver Cole’s yard in Oxfordshire to join Cumbrian trainer Jimmy Moffatt with a view to pursuing a career over obstacles.

Having struggled on her first three attempts and also finished down the field in four races on the Flat since moving north, Big Gypsy King – owned in partnership by Fury and his manager Spencer Brown – was a largely unconsidered 25-1 shot for the Molson Coors Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle but came good in some style, pulling 10 lengths clear in the hands of 10lb claimer Leah Noreci.

Fury was not at Cartmel, but Moffatt told Racing TV: “That was lovely, I’ve just been speaking to Tyson and he’s over the moon because we’ve all had a bit of stick as he’s a well known horse because of the name.

“They’re the nicest people you’ll ever meet, they’re lovely people to train for.

“Spencer is so enthusiastic about racing and it’s great to have them involved in the sport.”

Sunday 28th June, 2026 Purview sets up some lofty targets with International win

By Gary Carson, Press Association

Purview further enhanced his growing reputation with a comprehensive victory in the Dubai Duty Free International Stakes.

Dermot Weld’s colt looked an exciting prospect when second to the top-class Delacroix in last year’s Leopardstown Derby Trial and while he was beaten on his next couple of starts, he signed off for 2025 with a Listed win at Cork and looked better than ever when streaking clear on his return in last month’s Orby Stakes.

The son of Kingman was an even-money favourite to claim a first Group-race win on his return to the Curragh and after travelling well in the slipstream of the Sindria for much of the 10-furlong journey, he was pushed clear by Colin Keane to win comfortably by three-quarters of a length from Trustyourinstinct.

“I was delighted for the horse and for the owners. Juddmonte have been great supporters of mine and I appreciate the family’s support,” said Weld.

“He’s a very talented colt, he’s beginning to fill into the promise that I always thought he would. I think there is a long year ahead of him still and we’ll look at different options.

“I’ve always been thinking that at the end of this year he would come to his peak so today was only a step along the way.”

The Rosewell House handler expects Purview to test his powers at Group One level later in the year, having identified targets at home and abroad.

When asked if he was tempted to go to Royal Ascot, Weld added: “I think I was always going to bring him here. I know I was bringing him back from a mile and a half, which we now know is probably his optimum distance.

“The Irish Champion Stakes is obviously a definite target for him, seeing that he won today. Colin and I were fortunate enough a few years ago to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf (Tarnawa in 2020) and I think he could be a horse for that race.

“He’s entered for the Arc as well and I’ve always seen the end of the year for him, but the Arc can get very heavy. As you saw today he has a nice bit of pace.

“Colin rode him right up on the pace so he’s a horse that will handle Keeneland very well.

“He’s a very smart colt and I still think we have more to come.”

Sunday 28th June, 2026 Alpha sparks Classic dreams with Curragh stroll

By Gary Carson, Press Association

Alpha got favourite backers off to a flying start on Irish Derby day with a runaway victory in the GAIN Equine Nutrition Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

Aidan O’Brien had saddled the last four winners of the Curragh opener and this year ran three, with Alpha very much the stable’s first string after finishing a close second on her Leopardstown debut three and a half weeks ago.

A daughter of Sea The Stars out of multiple Group One-winning mare Alpha Centauri, the 8-11 shot was bustled into an early lead by Ryan Moore and while she looked green in front for the first half of the race, she lengthened impressively once asked to do so to pull six lengths clear of her stablemate Ibelieveicanfly.

Bookmakers were suitably impressed, with Coral making Alpha their 14-1 favourite from 25-1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas.

“Ryan was very excited about her. She looks lovely,” said O’Brien.

“She’ll come back here for the Debutante. She’s unusual. Ryan said when he started to ask her from three-furlong marker that she went faster from the three to the two, then faster from the two from the one and then faster from the one to the line.

“She’s a big, powerful, filly. She’s lovely and relaxed.”

Sunday 28th June, 2026 Botti working backwards from Hong Kong with Giavellotto

By Josh Luckhurst, Press Association

Giavellotto has his sights set on a return to Hong Kong this winter following his brilliant Hardwicke Stakes victory at Royal Ascot.

Marco Botti’s stable star picked up the sixth Group success of his career when holding off market leader Kalpana by a short head during their fascinating battle in Berkshire.

Botti admitted he will be working back from the Hong Kong Vase in December, which Giavellotto won in 2024, with the seven-year-old potentially adding another stop in Europe ahead of his Asian adventure.

“It’s been great, I thought it was one of his best performances,” the Italian handler said. “Obviously it was a really tough race and Oisin (Murphy) gave him a good ride.

“It was a good field and I think he’s proven he’s as good as anyone else in the race. He’s come out of the race fine, he’s a tough horse.

“Even in the previous run before Ascot, his form had been really consistent in the Arc, Hong Kong, Qatar and Dubai for a horse that didn’t have a proper break. He ran in October in the Arc and then Hong Kong was in December, Qatar in February and Dubai in March, you have to find a really tough horse to do that.”

The son of Mastercraftsman began his career as a 100-1 all-weather winner at Kempton in December 2021 and has risen through the ranks to become an elite stayer over a mile and a half.

“We always had faith, even as a three-year-old when we went from a handicapper jumping to the St Leger, we obviously had faith in the horse,” Botti added. “At that stage, he showed on the track that he was a proper stayer, a mile and six (furlongs) and he needed a trip to be competitive at that level.

“But as he’s got older, he’s stronger and faster than he used to be because he’s shown a turn of foot which as a three-year-old he wouldn’t have done.

“We’ve looked after the horse and given him plenty of time to mature, but now it is paying off. He’s an incredible horse, we’ve been everywhere with him and he just keeps pulling out the good performances.”

A six-month break before the Hong Kong Vase does not sit well with Botti, who has his eye on either the Grosser Preis von Berlin or Grosser Preis von Baden for his superstar.

“He wasn’t entered in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes because even though usually it’s not a big field, Calandagan and the Derby winner (Christmas Day) and those sort of horses are in, so we thought maybe we should just leave that,” the Prestige Place trainer said.

“We already said that Hong Kong would be the priority and that remains our main target, but it’s in December so we are trying to work back from there.

“He has a couple of entries in Germany, the Group One in August – the race Rebel’s Romance won last year – so that could be an option and Baden-Baden in early September could be another option.

“Unless we then go to Canada, which is in October, and then Hong Kong, we said to the owners let’s wait to make the final decision.

“Maybe a Group One in Germany could be attractive and could add to his profile as a Group One winner in Europe as well, and that is where we might aim at.”

Sunday 28th June, 2026 Frankie Dettori to ride in Leger Legends race

By Nick Robson, Press Association

Frankie Dettori will have his first ride in Britain since 2023 having been signed up for this year’s Leger Legends race at Doncaster in September.

Dettori, 55, finally hung up his boots in February after taking some rides in Brazil following a spell in America.

The Leger Legends race, which has previously been won by the likes of Mick Kinane and Sir AP McCoy, has been moved to the Friday of the three-day St Leger Festival with this year being the milestone 250th running of the world’s oldest Classic.

Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Andrew Thornton, part of race committee, said: “He must be the biggest legend we’ve had so far. People on the street have heard of Frankie, it’s great to get him.

“He knows what the IJF (Injured Jockeys Fund) means to racing, he had his injuries like all of us but he knows the IJF is important whether you’ve had 20,000 rides or one. Frankie understands what it means and whatever money he can help raise he was happy to.

“He’s really appreciative of riding in the race and to have Frankie riding with the likes of Adam Kirby, Jimmy Quinn and Tom Scudamore is really good for the race.

“It’s the 250th St Leger this year so it should be a really great few days there.”

Sunday 28th June, 2026 Options open for Ancient Egypt following brave Ascot run

By Ashley Iveson, Press Association

Charlie Johnston will consider a number of different options for Ancient Egypt following his narrow defeat at Royal Ascot.

Turned out just 13 days after running well for a long way in a soft ground Derby at Epsom, the Amo Racing-owned three-year-old did his connections proud with a bold front-running performance in the King Edward VII Stakes, ultimately finishing just a neck short after a pulsating final-furlong duel with Aidan O’Brien’s Causeway.

Johnston understandably left the Royal meeting with mixed emotions but is hopeful his youngster will enjoy his day in the sun before the end of the season.

“He’s come out of it fine. He’s just had an easy week since obviously as it has been a pretty busy fortnight for him,” said the Middleham-based trainer.

“It’s one of those situations where you have so much pride in the horse and his performance, but you can’t help but leave there thinking if it was one of the four years out of seven when there’s 20 days between the two races, I feel it would almost certainly have been a different result.

“It was a big, big ask for the horse to back up so quick after a soft ground Derby, but he performed with a huge amount of credit and proved he does deserve to be at the top table in those sort of races.

“We’re excited for the rest of the season and next year.”

Connections will shortly decide whether to give Ancient Egypt a mid-season break following his busy spell or press on, with the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket on July 9 a possible next port of call.

Johnston added: “He’s in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes, he’s in the King George and you’ve also got the Grand Prix de Paris and the Gordon Stakes.

“It depends on how ambitious we want to be and how long we want to give him. We’ll let the dust settle for a few days and then have a chat with Kia (Joorabchian) and his team as to what he wants to do.”

Saturday 27th June, 2026 Estrange puts Oaks winner Thundering On in the shade

By John O’Riordan, Press Association

Estrange produced a brilliant performance to record the first Group One success of her career in the Tattersalls Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

Plenty of pre-race attention surrounded Oaks heroine Thundering On, but Estrange (13-8) was not without her supporters and was going just as well as Joseph O’Brien’s filly with two furlongs left of the mile and a quarter showpiece to travel.

Both had been patiently ridden, but it was Danny Tudhope on David O’Meara’s near-white five-year-old who got by far the best response and she ran out an authoritative length and a half winner from One Look.

North Yorkshire-based O’Meara said: “A wonderful mare. She was maybe caught a little bit wide throughout, but it looked like it was pretty smooth sailing for Danny. There is a big weight for age allowance for the three-year-olds, so I didn’t know if that would tell in the last half a furlong up the hill.

“She travelled nicely to the two (furlong pole). The drop back in trip has definitely not been a negative; it could have been the making of her. Maybe we have been running her over the wrong trip!

“I’m delighted with today, delighted for Cheveley Park (Stud, owners). They have been sending me horses now for over a decade and it’s brilliant for them.”

Coral cut Estrange to 12-1 from 20-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, a race she was forced to miss last year with a dirty scope. Paddy Power quoted 7-2 from 7-1 about the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.

O’Meara said: “We’d love to go for the Arc and she has the entry. It was important that she got the Group One win under her belt and she did so in good style today.

“We’ll enjoy this and figure out where we go next.”

Saturday 27th June, 2026 Sun Goddess shines in quick Curragh turnaround

By John O’Riordan, Press Association

Sun Goddess did enough to make a quick return to action pay off in the Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh.

Last seen finishing a length second to Libertango in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, Aidan O’Brien’s filly tracked Beibhinn and Belle Of The Ball before putting her head down to take charge of the Group Two contest.

Green Empress made taking late gains but was three-quarters of a length adrift of the 2-7 favourite at the line, having been five lengths in arrears when the pair met here last month.

O’Brien said: “We were running her back quick, so we didn’t really know. She’s a lovely filly and we’ll give her a bit of time now.

“She just got hung up in the pace a little bit (at Ascot). Ryan said he had to fight early and the winner was locked up out the back and just came when the race was over. That’s the way you know.

“She is very classy. A great traveller. She is still a baby. I think the Moyglare would be suitable. I think she’s going to stay and will be comfortable enough going up to seven (furlongs).

“She seemed to be well after Ascot. The race was there this weekend and it’s beautiful ground. All the things suited.”

Saturday 27th June, 2026 Stars perfectly aligned at Newcastle for Plate smasher

By Ashley Iveson, Press Association

Align The Stars pounced late to land the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate for Middleham trainer Charlie Johnston.

A 10-1 chance under Daniel Muscutt, the five-year-old gelding was always up with the pace but took up the running from Kirchner inside the final furlong, staying on strongly to pull one and quarter lengths clear of the well-backed 17-2 shot.

Synergism (9-1) was a further length and three-quarters away in third, with Saint Etienne (18-1) another neck away in fourth.

Align The Stars was landing the £150,000 race some 32 years after Johnston’s father, Mark, won the race known as the ‘Pitmen’s Derby, with classy stayer Quick Ransom.

Saturday 27th June, 2026 Qirat collects Criterion prize at the expense of Never So Brave

By Chris Phillips, Press Association

Shock Sussex Stakes winner Qirat landed another upset to floor well-backed rivals in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes at York.

Last summer the Ralph Beckett-trained five-year-old gelding had provided one of the upsets of the season to land the Goodwood Group One as a 150-1 outsider.

And while he was shorter at the Knavesmire, returning at 8-1, he floored better-fancied rivals in Never So Brave (6-4 favourite) and Sabre Strike to land the Group Three prize.

Qirat was unruly in the stalls but was bounced into a lead by Silvestre de Sousa and took the field to the two-furlong marker.

After being joined and probably just headed by Never So Brave he battled back to get the better of that rival and pulled one and a half lengths clear at the line, with Never So Brave’s market rival Saber Strike doing his best work at the end in third.

De Sousa said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that Ralph booked me for this horse.

“Obviously he is a Group One winner and he came to the right race. I think with the way the ground is, that is key for him, it’s not fast ground, there’s a bit of kindness in the ground out there. He loves to be in front, he was coming back and I had to roll him forward again.

“To me he’s a horse that feels he wants to go a bit further than seven furlongs and he feels like a mile-and-a-quarter horse. There is a strong pace with him and I knew he would last.

“You need to ask him questions and he will deliver for you. I wouldn’t be surprised if later he’s running in cheekpieces to help him travel. I am delighted to have a winner in those (Juddmonte) colours.”

Saturday 27th June, 2026 O’Brien: Benvenuto Cellini could change Epsom result completely

By Ashley Iveson, Press Association

Aidan O’Brien is keeping the faith in Benvenuto Cellini as he bids to put his Epsom nightmare behind him in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Frankel colt looked a top-class performer in the making when trouncing his rivals in the Chester Vase and he went to post as the clear favourite to provide his trainer with a 12th Derby success.

Few could have envisaged the drama that would subsequently unfold, however, with Benvenuto Cellini struggling in the soft ground and trailing home well beaten before controversially being declared a non-runner after it transpired he still had a leg on a shelf in the stalls when the gates opened.

The chestnut colt has the chance to restore his reputation on home soil and with Ryan Moore sticking with him instead of switching to his Derby-winning stablemate Christmas Day, O’Brien feels he could “change the result completely”.

“Ryan has stayed on Benvenuto Cellini, I wasn’t sure that he would but he was happy to do that,” said the Ballydoyle handler. “He’s a beautiful mover and soft ground was never his thing, as we knew from running him in Doncaster last year, but it was the way it fell.

“There are different things that we think could change the result completely from Epsom – ground, the thing in the stalls and where he ended up in the race. Ryan wanted to stay on him, so obviously he is putting a line through that run in his head.”

O’Brien confirmed Benvenuto Cellini has been given some extensive stalls training since Epsom.

He added: “He’s done a lot of stalls work, the lads have done a lot with him. We’ll probably try to load a little bit later I’d imagine because he just has a habit of lifting his hind legs and putting them out.

“We saw what happened at Epsom, he came out on three legs and even after taking a stride his leg was still up there, which is a very unusual thing and had to be a disadvantage obviously.”

Christmas Day, meanwhile, has the opportunity to follow emulate Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Camelot (2012), Australia (2014), Auguste Rodin (2023) and Lambourn (2025) by becoming a dual Derby winner for O’Brien, with winning jockey Ronan Whelan keeping the ride.

O’Brien, who also saddles Epsom also-rans Pierre Bonnard and Action, said: “I don’t think it (better ground) is a problem to Christmas Day. He stays very well, he’s a good-moving horse who will have no problem going further than a mile and a half.

“He does handle soft ground because he stays so well, but I think he’s a lovely straightforward horse and everybody will know that they’re following him”

Aidan’s son Joseph O’Brien is represented by James J Braddock, who was unruly before the Derby at Epsom but still managed to finish third.

“The Curragh is a very different test to Epsom and I feel like it won’t inconvenience us and he’s proved he can go on better ground,” said the Owning Hill handler.

“For some horses it (behaviour at Epsom) would be a big red flag but he’s a pretty hardy customer and although he hadn’t behaved like that to that extent before, it is something that he has in his arsenal, so I wasn’t wildly surprised.

“Sometimes with horses that can be a little bit fiery, a bit of adrenaline in their system isn’t the worst thing in the world. It wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t a huge shock and I’m happy that we can focus his mind a little bit better next time.”

The potential fly in the ointment is the Owen Burrows-trained Raaheeb, an unbeaten full-brother to the top-class pair of Baaeed and Hukum.

The Lambourn handler was cool on a tilt at the Derby at Epsom in the immediate aftermath of his impressive victory in the Sandown Classic Trial in late April and a minor setback ultimately ruled him out in any case.

He belatedly gets his chance to bid for Classic glory in Ireland and Burrows is relishing the challenge, saying: “Derby runners don’t come around very often and it’s exciting to be involved.

“It was nothing major after Sandown, he just feels a run. He had to have a couple of quiet weeks afterwards, but he’s not missed a beat all the way through since.

“The whole razzmatazz of what Epsom were trying to do might not have been his bag and as it was he made the decision for us, so it was made easy.”

When asked whether he felt Raaheeb had progressed since Sandown, Burrows added: “He’s the same as what he always is – he never overdoes himself at home, he’s pretty relaxed and does his work without blowing you away.

“Rossa (Ryan) came and sat on him a couple of weeks ago and he did a nice piece of work on the grass, he was happy and I’m happy, but I can’t tell you he’s come forward massively because that’s not him.

“He’s obviously only ran the twice so he’s still inexperienced compared to one or two of these, but with his pedigree and the fact he won one of the Derby trials, we felt he deserved to have a crack.

“I’ve no qualms about the mile and a half at all, to be honest – I’d be amazed if I was saying afterwards he didn’t quite get home.”

Saturday 27th June, 2026 Dash delight for Katie Scott with Naana’s Shadow

By Chris Phillips, Press Association

Naana’s Shadow got the better of a ding-dong final furlong battle with Schroedinger’s Cat to land the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dash Handicap at York.

The Katie Scott-trained winner took the three-year-old Dash at Epsom on Oaks day last time out and added the Knavesmire version, getting home at odds of 16-5 by a short head under Oisin Murphy.

In a race where it paid to be prominent with nothing landing a blow from off the pace, the pair pulled clear in the final 150 yards, with Manatee Mehmas a further two and three-quarter lengths away in third.

Scott said: “She’s so fast, there’s nothing else to say and she’s so straightforward.

“She helps herself and it was good today to see her do it on quick ground because when they perform really well on slow ground and go back to quick ground they can lose their speed. She’s done absolutely everything right there.

“I don’t know how she’s been on a really stiff five, but to be fair she was getting there all the time today, so maybe it will open a few more doors. She’s the fastest horse that I’ve ever sat on. She’s definitely improving and it would be nice to think about black type by the end of the summer.”

She added: “This morning at 11.30 there was only 10 in a sprint (HKJC World Pool Battaash Handicap) on Friday at Sandown, so depending how she is she might go. I’d like to see her around Chester, I think it would really suit her.”

Saturday 27th June, 2026 Ballinea stars for Robson Aguiar in Anglesey Stakes

By John O’Riordan, Press Association

Ballinea Star landed Group Three honours with a 16-1 surprise in the Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh.

The market was all about Confucius, only sixth in the Coventry Stakes, but not beaten far, and Aidan O’Brien’s 1.7million guineas colt was soon leading under Ryan Moore.

The eventual winner was with him all the way, however, and while she was joined on her outside by her Robson Aguiar stablemate Immortal Guard, she dug deep to find more and score by half a length, with Confucius a close third.

Aguiar said: “The two had the same chance. Ballinea Star won well last time. She got tough and she got strong. Six furlongs is a little bit short for Immortal Guard. He is a horse with a lot of class and he will improve a lot when he steps up in trip.

“I knew there wasn’t much between the two. I let Donagh (O’Connor) pick and he picked the filly. She won and it was a big result with the other horse finishing second as well.”

He added: “I loved this filly since I saw her in the sales. She is still weak and when she goes further she will have a lot to give.

“We might come back to Leopardstown for the Silver Flash. We have the Moyglare, Goffs Million and Breeders’ Cup in mind for her.”

Saturday 27th June, 2026 Paborus makes light work of absence to land Chipchase honours

By Ashley Iveson, Press Association

Paborus defied an absence of nearly a year to land the Group Three Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle for trainer Ed Bethell and owners Wathnan Racing.

Last seen 364 days ago in the Criterion Stakes at York, the five-year-old gelding (15-2) took up the running two furlongs from home and stayed on grittily under Callum Rodriguez.

At the line he had a length and a half in hand of Marvelman in second, with the same distance back to the Godolphin-owned Symbol Of Honour in third.

Saturday 27th June, 2026 Giant Sequoia makes no mistake at the second time of asking

By John O’Riordan, Press Association

Giant Sequoia looked the part in taking the Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden at the Curragh.

Beaten into third at odds of 4-9 on his debut here, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Frankel colt was the same price to show the benefit of that experience and duly did so with the minimum of fuss, tracking Bull Shark before starting to get into top gear over two furlongs out.

Pushed nicely clear from there, Ryan Moore’s mount had two and a quarter lengths to spare over fellow Ballydoyle runners Oklahoma and Shakespeare.

O’Brien – who won this race in 2023 – said: “He had a lovely run here the first day and he came on lovely. He is a lovely big horse. You’d be delighted with him. I couldn’t be happier really.

“He’ll have no problem staying at seven (furlongs); he’ll have no problem going up to a mile. He’ll only get better. He is a big, powerful horse.”