#Brigadier Gerard

The summer of 1966 was a memorable one, as Aunt Edith became the first filly to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in what was the 16th renewal. Trained by Noel Murless and ridden by Lester Piggott, Aunt Edith was bouncing back from an odds-on defeat in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, where she finished a 15-length…

When Sandown Park opened in 1875 as Britain's first purpose-built racecourse with enclosures it was said by a diarist of the time to be "a place where a man could take his ladies without any fear of their hearing coarse language or witnessing uncouth behaviour". That might not always be the case, but one thing visitors to the Queen Mother's…

The Prince Of Wales's Stakes is the feature race on day two of Royal Ascot. The Group 1 contest is run over 1m 2f and it is open to four-year-olds and above. Five runners have been declared to contest this year's renewal of the middle-distance contest, including Sir Michael's Stoute's colt Bay Bridge, Japanese Derby winner Shahryar, Dubai Turf…

An exciting six-runner Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday is put under the spotlight by Declan Rix. A small but select field has been declared for the 2022 renewal of the Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday. No Ballydoyle participation means, on paper, we have a race lacking in early speed and no Coolmore entry means Richard Kingscote is again…

We are deep inside the final furlong of 2022. I'm hoping plenty of you will be powering to the finishing post hard on the bridle, rather than wearily struggling to the line or having pulled up sometime during the summer heatwave. That was then, this is now. We go again in 2023, and what a momentous year it promises to be. Here are ten reasons why…

King George Chase is one of the most iconic races in British steeplechase history. Run over a distance of three miles and five furlongs, this Grade 1 National Hunt race has been held at Kempton Park Racecourse in Sunbury-on-Thames since its inception in 1937. Over the years, some of the most famous horses in jump racing have won King George, with…

While the general economic picture at the moment might not be conducive to free spending, the demand for bloodstock has never been greater. That has been evident at Tattersalls which has been reporting record turnover at its sales all year. The aggregate figures for the Guineas Breeze-Up (5.6m guineas), July (16.7m), October Yearling (199m), Autumn…

Nijinsky remains the last colt to have won the Triple Crown - a feat he accomplished with Piggott aboard in the 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger. Nijinsky outclassed his 2000 Guineas rivals in the paddock and on the racecourse, sweeping through most impressively to beat the top-class Yellow God by two and a half lengths. For the first and only time…

It was the first running of York Racecourse's biggest race - and it produced one of the greatest shocks in European racing history. The Benson & Hedges Gold Cup run at York on Aug. 15, 1972 had more plot-lines than a Shakespeare comedy. This was the first running of the race, now known as the Juddmonte International, one of the classiest races of…

Britain's blockbuster return of racing is almost upon us. After 76 days without a runner going into the stalls, a feast of action is set to return from Monday. From the start at Newcastle, an amazing opening month features 36 races at Royal Ascot as well as the first Classics, the 2000 and 1000 Guineas. The Newmarket contests feature on the very…

Although six years had already passed since the first win of his legendary career, Lester Piggott was still only 18 when riding his first Derby winner, Never Say Die, making him the youngest jockey to win the race during the twentieth century. This came just months after Piggott had ridden a winner, Mull Sack, at the National Hunt Meeting (nowadays…

The Queen owned numerous superstar horses during her remarkable life in racing. Here are some of the best. . . The Queen had relatively few colts try their luck at Epsom in the Derby and none finished better than Aureole who, but for an inspired Sir Gordon Richards on Pinza, would have carried off the great prize just four days after the…

Steve Chambers previews the 2020 Prince of Wales's Stakes, which sees a stellar field line up for the Wednesday Group 1 feature at Royal Ascot. A multiple Group winner last season, Japan will be one of the primary shots fired from the Aidan O'Brien gun during Royal Ascot, and the four-year-old will be a red-hot favourite for the Prince of Wales's…

The 2022 edition of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown will have an international feel to it after Jean-Claude Rouget's Prix du Jockey Club winner Vadeni was supplemented on Monday St Mark's Basilica ridden by Ryan Moore (left) winning the 2021 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Vadeni is aiming to become the first French-trained winner of the Coral-Eclipse Stakes…

Mirror Racing asked the leading bookies which horses they don't want to win, with punters expecting decent payouts if the likes of Golden Pal and Bay Bridge live up to the hype Royal Ascot is here again with its top class racing, fashion and entertainment throughout the week. The five-day fixture, summer's biggest occasion for fans of the sport,…

Enable is an odds-on favourite with the sponsors to make a winning return as she faces seven rivals for her seasonal return in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. John Gosden's superstar filly has been off the track since winning the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs last November, with that run only the third of her 2018 campaign after…

When Protektorat takes to the turf for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, he will have the hopes of many punters resting on his haunches. There will also be a rather famous face cheering on the horse that has more than just a passing interest in his efforts. Sir Alex Ferguson, the former Manchester United manager, owns a part-share in the Dan…

Cast your mind back to a sunny Sandown on the first Saturday in July. Things were looking bright for the middle-distance division in the immediate aftermath of the Eclipse, which had fulfilled its role as the first battleground in the clash of the generations. In a thrilling contest, impressive French Derby winner Vadeni (Timeform rating 127p) made…

End-of-season Timeform ratings: 79 (2yo), 104p (3yo), 129 (4yo), 134 (5yo) Pilsudski won only three of his first 10 races, but he progressed into a top-class performer, as tough and genuine a racehorse one could find, winning six Group One races and twice finishing second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. After registering his first…

Tom Thurgood puts the six contenders declared for Saturday's £750000 Coral-Eclipse under the microscope plus reveals his fancy for the Sandown showpiece, live on Racing TV at 3.35pm. The Coral-Eclipse invariably proves one of the races of the season and although only six have been declared this year, it's certainly a high-class renewal of the…

It's fair to say the Qipco Champion Stakes didn't go to script. Baaeed, head and shoulders above his rivals on form and looking to bow out with his unbeaten record intact, sent off at 4/1-on, could manage only fourth placing, just seeming to run flat. In a tactical race, the turn of foot Baaeed had shown through his career was lacking when he was…

Baaeed headlines an all-star cast for Qipco British Champions Day as the world's best turf horse bows out in the feature Champion Stakes (4.00). William Haggas' star is a red-hot 1-5 favourite for the ten-furlong contest but the presence of last year's Derby and King George winner Adayar means that the champion will need to be on his A-game if he…

The New Bay colt - who this time last year was winning a handicap at York off a mark of 105 - looked a star in the making himself when running out a most impressive winner of the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May. He went from there to the Prince of Wales's Stakes, finishing second to State Of Rest, before picking up a knock when the beaten…

A roll of honour which includes the likes of Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Brigadier Gerard, Dancing Brave, Montjeu, Galileo, Harbinger, Enable and 12 months ago Adayar, six runners go to post for this year's renewal which gets underway at 3.35pm. We have previewed the race and the pick of the racing action with our guide below and you can find the best…

Man o'War, Gallant Fox, Secretariat and American Pharoah all came unstuck at Saratoga, which has long had a reputation as a dangerous venue for short-priced favorites. But is it any different at York and Del Mar in August? Geir Stabell investigates It's that tasty time of the year again - when the most exciting meet of the US racing calendar is in…

Comparisons aren't odious - as well-respected commentator Richard Hoiles suggested as Baaeed careered away from his rivals in the Juddmonte International. They hold an important part of understanding the true and accurate representation of racehorse merit. What is the point of holding a race at all, if we aren't comparing the merits of each runner…

State Of Rest brought his A game to Ascot to brush aside Prince Of Wales's Stakes favourite Bay Bridge. Joseph O'Brien's stayer was given a fine front-running ride and kept finding more for Shane Crosse up the straight. The 5-1 shot, who has now scored in England, Ireland, Australia, America and France, finished a length ahead of the 10-11 market…

The Coral Eclipse runners and riders for the 2022 renewal are starting to take shape as a high-class field of middle distance performers battle it out for the £448363 top prize. We take a look at the 2022 Coral Eclipse runners and riders ahead of this weekend's huge Sandown Park Group One race. VADENI @ 15/8 with 888Sport Trainer: J-C…

for all the Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes runners and riders, form, Timeform comments and latest betting. William Haggas may be in a rich vein of form at present, yet that has not stopped him warning punters about the fitness of Addeybb as he makes his seasonal debut in the Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday evening. The Pivotal…

Ahead of his potential swansong in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland, John Ingles highlights how Flightline compares to the other great American-trained horses in Timeform's experience. *This article was first published on September 5, 2022 Baaeed's performance when winning the Juddmonte International at York last month by six and a…

The Eclipse is one of Europe's major middle-distance prizes and the 2009 renewal is one which will be firmly imprinted on the memory of any racing fan lucky enough to witness it, the performance of the winner, Sea The Stars, up there with the very best in the race's long and illustrious history. It was always the way of Sea The Stars to save…

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old has had just three runs this season, winning the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown in imperious fashion in May off the back of a seven-month lay-off. Beaten a length by State Of Rest when favourite for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot the following month, he again topped the market when downed four…

A most memorable Champion Stakes, made extra special by Frankel's participation, and it will forever be remembered as the final race of a true champion's career, getting the better another top-class opponent in Cirrus Des Aigles, whose performance in finishing second here would have been good enough to win any average renewal of this contest…

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes has produced any number of top-class winners over the years, but the 2011 renewal, at the inaugural British Champions Day at Ascot, was won by a horse like no other in Frankel, who put up another scintillating performance to extend his winning sequence to nine on his final three-year-old start. The eight-strong field…

There are many different events on the horse racing calendar that will appeal to fans, and we will all have our own favourites. For some, it will be the history that comes with the Grand National, whilst others will prefer the Cheltenham festival and the days of non-stop action that they offer. Yet, another standout festival is Glorious Goodwood,…

Christophe Soumillon and Vadeni will be back in action at Sandown on Saturday following their five length romp in the Prix du Jockey Club Impressive French Derby winner Vadeni has been added to a potentially star-studded line-up for Saturday's £750000 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and is one of five Group 1 winners to go forward after Monday's…

Enable produced another sparkling display to claim an unprecedented third victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes. John Gosden's superstar mare was narrowly denied in her bid to become the first three-time winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last season - and has been kept in training as a six-year-old with the primary…

Saturday's Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes is always a significant signpost for the end-of-season pecking order among the juveniles, let's not forget it's roll of honour includes the mighty Brigadier Gerard. A test of a two-year-old colt's speed and balance it has proven a pointer to the following year's 2000 Guineas over the years although not since…

Royal Ascot is just around the corner and punters will be keen to make their way back through the gates of the iconic Berkshire course after the meeting was forced to take place behind closed doors and with restricted crowds in recent years due to the coronavirus pandemic. And, with just a matter of weeks to go until the five days of top-class…

John Ingles looks at the five best horses owned by Queen Elizabeth II based on their peak Timeform ratings. AUREOLE (Timeform rating 132) As well as being one of the best horses to race for the Queen, Aureole was also one of the very first, as she inherited him as an unraced two-year-old on the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. Trained…

As well as being one of the best horses to race for the Queen, Aureole was also one of the very first, as she inherited him as an unraced two-year-old on the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. Trained by Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort at Newmarket, Aureole ran just twice at two, finishing sixth in the Middle Park Stakes after making a…

The Juddmonte International Stakes has helped cement the reputation of many great champions and next week the unbeaten Baaeed will be the headline act as he seeks to keep his flawless record intact. The four-year-old colt will be stepping up to a mile-and-a-quarter for the first time after successive wins in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Lockinge,…

Bloodstock expert Nancy Sexton ranks the stallions who have left the most indelible mark in the last 100 years. Today: the top five Nearctic - Natalma (Native Dancer) Stood: Windfields Farm, Canada; Windfields Farm, Maryland, USA Northern Dancer was a game changer as far as the industry was concerned, and not just in North America but Europe as…