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Nijinsky II Awarded QIPCO Diamonds and Pearls Award

British Triple Crown hero Nijinsky II (Northern Dancer) won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. 50 years ago this year, and was awarded the QIPCO Diamonds & Pearls award, Ascot Racecourse and QIPCO announced on Thursday. The award celebrates the winner of a vintage renewal of the King George. Owned by Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. and trained by Vincent O’Brien, the bay delivered as the only 3-year-old in the field, having already claimed victory in the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Irish Derby. After his King George triumph, he would add the St Leger and become the last British Triple Crown winner to date. At stud, he sired 155 black-type winners, including G1 Epsom Derby winner Shahrastani and GI Kentucky Derby hero Ferdinand in the same year, 1986.

“I am delighted to receive the QIPCO Diamonds and Pearls award,” said Nijinsky II’s former jockey Lester Piggott. Nijinsky was a wonderful horse and was unbeaten at the time. There was a lot of hype going into the King George–the opposition was decent, they were good horses, every one of them had a chance. You had all the best–obviously we thought he would win. He came to the other horses in the straight so easily, it was hard to believe really but he won in a canter. It was a wonderful win and was probably the best performance of his career.”

Click here to view the video of Lester Piggott reliving Nijinsky II’s King George.

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Darain Takes the Next Step at Newmarket

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday’s Insights features the return of pricey ‘TDN Rising Star’ Darain (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

2.50 Newmarket, Novice, £5,400, 3yo/up, 10fT
DARAIN (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bids to build on an impressive winning debut at Newbury earlier this month, where the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 Sale topper earned TDN Rising Star status. Qatar Racing and Watership Down Stud’s 3.5million gns son of the high-class Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and full-brother to Too Darn Hot (GB) represents the John Gosden stable and has a seven-pound penalty as he meets seven maidens.

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Enable Faces Ballydoyle Trio

It will be a case of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) versus Ballydoyle and Galileo (Ire) in Saturday’s G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot, but she’s been there before and connections are confident that the star mare is back in the right spot after her defeat in the July 5 G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown. John Gosden is expecting that comeback effort to have put her right for her historic bid for a third renewal of this prestige affair.

“I was very open with everybody that, being the age she is now, she’s found it difficult getting to race-fitness, more than ever before,” he explained. “So she’s found that challenging, but has a strong mind and has brought herself forward with the race to bring her on. She’s got older and wiser as she’s gone, but I feel she’s back in the zone now. I’m of the viewpoint that a Flat horse reaches its zenith aged five, so I still see her training beautifully for this. I just went with her ahead of the Eclipse and her work on the Limekilns has been perfect since. I’ve let her lead a couple of works too and she’s enjoyed that for a change.”

With two Derby winners in Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) and Sovereign (Ire) backing up the G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Japan (GB) in the three-pronged Galileo attack, Gosden is aware that tactics could play a part but is happy to let Dettori take control of that aspect.

“Frankie likes to try and train her too, but I won’t try and ride her as well,” he added. “You have to go in with a blank canvass really and see how it pans out and see what the Ballydoyle horses do. I’ll leave that to the jockey and we’ll not tie anyone down to a plan.”

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Geoff Turnbull Passes at 74

Geoff Turnbull MBE, who with his wife Sandra raced horses of the calibre of Group 1 winners Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper), has passed away after a short illness, Elwick Stud announced in a statement via Twitter on Thursday. The proprietor of Elwick Stud in County Durham was 74.

The statement read, “Elwick Stud is deeply saddened by the passing of our much loved CEO Geoff Turnbull MBE after a short battle with illness. Black armbands will be worn during racing today as a mark of respect for Mr. Turnbull, who was a great ambassador for northern racing. We ask that the privacy of the family is respected at this very difficult time.”

A lifelong horse lover, Turnbull purchased his first racehorse, the seven-time winner La Sylphide (GB) (Primitive Gift {GB}), in 1998. Later on she became the first broodmare for his fledgling Elwick Stud operation.

The best runner to carry the Turnbulls’ colours was Wertheimer & Frere-bred Mondialiste. A winner and third in the 2013 G1 Prix Jean Prat, he joined the yard of trainer David O’Meara after being purchased for €190,000 out of the 2014 Arqana Deauville Summer Mixed Sale. The bay would go on to win the 2015 GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile S. in Canada and take the following year’s GI Arlington Million S. Stateside. He was also runner-up in the 2015 GI Breeders’ Cup Mile and is currently standing his third season at Elwick Stud at a fee of £6,000. His oldest foals are yearlings.

Also an international campaigner, the gelded Lord Glitters’s best showing is a win in the 2019 G1 Queen Anne S., while he was second the year prior and also third in both the 2019 G1 Dubai Turf and 2018 G1 Sussex S. The grey carries an entry to the G2 York S. on Saturday.

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