Latest News

Plus: Ed de Giles answers 5 quick-fire bloodstock questions

Shadwell Racing Manager, Angus Gold, fresh from a visit to Owen Burrows’s Lambourn yard this week, provides news and updates on three of Shadwell’s Classic hopefuls, as well as plans for the talented four-year-old filly, Falakeyah.

Gold confirmed that Touleen, twice a winner last season, will be given an entry in the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury next weekend, ahead of a potential tilt at the Betfred 1000 Guineas.

“The plan is for Touleen to go to Newbury, for the Fred Darling, the Dubai Duty Free, and if all goes well there we would like to run her in the 1000 Guineas. She seems in very good form and has been working well for the past two to three weeks.“

“Newbury is the obvious place to start her off. It’s just down the road and we don’t particularly want to go to Newmarket just two weeks before the big race, so we'll go there and see how she gets on.”

“She won well twice last year and then obviously disappointed at Newmarket in the Rockfel but she scoped dirty after that race, she was full of mucus, so I think there was a genuine excuse for that defeat.”

“I guess the only question is will she definitely stay a mile. It’s interesting that her dam, Talaayeb, who was by Dansili and we all thought would stay a mile and quarter, ran in the Guineas first time up and was a close-up fourth (to Winter), but we ended up bringing her back to seven furlongs and she won the City of York Stakes. There is a bit of speed in this particular branch of the family, so as long as she settles and does everything right, which she does at home, I think there's every chance she will get a mile.”

“With Jim (Crowley) still out injured, the plan is that Saffie Osborne will ride Touleen. Saffie has ridden her in her last couple of bits of work, and subject to confirming with everybody, that will be the case next Saturday.”

Above: 1000 Guineas hopeful Touleen winning impressively at Newbury on debut.

Naturally, on account of his pedigree, plenty of people are looking forward to the reappearance of Raaheeb. The full-brother to Group 1 stars Baaeed and Hukum made a winning debut at Ascot last September and the colt holds a Derby entry, among others.

“I watched Raaheeb do a nice bit of work this week. The thing with Raaheeb is he only had the one run last season as we put him away to give him time to mature. He's always been more in the physical mould of Hukum. He's a taller model and doesn't have the depth of Baaeed, and he’s always looked more of a staying horse and certainly everybody who has sat on him suggests that will be the case.”

“At the moment, the plan is the Sandown Classic Trial in two weeks. My only observation with regard to Raaheeb is that obviously he's potentially a Derby horse, if he's good enough, but the Derby is less than two months away and so mentally it might all come a bit soon. I'm sure he's going to improve throughout his career and he might be more of a slow burner than a horse to throw straight into a Derby, but let's get the first race out of the way and let him tell us.”

Above: Raaheeb after a fine debut success at Ascot.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Yazin, like Raaheeb, holds entries in the Dante and the Prix du Jockey Club. He was impressive when winning under a penalty at Newmarket in October and is another who comes from a good family, with his dam closely related to Tawkeel, a Group 1 winner in France over 10 furlongs. 

“Yazin had a little set back after his win at Newmarket, we had to take a chip out of his knee, so he obviously had a bit of time off after that but he's back in full work and has been going well. I believe he worked well this week and everyone seems very happy with him.”

“Initially, the thinking was to start him off on the all-weather at Chelmsford towards the end of the month but unfortunately that’s now off the table, but he's coming along. He's a very interesting horse to me because he doesn't look like a big, staying horse yet he ran right to the top of the hill at Newmarket last year. I'm sure he's going to get a mile no problem and we have put him in the French Derby, so we've just got to find a race for him towards the end of April and take it from there, but considering that he had that set back since he last ran I think, touchwood, he's in good form.”

“He has the most charming temperament, everyone's always said he is a very willing horse who just wants to work with you, so that's an encouraging sign.”

Gold also had news of the filly Falakeyah who made such a striking impression when winning the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes last season.

“Falakeyah is coming along nicely. Last year she won so well at Newmarket, then she pulled too hard in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and we sort of lost her for the rest of the year.”

“We've given her plenty of time over the winter, she's now back in full work, coming along well and the options are either going back to Newmarket or Owen (Burrows) was talking about maybe the Nottinghamshire Oaks at the end of April. It’s a mile and a quarter round a bend and might be a good place to start because she tends to want to do it all the wrong way round, but at the moment both physically and mentally she seems really good.”

Thoroughbred Thoughts - 5 quick questions with Ed de Giles 

Trainer Ed de Giles, based at Lilly Hall Farm in Herefordshire, also keeps a select band of broodmares alongside his training operation. Among them is his own former trainee, Lucy The Painter, the dam of dual Group 2 scorer Bright Picture and Group 3 winner Indalimos - both of whom added to their Stakes records at Longchamp on Sunday. Ed also has their half-sister, Reve De Magritte, amongst other mares.

1. Proudest moment as a breeder? 

We have had a couple of mares for the last 15 years, and bred plenty of winners to a certain level, now we have five mares that have very active and exciting pedigrees with some very impressive prospects on the ground and coming. Lucy The Painter, who was a delight to train, is now shining as a broodmare with her progeny excelling in France and boosting the page monthly.  It's a long term game which requires great patience and I am proud of what we are building and cannot wait to see what the future brings.

2. Which Shadwell stallions are you supporting in 2026? 

Mohaather, Mostahdaf and Baaeed.

We have an exceptional filly by Mohaather born in February. The second Mohaather is due at the end of April. We have had one outstanding  Mostahdaf colt so far and look forward to the second foal due at the end of the month. Two mares will be visiting Mostahdaf,  one to Mohaather, and Lucy is now in foal to Baaeed.

3. One piece of bloodstock advice for your younger self? 

Breed with your head and not your heart. Do your homework and justify to yourself why you have come up with your final matings.

4. One thing you would like to see changed in the thoroughbred industry? 

Prize money.

5. A horse to follow? 

Unnamed 2yo filly Territories ex Lucy The Painter.