Montjeu, the sire of three Epsom Derby winners, has died aged 16 after a short illness.

THE horses continue to run well, which is very pleasing ahead of another big week for us and for Irish racing.

MICHAEL BELL has described today’s Darley Yorkshire Oaks as “one for the purists” as he prepares to saddle his star filly Sariska.

MAKFI gave star milers Goldikova and Paco Boy a shock when scooting to victory in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville yesterday.

FEW of the fillies attending Ladies’ Day on Thursday will match the superstar status of Goldikova as the globetrotting French mare clocked up her ninth Group One win in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday.

AIDAN O’BRIEN’S St Nicholas Abbey, the incredibly impressive winner of the Racing Post Trophy and 100-30 favourite with the sponsors, was among the entries revealed yesterday for the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas.

A gambler was given a suspended jail term today after he threatened to kill dual Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Conduit unless he was withdrawn from a race.

Johnny Murtagh is confident Mastercraftsman remains at the peak of his powers ahead of his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile assignment at Santa Anita tomorrow.

Rip Van Winkle will break from stall 10 in his quest to provide Aidan O’Brien with a maiden success in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday.

MICK Kinane believes Tartan Bearer has solid claims of providing him with a sixth success in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot today.

Ralph Beckett feels Look Here is ready to give her all as she bids to show her male counterparts the way home in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

UNBEATEN filly Zarkava was crowned the Cartier Horse Of The Year in a glittering ceremony in London last night.

The future of Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Raven’s Pass has yet to be decided.

Breeders’ Cup Turf hope Eagle Mountain delighted trainer Mike De Kock as he engaged in a successful workout at Newmarket racecourse this morning.

DYLAN Thomas is reportedly “thriving” in his preparations for the Honk Kong Vase on Sunday.

Jim Bolger admits Finsceal Beo has a huge task in front of her when taking on Dylan Thomas and cohorts in tomorrow’s Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes.

Steve Asmussen was in philosophical mood after Kentucky Derby favourite Curlin was handed stall two for the Churchill Downs showpiece on Saturday.

Ouija Board has won a second Eclipse Award after being voted the top female turf horse in America.

Ouija Board has been ruled out of the Hong Kong Vase and retired by her owner Lord Derby hours after a problem was detected on the mare’s near-fore.

Globetrotting supermare Ouija Board could run in the Japan Cup after she attempts to regain the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf crown on Saturday week.

Ace American jockey Gary Stevens will finally retire from the saddle tomorrow night.

Kieren Fallon believes Ace would have given Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Shirocco “a run for his money” if he had enjoyed luck in running.

Michael Stoute is not concerned about soft going ruining the chances of Favourable Terms in tomorrow’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Starcraft and Ouija Board head a lengthy list of British nominations for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on December 11.

Former 11-times champion jockey Pat Eddery is to be awarded an honorary OBE in recognition of his “services to horse racing”.

NEWLY-crowned champion jockey Frankie Dettori won the Flat jockey of the year award at the 38th annual Horserace Writers & Photographers Association awards in London yesterday while the training equivalent went to Godolphin’s Saeed Bin Suroor.

Aidan O’Brien is hoping that his late-season revival in form can be carried across the Atlantic when he saddles five runners in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup meeting at Lone Star Park.

KITTEN’S JOY - the potential stumbling block to Breeders’ Cup Turf glory for Ouija Board - has consolidated his position as favourite for the Texas showpiece on Saturday week.

Italian raider Prince Kirk was a surprise winner of the Group One Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp.

HE may have 29 rivals to contend with, but Kevin Prendergast’s Mustameet has to be fancied to land the nap in the Media Ltd Median Auction Maiden at the Curragh this afternoon.

American legend Laffit Pincay Jr, the world’s winning-most jockey, has announced his retirement from the saddle.

Lingfield Park’s new race, which could figure as Johannesburg’s prep-run for the Kentucky Derby, will be called the Foster’s - International Trial Stakes.