Watching New Zealand and South Africa there was that very rare feeling - it lasted only a few minutes, like viewing the aurora borealis, where you are mouthing quietly to yourself: this is unbelievable, writes Ronan O’Gara.

We have written here before that trainer, Ger Lyons, needs to find a Group 1 horse to carry his progressive career to the next level.

On an overcast Kilkenny afternoon about this time last year a seemingly bog standard two-year old maiden race was run at Gowran Park. Of the sixteen starters, most were unexposed types and although they represented many of our high profile training operations it didn’t quite feel like one of those golden maidens that hid unrevealed secrets for a sparkling future. Looks can sometimes deceive.

Dermot Weld would rather the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe be staged at Longchamp than its temporary home of Chantilly ahead of Harzand's date with destiny on Sunday week.

Ken Condon feels there is more to come from Success Days after his all-the-way win in the Royal Whip at the Curragh on Sunday.

A quick sweep of the archives would show it is perhaps not the greatest surprise that Kieren Fallon has called time on his career in the saddle.

Classic winner Covert Love has been retired after suffering a strained ligament.

Aidan O’Brien is one of a number of trainers left to ponder the effects of what looks set to be a soft-ground Royal Ascot.

Triple Crown hero American Pharoah has been named the 2015 Longines World’s Best Racehorse at a ceremony in London.

The David Griffiths-trained Take Cover bounced back from a below par run in the Abbaye at Longchamp last time when landing the listed Mercury Stakes in Dundalk last night.

John Gosden is worried about the forecast rain for Racing Post Trophy favourite Foundation at Doncaster today.

Due to the problem I spoke of in this column last week - rain, or, more specifically, the lack of it - we’re still waiting to really get going with our National Hunt horses, but Don Cossack didn’t half throw down an early marker with a brilliant comeback this week at Punchestown.

Air Force Blue was “very popular” on the eve of the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes - despite Aidan O’Brien issuing a cautionary note about ground conditions at Newmarket for his star two-year-old colt.

Eagle Top will defend the honour of British older horses when he lines up for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, as red-hot favourite Treve was eased to odds against with a number of firms yesterday.

Jockey Chris Hayes feels Sole Power has a good chance of breaking his Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye hoodoo should conditions continue to dry out at Longchamp.

Thierry Jarnet has dismissed claims from Golden Horn’s owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer that his star colt could beat Treve “easily” in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Here’s a tip for the remaining few weeks of the flat campaign: Keep Aidan O’Brien very much on your side.

Top-class middle-distance performer Eagle Top will bid to open his account for the campaign in the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup at Newbury today.

Hugo Palmer hopes to get two more runs into Darley Irish Oaks winner Covert Love – ground permitting.

Pat Smullen was at his imperious best as he landed last night’s feature races at Cork, the listed Platinum Stakes and Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes, aboard the Dermot Weld-trained duo, Eshera and Zannda, to complete a treble which he kicked off aboard the exciting Only Mine.

Freddy Head expects the undulations of Goodwood to bring out the best in Solow when he bids to continue his fantastic campaign in today’s Qatar Sussex Stakes.

It’s Oaks day at the Curragh, and Curvy looks capable of justifying favouritism in the feature, but it’s Final Frontier who gets the nap to make a successful step up to Group 3 level in the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Anglesey Stakes.

Golden Horn’s owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer has given the strongest indication so far his champion three-year-old is likely to retire at the end of the season.

Treve took another giant step forward in her bid to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for an unprecedented third time as she dispensed of old adversary Flintshire in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the Paris track.

In the end it was all very logical. 

Recently, in the Racing Post, Tom Segal described Aidan O’Brien as "the best flat trainer in my lifetime.’’

The Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes are the next races being considered for Royal Ascot hero Free Eagle.

Forgotten Rules is set to be prepared for the Irish St Leger following his admirable effort in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Aidan O’Brien has been “very happy” with Found ahead of today’s Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Found can extend the record-breaking exploits of jockey Ryan Moore by taking the Coronation Stakes this afternoon at Royal Ascot.

All eyes will be on Forgotten Rules on Thursday as the unbeaten favourite bids to give Dermot Weld another Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, ground permitting.

Dual Guineas hero Gleneagles turned in a dominant performance in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

French star Solow ground out victory in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Queen Anne Stakes is an intriguing race with which to start Royal Ascot, and the Richard Hannon-trained Night Of Thunder looks to represent tremendous each-way value.

Aidan O’Brien is pleased with where he is at with Gleneagles ahead of his attempt to further cement his position as the best miler of his generation in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot today.

Dual 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles heads a field of six for the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot tomorrow.

Make Believe, winner of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, is set to take on dual Guineas victor Gleneagles at Royal Ascot after he was supplemented for Tuesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes.

French raider Epicuris has his sights set firmly on the Investec Derby as the field for the Epsom Classic began to take shape yesterday.