Observations on the European Racing Scene for Tuesday, Apr. 17

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. Tuesday's Insights features a son of the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Natagora (Fr) (Divine Light {Jpn}).

1.10 Maisons-Laffitte, Cond, €35,000, 3yo, c/g, 8fT
GLEN SHIEL (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) returns for the all-conquering Andre Fabre stable in this fascinating contest, having beaten the useful filly Vue Fantastique (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) on his sole start at Saint-Cloud in November. Godolphin's homebred from the family of their flagship son of Pivotal, Farhh (GB), faces some potentially smart types including Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Mankib (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}), a Freddy Head-trained son of the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Natagora (Fr) (Divine Light {Jpn}) whose form is closely tied in with Glen Shiel's stablemate Veranda (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}).

1.50 Newmarket, Debutantes, £10,000, 3yo, 8fT
ELYAASAAT (Frankel (GB)">Frankel {GB}) is just one of several notables lined up for this Wood Ditton S. which traditionally kicks of Newmarket's Craven meeting and has played host to the future Group 1 winners Shantou, Harbinger (GB) and Mukhadram (GB) (Shamardal) in recent times. Like the latter, William Haggas has charge of Shadwell's son of the GI Flower Bowl Invitational and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), with Jim Crowley opting for him out of a trio of the operation's representatives including the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Buldan (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a 375,000gns TATOCT son of the G2 Park Hill S. winner Meeznah (Dynaformer) who was disqualified from second in the 2010 G1 Epsom Oaks.

2.20 Maisons-Laffitte, Cond, €35,000, 3yo, f, 8fT
LA COCHERE (FR) (Le Havre {Ire}) is a member of the Jean-Claude Rouget establishment which continues to churn out top-class individuals, especially in the silks of this filly's owner Gerard Augustin-Normand. Having beaten Sunday's G3 Prix de la Grotte winner Senga (Blame) on her sole start over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville in August, the relative of the G2 Ribblesdale S. scorer Flying Cloud (Ire) (Storming Home {GB}) is of obvious interest.