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. Thursday's Observations features a seven-figure yearling at Newmarket.
13.50 Newmarket, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT
DUKE'S COMMAND (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of the key members of a fascinating cast to one of Britain's most intriguing maidens to be staged this year, being a 1.6million gns Tatts Book 1 purchase who is a grandson of Coolmore's high-class racemare and producer Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). One of two newcomers from Godolphin's Charlie Appleby stable, which was successful in this with the sire's Ghaiyyath (Ire) six years ago, his dam is a full-sister to the Classic heroines Minding (Ire), Tuesday (Ire) and Empress Josephine (Ire), with the former now responsible for a G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. winner in Dubawi's Henry Longfellow (Ire). Pulled from his intended recent debut at Sandown due to soft ground, connections will have no concerns on that score as he comes up against a potent mix of pedigrees and reputations. Bringing experience to the table is Ballydoyle's Curragh runner-up Ortelius (Justify), a $1.1-million Keeneland September purchase whose dam is a half to the five-times Grade I-winning Rushing Fall (More Than Ready), and Wathnan Racing's William Haggas-trained Wafei (American Pharoah), a relative of Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was a narrow second to Godolphin's G3 Tattersalls S.-bound Legend Of Time (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) at Haydock earlier this month. Other unraced colts looking to make an instant mark are Yuesheng Zhang's 700,000gns Book 2 sensation Synchronize (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) from the Gosdens and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), a Kevin Ryan-trained son of the G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
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