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 Insights features the 2019 Arqana August Yearling Sale topper.
1.20 Punchestown, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, 7fT
MONDAY (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is the first foal out of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner and G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is in turn a full-sister to another Aidan O'Brien-trained luminary in Misty For Me (Ire). The February-foaled bay is up against 10 in the race that relaunches flat racing at this track for the first time in nearly 18 years.
1.55 Punchestown, Cond, €13,500, 3yo/up, 7fT
ELDAMA (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}) earned 'TDN Rising Star' status on her winning debut at Leopardstown in June and reappears in this seven-runner conditions event. The Aga Khan's relative of the G1 Ascot Gold Cup winners Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) drops in trip, having won over a mile that day with Dermot Weld looking to restart her campaign.
2.25 Punchestown, Mdn, €11,000, 2yo, 8fT
LIFFEY RIVER (FR) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was a short-head second to TDN Rising Star Wuqood (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) over this trip on debut at Gowran Park last month and looks to get off the mark for owner Sun Bloodstock and trainer Joseph O'Brien. A full-brother to the group winners Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) and a half to Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead), the €380,000 Arqana Deauville August purchase encounters nine rivals on an informative card.
2.10 Salisbury, Novice, £6,900, 2yo, 8fT
MAHOMES (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was one of 11 seven-figure lots to sell at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, with David Redvers securing the son of The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) for Qatar Racing for 1million gns. Like the high-class dam, who was successful four times at the highest level including in the G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Prince of Wales's S., the January-foaled bay is in the hands of John Gosden as he faces nine here.
2.40 Salisbury, Mdn, £24,000, 2yo f, 6f 213yT
NOON STAR (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is the sixth foal out of the prolific Group 1 winner Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and a full-sister to the dual Group 3 scorer Midterm (GB) and a half to the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Mori (GB) by Galileo's Frankel (GB). Both were trained by Sir Michael Stoute and the master of Freemason Lodge again has charge of this April-foaled bay as she debuts in this valuable “Quidhampton” Maiden Fillies' S.
4.45 ParisLongchamp, Debutantes, €22,000, 2yo, f, 8fT
PHILOMENE (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) at €1.625 million was the 2019 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale topper, which was no surprise given that her dam Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) had produced the star distaffers Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Andre Fabre introduces the May-foaled bay, who races for a partnership between her purchasers Godolphin and her breeders Ecurie des Monceaux and Ecurie Skymarc Farm. She faces eight rivals.
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