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. Monday's Insights features the first foal of MG1SW Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
12.15 Haydock, Novice, £6,400, 2yo, 6fT
MESHAKEL (IRE) (Shamardal) is another off the Mark Johnston production line which has been working highly efficiently since Monday, with Salem Rashid bin Ghadayer's March-foaled chestnut another Royal Ascot aspirant having cost 500,000gns at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale. The first foal out of the smart listed-winning and group-placed half to the multiple grade I-placed Three Degrees (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}), he meets Godolphin's fellow newcomer Fast Start (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a Saeed bin Suroor-trained son of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Certify (Elusive Quality).
2.30 Chelmsford, Novice, £6,400, 3yo, f, 8fT
MARIA ROSA (War Front) renews rivalry with Fooraat (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who beat her by a neck on their Newcastle debut in October, but this time the $1.75-million Keeneland September Sale topper has seven pounds in hand. Godolphin's half-sister to the 2016 Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist (Uncle Mo), who hails from John Gosden's academy, will be a warm order to reverse form with Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Fooraat who is a Roger Varian-trained full-sister to the high-class Benbatl (GB) out of the G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Flower Bowl heroine Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk).
2.55 Naas, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, f, 5fT
MORE BEAUTIFUL (War Front) is Ballydoyle's first post-lockdown 2-year-old runner and she is some draw as a half-sister to the G1 2000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) out of Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). In opposition is the 300,000gns Tattersalls December Foal Sale graduate Roses Blue (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who represents an intriguing new link-up between Moyglare Stud Farm and Jessie Harrington.
3.30 Naas, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, c/g, 6fT
LIPIZZANER (Uncle Mo) was Aidan O'Brien's first 2-year-old runner of the new season pre-lockdown at Naas in March and produced a highly encouraging effort to be second. A son of the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas heroine Irish Lights (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the $650,000 Keeneland September graduate is therefore a half-brother to the G2 Silver Shadow S. winner and G1 Golden Rose S. runner-up Omei Sword (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}). He is joined by three fellow Ballydoyle representatives making their debut including Battleground (War Front), the first foal out of the mighty Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Baton Rouge (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who is a full-brother to Magician (Ire).
6.35 Naas, Mdn, €14,000, 3yo, c/g, 8fT
THE RAIN KING (IRE) (No Nay Never) represents the new Donnacha O'Brien set-up and is a fascinating newcomer as a 250,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate whose dam is a full-sister to Sadler's Wells' Group 1 heroines Sequoyah (Ire) and Listen (Ire). Sporting the Michael Tabor silks, the February-foaled bay encounters 17 rivals including the unraced Numen (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Ballydoyle's son of Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) who races in the same Niarchos colours of that brilliant performer.
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