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. Sunday's Observations features a brother to five-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).
14.00 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT
Bob Scarborough's prolific mare Cabaret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has excelled in the paddocks with her nine foals headed by MG1SW sire Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and five-time Group 1-winning phenomenon St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Next in line is the Jessica Harrington-trained PARIS LIGHTS (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}), a full-brother to the latter and a 650,000gns vendor buy-back at last year's Tattersalls October Book 1, who gets the assistance of Conor Hoban in this debut for a yard firing on all cylinders. He encounters three from Ballydoyle, and more, in an intriguing 17-runner affair. Coolmore and Westerberg's China Seas (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a full-brother to elite-level winners Hermosa (Ire), Hydrangea (Ire) and The United States (Ire) and also hails from the family of Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. heroine Tenebrism (Caravaggio). Set to be partnered by Emmet McNamara, the bay is accompanied by Aidan O'Brien stablemates Cougar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), an unraced son of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Criterium International placegetter Promise To Be True (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and Temple of Artemis (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a full-brother to three stakes performers headed by G1 Irish Derby and G1 Gold Cup runner-up Kingfisher (Ire). Elsewhere on the cast list, Joseph O'Brien has nominated another debutant of note and introduces Alvaro Odriozola Arzallus' Sir Antonino (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a 300,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 son of G3 Sceptre S. third and G1 Cheveley Park S. fourth Terror (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).
14.20 Epsom, Nov, £19,000, 2yo, 8f 113yT
Godolphin's GOLDSPUR (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is a homebred son of G1 Prix Vermeille second Pomology (Arch), dished out a 6 1/2-length shellacking to Wolsey (Kitten's Joy), himself kin to last year's GI American Oaks heroine Duopoly (Animal Kingdom), when earning 'TDN Rising Stardom' in a Sept. 15 one-mile test at Sandown last time. Upped in trip and taking an early sighter of Tattenham Corner here, he is confronted by a field of four prior winners, headed by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's similarly unbeaten Merlin's Lady (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who is a 320,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 full-sister to MGSW GI Belmont Derby Invitational third Hunting Horn (Ire) and comes back off a seven-furlong Ayr debut score for the Kevin Ryan stable last month.
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