Europe

Flying the flag for Germany on Sunday, Gestut Rottgen's G3 Diana-Trial winner Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}--Kizingo {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) made the most of her favourable inside draw and her abundant ability to make all in Dusseldorf's G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana. Always happy navigating the tight circuit under Martin Seidl, the Maxim Pecheur-trained 6-1 shot turned it on from the top of the straight and was soon beyond recall. At the line, the homebred had a length to spare over the closing Spanish Eyes (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), with...

Maintaining his unbeaten sequence in style, Nurlan Bizakov's Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) proved the slight drop in trip to be no problem as he dominated Sunday's G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville. Having captured the seven-furlong G3 Prix Djebel here in April and the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac at Longchamp in June, the Jerome Reynier-trained homebred had a question to answer taking on the pure sprinters over this niche 6 1/2-furlong distance but travelled equally as strongly as them all from the outset. Looming on the front...

Having beaten the best sprinters around in the G1 July Cup, Peter Harris's Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) returns to familiar territory as he bids for a prestigious double in Sunday's G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest. Starting to bloosom into the top-flight performer he now is at Deauville last summer, Jane Chapple-Hyam's project thrived in this Normandy air to record a brace of black-type successes in the Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud and G3 Prix de Meautry prior to his coming-of-age campaign this term. There is a danger that his...

Cassie Tully is head of research and pedigrees at Coolmore. Previously a bloodstock columnist for Sporting Life, she is currently halfway through studying for an Executive MBA degree. How did you first become involved/interested in racing and bloodstock? I used to event when I was much younger but my Dad loved racing so it actually began through being a huge Barry Geraghty fan. A fascination with pedigrees dictated the way forward from there.   What does your role at Coolmore entail? I'm over research and pedigrees but without wanting it...

Henry de Bromhead trainee Term Of Endearment (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Miss You Too {GB}. by Montjeu {Ire}) accounted for Night Sparkle (Ire) (Postponed {Ire}) and River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in May's G3 Bronte Cup at York and doubled up in game fashion to lead home a repeat trifecta in Saturday's G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood. Positioned behind the leaders in fourth until well beyond the halfway mark in this 14-furlong stamina test, the 15-2 chance made continued headway in the straight to gain...

Carrying a large weight of expectation along with TDN Rising Star status into Saturday's Turners EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Newmarket, Godolphin's Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Promising Run, by Hard Spun) made what looked an easy assignment an extremely facile one to fully justify odds of 1-4. Always travelling smoothly for Billy Loughnane, the Charlie Appleby-trained daughter of the operation's five-time group 2 winner took control approaching two out, surged clear down the dip and tanked to the line for a 6 1/2-length success from Dash Of Azure...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 15.15 Newmarket, Novice, £8,500, 2yo, 7fT DESERT FLOWER (IRE) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) became another Godolphin TDN Rising Star at the July Festival here and returns to the scene of that impressive debut to bid to defy a seven-pound...

Full-time hairdresser and small-time breeder Ashley Hillyard admits to having been left dumbfounded by the victory of Black Forza in Thursday's Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.  Why so? Well, the Kentucky-based 38-year-old snapped up Harlee Honey (Harlan's Holiday), the dam of Michael O'Callaghan's bright young star, for just $11,000 at Fasig-Tipton Digital from Legacy Bloodstock last August. It's a purchase that even the most shrewd of breeders would be proud of.  And in less than a year, Hillyard is now fielding offers that she admits would be life-changing to her and...

As a half-brother to the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes-winning sire Earthlight (Ire), the Charlie Appleby-trained Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Winters Moon {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) has a lot of baggage to carry but the way he went two-for-two at Newmarket on Friday bodes well for his future. Successfully introduced at Yarmouth last month, the 8-11 favourite was able to travel easily behind the pace throughout the early stages of this six-furlong novice before taking command two out. Pushed out by Harry Bentley...

Goodwood's Qatar Festival winds down on Saturday, with the feature G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes looking an open affair for the staying fillies and mares. George Strawbridge's Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was only fourth behind the re-opposing first and second Sumo Sam (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in this 12 months ago and Thady Gosden is hoping she can regain the winning thread that she lost after last year's G2 Middleton Stakes. "Last year in the Lilly Langtry, it was unfortunate there...

The special standalone sale for Australian champion and dual Group 1 winner Prowess (NZ) (Proisir {Aus}) on Gavelhouse Plus began on Friday. It runs through 7 p.m. (NZT) on Aug. 8. A winner of the G1 New Zealand Stakes and the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes, the mare was a NZ$230,000 NZB Book 1 graduate. Bred by Hallmark Stud, she earned $965,964 for a family syndicate headed by Dean and Janie Skipper. "I've been lucky to have a number of high-class horses through my stable, and she was right up in...

Taking his revenge on his Royal Ascot conqueror Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}), Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Hana Lina {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) returned to winning ways in Friday's G2 King George Qatar Stakes on Goodwood's fast downhill five-furlong strip over which he had won the 2023 G3 Molecomb Stakes. Third to the Australian runner in last month's G1 King Charles III Stakes, last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero was sent off the 13-8 favourite and raced in second early under Tom Marquand with Ponntos...