Europe

Juddmonte's homebred 3-year-old Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--Obligate {GB}, by Frankel {GB}) hit the board behind the reopposing Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in last month's Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket and made a smooth transition up to pattern-race level with a polished display in Friday's G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood. The John and Thady Gosden trainee, sent postward at odds of 9-2, was swiftly into stride from the inside gate and gained an immediate lead. Unflustered on the front end shaken up with 2...

Sunday's €380,000 G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest shares this weekend's European top billing with Dusseldorf's 166th G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana (German Oaks) and, while the field for that Classic was finalised on Wednesday, declarations for the Deauville highlight were not confirmed until Friday morning. There were no defectors from the overnight set of 16 nominees as all main characters--G1 Prix Jean Prat victor Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), G1 July Cup hero Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire} and dual G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel...

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. Friday's Observations features a half-brother to Earthlight (Ire). 18.53 Newmarket, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 6fT SHADOW OF LIGHT (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) bids to build on his debut Yarmouth success in this race which Charlie Appleby used as a Gimcrack prep for Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) two years...

Having extended the Australian legacy at Royal Ascot, Noor Elaine Farm's Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) heads to Goodwood on Friday to bid to add the G2 King George Qatar Stakes to last month's G1 King Charles III Stakes victory. Burdened with a five-pound penalty in this rapid affair, the Henry Dwyer-trained veteran who has continued to acclimatise in Newmarket was the subject of a positive bulletin from her handler this week. "I obviously hadn't seen her since the day she won at Ascot, but I couldn't be happier with...

Introduced in the same seven-furlong Goodwood maiden on Thursday that Ballydoyle won with Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2016, Dreamy (Ire) (American Pharoah--Tapestry {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) became the latest to fly the flag for the Rosegreen stable in a largely fruitful week. Bred by Flaxman Stables and Coolmore and carrying the famed colours of the Niarchos Family, the daughter of the G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine qas quickly away from her high draw before being settled in fourth by Ryan Moore. Taking her time to build in the closing stages,...

Maiden winner Wizard Of Odds (Ire) (Arizona {Ire}) topped the ThoroughBid July Sale on Thursday. BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe bought the juvenile for £50,000. Sold as lot 28 by Baronrath Stables, he was trained by Charles O'Brien to win at Down Royal two weeks ago. Donohoe said, "I've been keeping my eye on the ThoroughBid sales ever since they kicked off and was interested when I saw Wizard Of Odds entered. He's a horse I've been following all season. "He'll be staying in-training in Ireland for some Irish clients and...

Coolmore and Westerberg's 'TDN Rising Star' Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Devoted To You {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) followed up an eighth-length debut tally at the Curragh with a black-type breakthrough back there in June's G3 International Stakes and, penalised three pounds for his narrow success in the latter, dipped into deep reserves to maintain his perfect record with a battling performance in Thursday's G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. The 4-5 favourite allowed this track's Listed Cocked Hat Stakes victor Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) establish a clear...

Eleanora Kennedy's Black Forza (Complexity--Harlee Honey, by Harlan's Holiday), a £220,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up graduate, shed maiden status at Fairyhouse last month and stepped forward to notch a landmark win for his Airdrie Stud-based freshman sire (by Maclean's Music) in Thursday's G2 Markel Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. A share in the stallion will be auctioned at Fasig-Tipton's August Sale next week. The Michael O'Callaghan trainee was steadied after the break and settled several lengths off the tempo in seventh through the early fractions of this six-furlong dash. Coming under pressure...

Nurlan Bizakov's Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is on course in his bid to enhance an already excellent record this season with a crack at the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois on August 11. The Roger Varian-trained four-year-old has been one of the stars of the year in Britain, kicking off with a win in the Listed Doncaster Mile on the opening day of the turf season before going on to victory in the G2 Bet365 Mile and G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was also second to...

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 daughter of American Pharoah and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Tapestry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 17.20 Goodwood, Mdn, £60,000, 2yo, f, 7fT DREAMY (IRE) (American Pharoah) is an eye-catching newcomer for Ballydoyle, being a daughter of the G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Tapestry (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). From the...

Trainers Edward O'Grady and Jessica Harrington have led the tributes to leading owner and breeder Dermot Cox following the death of the successful businessman on Tuesday.  A pillar of the community in Kildare, Cox owned many leading lights over jumps, including Cheltenham Festival hero Back In Front and Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Tranquil Sea. Father to David of Baroda Stud, Cox played an instrumental role in the development of Punchestown racecourse. He has been attributed to being the driving force behind forging and developing relationships with overseas trainers, the...

Like stablemate Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), there is a sense that Ballydoyle's Opera Singer (Justify) is only just beginning to get her season underway as she steps up to a mile and a quarter for the first time in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. Reportedly ring-rusty when third in the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh and looking in need of further than a mile when runner-up in Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation Stakes, last year's impressive G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine has the opportunity to truly...