Europe

This past week the racing has come a distant second in the minds of many when set against the tragedy that has befallen the family of racing commentator John Hunt. Such an appalling act of cruelty is impossible to contemplate, especially when it concerns someone who is so popular and respected. In any workplace there are divisions and squabbles. What unites the racing press room in Britain is the unquestionable fact that John is not only a talented professional but a thoroughly decent man; a friend to so many.  He...

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) reported record commingling turnover of HK$28.8 billion as the 2023/24 season concluded at Sha Tin on Sunday, with 26 countries and more than 70 partners now commingling on Hong Kong racing. That total represented a 13.7% increase on the 2022/23 season, while overall turnover on simulcasting for the season was also up by 8.7% to HK$12.8 billion as Hong Kong continued to offer wagering on the very best of world racing through the World Pool. This year the number of World Pool races increased from...

He had to cover Chantilly's straight six furlongs in a time over a second faster than when taking the G3 Prix du Bois last month, but what would prove too difficult for others is far from a test for the highly progressive Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}--Mamma Morton {Ire}, by Elnadim) as he enhanced his portfolio in Sunday's G2 Prix Robert Papin. In a renewal absent of any French-trained juveniles, it was the fellow British raider Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who pressed on from the outset but Mohamed Saeed Al...

His Highness The Aga Khan's hitherto unraced 2-year-old-filly Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Zarkamiya {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of the storied Zarkava, produced a stunning performance in Sunday's Prix de la Butte Blanche over seven furlongs at Chantilly and emulated her illustrious second dam by securing 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. The well-backed 11-10 favourite settled into a smooth rhythm and tracked the leaders in fifth after the opening exchanges. Angled off the rail for a clear passage approaching the quarter-mile marker, she settled the contest in an instant...

Sunday's racing is more low-key than we have been used to this week, but Chantilly stage a significant juvenile staging post in the G2 Prix Robert Papin in which Rockcliffe Stud's Listed Empress Stakes winner Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}) takes the next step in her career. With Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) boosting that Newmarket form, the Ed Walker-trained homebred takes pole position for this six-furlong contest which also hosts Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's course-and-distance G3 Prix du Bois scorer Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}). Strangely exclusively contested by...

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 granddaughter of the legendary Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). 14.33 Chantilly, Debutantes, €30.000, 2yo, f, 7fT ZARIGANA (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) is an eye-catching newcomer for The Aga Khan and Francis-Henri Graffard, being a daughter of the listed-winning and G1 Prix Vermeille-placed Zarkamiya (Fr) (Frankel {GB}). She was...

A winner over 1400 metres versus newcomers on June 22, Satono Carnaval (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) defended his perfect record with a 1 1/4-length win in the G3 Hakodate Nisai Stakes at Hakodate on Saturday. Sporting lather along his neck in the preliminaries, the bay sat in fourth position early in this cut back in trip. The 12-5 favourite, who moved fluidly throughout, took dead aim on long-time leader Nishino Lavanda (Jpn) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) at the furlong pole and easily edged ahead of the filly by the line. Endless...

Winning ParisLongchamp's G1 Grand Prix de Paris for the 14th time, Andre Fabre was also ending a drought of 10 years since the last as the Wertheimers' Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Sosia {Ger}, by Shamardal) prevailed at ParisLongchamp on Saturday evening. Third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club last time, the homebred became the latest to emerge to bestow extra gravity on that Chantilly Classic as he swept by his contemporaries up this hallowed straight. Ideally placed in fourth early by Maxime Guyon, the 5-2 second favourite took...

Sent off the 11-10 favourite for Saturday's G2 Prix de Malleret at ParisLongchamp, Gerard Augustin-Normand's G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) justified that faith to record a notable black-type breakthrough win. Content to follow the pace early, the Nicolas Clement-trained homebred was asked to take control 300 metres from the finish as Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) became ensnared in traffic to her right and needed no second invitation en route to a 1 1/4-length success from Mosaique (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). Candala, who met with abundant trouble in...

Peter Harris's Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Swirral Edge {GB}, by Hellvelyn {GB}) had been coming of age so far this season and his big moment duly came in Saturday's G1 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket. Successful in the G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes and third in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on his last two starts, the 11-1 shot was held up early by William Buick with the pace strong up front. Staying on powerfully down the wing to wear down the QEII...

Victorious Racing's Group 2 winner Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) has sustained a setback and will miss the rest of the year, trainer George Scott announced. Currently sporting a five-race winning streak, including the Bahraini Triple Crown this winter and Goodwood's Listed Festival Stakes in May, the 4-year-old gelding won the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last out. He carried entries in both the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot later this month, and the G1 International Stakes at York on Aug. 21....

It was a case of business as usual at Newmarket on Saturday with Charlie Appleby saddling his fifth G2 Superlative Stakes winner in TDN Rising Star Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Beyond Reason {Ire}, by Australia {GB}). Having won on debut over six furlongs on the Rowley Mile in May and over this seven-furlong trip and course last month, the 4-6 favourite faced a depleted field with three non-runners and had to wait behind rivals early as William Buick anchored him under cover. Picking up impressively to take control approaching the...