Europe

Despite the absence of the King George hero Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in Sunday's G1 Mehl-Mulhens-Stiftung Preis von Europa, the Cologne feature held up well with the two domestic Classic winners bidding to deny Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Minidress {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) a second edition of the prestigious mile-and-a-half contest. In the event, Godolphin's high-class stalwart was able to ward off all challenges and reproduce his 2022 success for a sixth win at the top level. Last seen finishing best of those who raced near the hot pace...

Sunday sees Cologne's G1 Mehl-Mulhens-Stiftung Preis von Europa, for which the King George hero Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) would have been a warm order, but there is still intrigue with Godolphin's 2022 title-holder Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in attendance. Having covered himself in glory when third in a red-hot renewal of Ascot's July showcase event, the winner of five top-flight events including a Breeders' Cup Turf and a Dubai Sheema Classic appears as good as ever and that should be enough despite the presence of Liberty Racing's G1 Deutsches...

Veteran rider Franny Norton, who announced his retirement earlier this week, rode a trio of winners at Chester to end his career on a high. Norton enjoyed seven rides on Saturday, prevailing with 1-3 favourite Raneenn (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the EBF "Confined" Fillies' Novice Stakes for trainer William Haggas and owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum in the day's third race. Haggas said, "It was lovely to give him a winner on his last day. He rode the most brilliant race for us a few years ago (2017) on a...

Saturday's SGA Yearling Sale in Milan resulted in co-toppers as a colt and a filly each brought €70,000 when purchased by Diego Romeo's Scuderia Incolinx. Just a handful of lots into the sale, a son of Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) already named Lethal Emperor (Ity) (lot 8) hammered for €70,000 to take the early lead on the bid of Scuderia Incolinx. Consigned by Societa Agricola Alessandrucci, the bay is out of the Lethal Force (Ire) mare Lethal Island (GB), who won three times in Italy. She is the dam of...

The G7 Agricolture will be held at Ippodromo del Mediterraneo in Syracuse, Sicily, Italy on Sept. 28-29. There will be the G1 Grand Prix Freccia d'Europa for trotters and a trio of super handicaps each worth €34,000 Euros for Flat horses on Saturday. The next day, the Gran Premio Federnat, known as the Gentlemen's Lotteria, will take place under the trotting discipline, while the Thoroughbreds will race in the Criterium Divinazione Expo 2024. Other attractions will provide a vibrant sideshow for racing fans until 11 p.m. local time.

Saturday's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes was hit with a spate of withdrawals following the heavy rain at Newbury, but Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Powerful Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}--Wouldntitbelovely {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) stepped up to provide the rescue with a game win in the testing ground. So impressive on a contrasting good-to-firm surface at Pontefract last month, the 5-2 second favourite travelled strongly in his own rhythm as the race split into three pairs across the track. Staying on strongly to enter contention approaching the...

Catch On Me (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) topped Auctav's NH Sale on Friday on a €120,000 bid from Guy Petit. The winner, out of the stakes-placed Nan's Catch (Fr) (Loup Solitaire), was consigned by Haras de Fresneaux. Lot 128B is a half-brother to graded-placed jumper Catch One (Fr) (Smadoun {Fr}) and the listed-placed hurdler Cardigan Bay (Fr) (Turtle Bowl {Ire}). The other six-figure lot of the sale was the 3-year-old filly Clotilda (Fr) (Clovis Du Berlais {Fr}) (lot 101B), a €100,000 sale to Tom Malone Bloodstock. Ecurie Butel & Beaunez sent...

Coming into Saturday's G3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes at Ayr as the 16-5 favourite having won a decent maiden at Newbury last month, Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy's Sky Majesty (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Majestic Alexander {Ire}, by Bushranger {Ire}) continued her steep upward trajectory with a battling success to double her tally. Travelling strongly early settled in mid-pack by Callum Rodriguez, the William Haggas-trained 150,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 graduate worked her way into contention approaching the final furlong and after gaining a narrow advantage hung tough throughout the closing stages...

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 a half-brother to Victor Ludorum (GB). 13.35 Newmarket, Novice, £8,500, 2yo, f, 8fT PEARL OF HOPE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a notable Godolphin newcomer, being a half-sister to Shamardal's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire Victor Ludorum (GB). Charlie Appleby sticks...

Held in the highest regard by Richard Fahey, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's latest hot property Powerful Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) puts his reputation on the line in Saturday's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury. Impressive enough to earn instant TDN Rising Star status on debut at Pontefract last month, the relative of the top-class sprinter Maarek (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) meets more experienced peers in the six-furlong feature, but possibly none with more upside at this juncture. Fahey is hopeful the bubble won't burst. "We have...

City Of Troy (Justify), who bested older horses in the G1 International Stakes at York last out, now holds a rating of 130p by Timeform, three pounds clear of his closest rivals pointing to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in November. The Aidan O'Brien colt, who races for the Coolmore partners, participated in a racecourse gallop at Southwell on Friday. Next on ratings is GI Travers Stakes/GI Florida Derby winner Fierceness (City Of Light) at 127, five pounds better than GI Kentucky Derby third and second Forever...

SOUTHWELL, UK -- It is not often that the eyes of the racing world are on Southwell. The country track had been closed to the public for nine months until early August following extensive flooding, but on Friday it was the place to be as the top-rated horse in Europe, City Of Troy, descended on Nottinghamshire with an entourage akin to a Taylor Swift tour. He even brought his own American starting stalls. And swift is how he looked as he eased clear of the five-strong working party from Ballydoyle,...