Europe

Every day is a school day if you follow TDN. Thankfully, master of all subjects Emma Berry delivered yesterday's lesson on the Bay City Rollers--apparently one of the most popular bands of the 1970s--in her excellent Seven Days column, allowing me to stay in my lane with today's news that the unbeaten two-year-old colt of the same name is unlikely to run again this year after his comfortable victory in Saturday's G2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. That is according to trainer George Scott, who already has his sights set on...

Multiple group winner Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) has been retired and will stand at Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot in 2025. A fee will be announced later. A homebred for Al Shaqab Racing, he won the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, although an early 2023 injury delayed his return last year. He would go on to finish fourth in both the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. This term, the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron and Listed Prix de Suresnes went his way while under the...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of New Century at Woodbine on Saturday. Kameko Reaches Milestone Top-Level Winner In The Great White North Qatar Racing's New Century (GB) (Kameko) made his North American debut in style, running out a 1 1/4-length winner of the GI Summer Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday (video) for trainer Andrew Balding. Bred by the Potent Embrace Partnership, the dark bay is a half-brother to G3...

Consistent filly Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), second in Sunday's G1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh to Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), will be given a break, according to trainer George Boughey. The Highclere Thoroughbred Racing and Jane Addams runner will return in either or both the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye in October or the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar a month later. "It will be interesting to see how she comes out of Sunday's race," he said. "I was really pleased to hear from Ryan Moore on...

   Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr), has been given a rating of 123 by Timeform. Third in Saturday's G1 Irish Champion Stakes, the Yoshito Yahagi runner was formerly rated 114. The race report by the publication read, "Shin Emperor, placed in the Japanese Derby when last seen in May, ran really well on his first start in Europe, finishing one place better than his full-brother, Sottsass, had in this race in 2022, and it would be no surprise...

Trainer George Boughey is considering a trip to Kentucky with Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) following her third-place finish in the G1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday. The Highclere-owned filly has thrived on a busy campaign and produced what was arguably a career-best effort when beaten just a length and a half behind Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) at Leopardstown, doing well under the circumstances to finish as close as she did after racing freely in the early stages. Already a two-time winner in 2024, having won the Sandringham Stakes at...

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. Tuesday's Observations features a half-sister to a Group 1-winning sire. 13.55 Punchestown, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 7fT BEYOND DREAMS (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is a rare Michael Tabor runner for the Dermot Weld stable and as a half-sister to the dual group 1-winning sire Zoustar (Aus) has plenty to...

The unbeaten Defence Minister (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) has been supplemented by owners Wathnan Racing for Saturday's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury at a cost of £5,000. Last seen defying a penalty in decisive fashion at Haydock, Defence Minister is one of 19 horses in contention for the prestigious two-year-old contest as he tries to make it three wins from as many starts for his Qatari-born, Newmarket-based trainer Hamad Al-Jehani. G2 Gimcrack Stakes winner Cool Hoof Luke (GB) (Advertise {GB}) and Aidan O'Brien's G3 Round...

Lane's End Farm-based first-season sire Gift Box was off the mark in Europe on Monday when his son Ironico took the six-furlong conditions event for colts and geldings on the card. Runner-up over this trip at Deauville last month, the Fabrice Chappet trainee who carries the colours of Blu Racing travelled strongly held up off the early pace by Cristian Demuro. Staying on to get to the front with 150 metres remaining, the 9-10 favourite had 3/4 of a length to spare over Belvedere Palace (GB) (Calyx {GB}) at the...

'If Carslberg did weekends' was the caption on Tom Marquand's social media post beneath a photograph of the jockey with his wife, Hollie Doyle, after she had won her second Group 1 of the year aboard Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}). Marquand had himself lifted both of Leopardstown's Group 1 races the previous day with two of the best three-year-olds currently in training, Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio). Their mantelpiece may soon need reinforcement.  There are few sports in which men and women take each...

Chantilly's card on Monday featured some promising juveniles and none more so than the Aga Khan's filly Rayevka (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Rayisa {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) lit up the six-furlong fillies' conditions event with a scintillating display to become her sire's fourth TDN Rising Star. Narrowly denied on debut by Juddmonte's Better Together (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) at Deauville last month, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained homebred was in command from the outset strong in the hands of Maxime Guyon. Never in any danger out on her own, the 1-2...

Andre Fabre trainee Nitoi (Siyouni {Fr}--Lady Zuzu, by Dynaformer), a half-brother to G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern and G1 Hong Kong Vase hero Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}), justified 8-5 favouritism with a 2 1/2-length victory in Monday's Prix de la Maniguette over nine furlongs at Chantilly. 2nd-Chantilly, €30,000, Mdn, 9-17, 2yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:54.26, sf. NITOI (c, 2, Siyouni {Fr}--Lady Zuzu {MGSP-US, $112,615}, by Dynaformer) was well away and asserted for an early lead in this debut. Holding sway throughout, the 8-5 favourite was nudged along when threatened by Bellagio...