Half-Sister to Zarkava Debuts at Chateaubriant

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. Monday's Insights features a half-sister to European Horse of the Year Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar).

12.25 Chateaubriant, Mdn, €18,000, 3yo, f, 9f 165yT
His Highness The Aga Khan's ZARZA (FR) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), an Alain de Royer-Dupre trainee, is the standout runner of the day with the homebred bay being a half-sister to unbeaten MG1SW European Horse of the Year Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) and G3 Prix Minerve victress Zarshana (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Opposition includes Godolphin's similarly unraced homebred Peace Melody (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is a half-sister to last term's Listed Preis des Gestut Rottgen victress Fountain of Time (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), representing the Alex Pantall yard.

12.10 Lyon Parilly, Mdn, €22,000, unraced 2yo, f, 6fT
MARIE DE VEGA (IRE) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), a €310,000 Arqana August yearling, is set to become a landmark first runner for the fledgling project Everest Racing and opens up for Pascal Bary in this debutantes' heat. She is a full-sister to the 2018 G3 Prestige S. victress and last term's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern fourth Antonia de Vega (Ire) and faces six rivals, including contenders from the Andre Fabre and Jean-Claude Rouget stables.

12.40 Lyon Parilly, Mdn, €22,000, unraced 2yo, c/g, 6fT
White Birch Farm's hitherto unraced ETHNIC TYPE (IRE) (Fast Company {Ire}), who was knocked down for  200,000gns at last year's Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling sale, is a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane, G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Diana S. placegetter Homerique (Exchange Rate) and opposed by seven in this debut for Jean-Claude Rouget.

2.25 Lyon Parilly, Mdn, €20,000, 3yo, f, 10fT
Satomi Horse Company's €600,000 Arqana August yearling SATONO ELPIS (FR) (Galileo {Ire}) is a Freddy Head-trained daughter of MGSW GI E.P. Taylor S. third Naissance Royale (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) and makes her belated debut against seven rivals here. They include Khalid Abdullah's once-raced Bonne Idee (GB) (Frankel%20(GB)#tot">Frankel {GB}), who is an Andre Fabre-trained half to this year's G2 Ajax S. victor Imaging (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).