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. Friday's Observations features a daughter of Group 1 winner Quiet Reflection (GB).
17.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT
LAKE VICTORIA (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) makes her debut for Ballydoyle in the maiden won 12 months ago by Frankel's future G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Ylang Ylang (GB) and is the pick of Ryan Moore of the stable's duo. The fourth foal out of the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), snapped up by Coolmore for 2.1million gns at 2017 Tattersalls December, she is joined by the yard's fellow newcomer Exactly (Ire). Another daughter of Frankel, her dam Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) cost the operation 1.3million gns at the same auction a year later having won the G2 Queen Mary Stakes and G2 Flying Childers Stakes and has already produced the listed scorer Salt Lake City (Ire) by Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire).
14.10 Doncaster, Novice, £9,950, 2yo, 7f 6yT
FIELD OF GOLD (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is a notable Juddmonte newcomer on the afternoon, having fetched the second-highest price at the 2022 Goffs November Foal Sale when selling for €530,000. John and Thady Gosden have charge of the March-foaled grey colt, whose family features the talented trio of half-siblings Zabeel Prince (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Puissance De Lune (Ire) (Shamardal) and Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal).
17.00 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 6fT
IDES OF MARCH (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is another Ballydoyle newcomer of significance on the Irish Derby weekend's opening card, being the third foal out of the GI Frizette Stakes heroine Nickname (Scat Daddy). He is passed over by Ryan Moore in favour of the stable's Snapdragon (Ire) (No Nay Never), a 240,000gns Tattersalls Book 1 graduate who has the benefit of experience having finished fourth in a Naas maiden.
18.40 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 3yo/up, 10fT
HAMPSHIRE (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the third Ballydoyle newcomer of note on the card, being the second foal out of Hill 'N' Dale's $4.2million Keeneland November acquisition Lady Eli (Divine Park), the five-times grade I winner. Among his peers is another unraced colt in Philip Antonacci's Il Sovrano (Ire) (No Nay Never), a Joseph O'Brien-trained €235,000 Goffs Orby graduate who is a half-brother to the GIII Marshua's River Stakes winner Zofelle (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and whose dam is kin to the group 1-winning Sadler's Wells full-sisters Listen (Ire) and Sequoyah (Ire).
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