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. Saturday's Observations features the well-bred Henry Longfellow (Ire) on debut at the Curragh.
13.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT
HENRY LONGFELLOW (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) wins the award as the day's best-bred runner, being the second foal out of the high-class and versatile Ballydoyle sensation Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was able to win at the top level at a mile in the 1000 Guineas and QEII and a mile and a half in the Oaks. This is an important maiden for Aidan O'Brien, with last year's TDN Rising Star Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) the latest in a line of winners which includes the luminary Australia (GB) and all eyes will be on this grandson of Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) whose immediate family also boasts Galileo's fellow Classic heroines Tuesday (Ire) and Empress Josephine (Ire).
15.35 Newbury, Cond, £250,000, 2yo, 5f 34yT
RELIEF RALLY (IRE) (Kodiac {GB}) is the star turn in the latest renewal of this valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint S., with William Haggas seeking compensation for the agonisingly narrow defeat of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's filly in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary S. Denied in the bobber there by Crimson Advocate (Nyquist), the half-sister to the G3 Chipchase S. winner Koropick (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who was a bargain 58,000gns buy at the Tatts Somerville Sale is a warm order in one of the bigger “sales races” of the calendar but has 20 rivals to overcome.
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