Ballydoyle

17.30 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 7f 27yT    BUTTONS (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is the pick of Ryan Moore of the Ballydoyle trio in this always-intriguing maiden, won by the stable's September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in recent times and in which Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was fourth behind Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in an above-average race in 2019. Out of the Listed Cheshire Oaks winner and Oaks runner-up Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo) and descended from Urban Sea (Miswaki), the half-sister to the G1...

Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never--Ruby Tuesday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) gave the perfect audition for Royal Ascot and outwitted his four rivals to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Sunday's Irish Racehorse Experience At INS Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh. The even-money favourite broke on the lead before settling in a close-up third after the initial strides of this six-furlong contest. Inching forward on the bridle to launch his challenge going well at the quarter-mile marker, he was shaken up to...

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. Sunday's Insights features the well-bred River Tiber (Ire) at The Curragh for Ballydoyle.  1.25 Curragh, Mdn, €17,000, 2yo, 6fT RIVER TIBER (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) appears the pick of the two juvenile colts from Ballydoyle making his debut in this maiden which proved such a fertile source of group...

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 Insights features a half sibling to Group 1-winning sire Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy). 3.30 Cork, Listed, €42,500, 3yo/up, 6fT TENEBRISM (Caravaggio) makes her seasonal bow in this Cork S. as she embarks on a pure sprinting campaign having tried her hand over a mile for most of last...

Observations web blurb: 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.Wednesday's Observations features a pair of Justify colts debuting for Ballydole at Leopardstown. 1.55 Leopardstown, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, f, 10fT ALL TIME GREAT (Justify) is the third foal out of the GI E. P. Taylor S. and G2 Ribblesdale S. heroine Curvy (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who has...

Ireland's Flat action may have already started and France's has been rumbling on for several days, but for many the real beginning to the season on the level is Doncaster's Lincoln H. on a Saturday which wrests the attention from the national hunt in no uncertain terms. Whether there is a horse of the calibre of Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) lurking in the prestigious mile handicap remains to be seen, but there is a strong vibe surrounding another member of the William Haggas tribe in 'TDN Rising Star' Al Mubhir...

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 not returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) as well as the daughter of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 3.45 Naas, Hcp, €45,000, 3yo, 7fT PADDINGTON (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) will be one of the key attractions if Naas's card evades...

Coolmore and Westerberg's 3-year-old colt Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road--Cuff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), a multiple Classic entry, justified long odds-on favouritism with a comfortable success in Friday's one-mile Listed Patton S. at Dundalk. The homebred bay followed up an August maiden win at the Curragh with a second in the Co. Louth venue's Sept. 30 Listed Star Appeal S. and closed his juvenile campaign with a 2 3/4-length triumph in October's G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown. The eventual winner, Aidan O'Brien's first domestic runner of the year, was sharply into...

It's early-February and already the Flat enthusiasts are getting excited about what stallion will end the season as champion first-season sire. A futile exercise, one would have thought? Not a bit of it. Even the greatest handlers of young stock, Malcolm Bastard, Alan McCabe, Joseph O'Brien, Conor Hoban and Dick Brabazon, men who know better than most the folly that comes with predicting 2-year-old talent, are keen to have their say on which up-and-coming stallion can make the biggest splash this season.  O'Brien is sticking loyal to Ten Sovereigns (Ire)...

The Europeans made their presence felt at Keeneland on Friday. Aidan O'Brien bagged a Grade I double while Charlie Appleby, who has two favourites to look forward to on Saturday, also landed a winner on the opening day of the Breeders' Cup. From O'Brien working his magic to No Nay Never silencing his doubters and William Buick and Ryan Moore once again confirming themselves top of the international riding tree, we pick the bones out of a pulsating Friday at Keeneland.   Buick And Moore Confirm World-Class Status One of...

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. Tuesday's Insights features a son of MGSW Prize Exhibit (GB). 1.25 Yarmouth, Novice, £9,950, 2yo, f, 8f 3yT BRIDESTONES (IRE) (Teofilo {Ire}) debuts for Godolphin and John and Thady Gosden and is a daughter of the operation's G1 Fillies' Mile and G2 May Hill S. heroine White Moonstone (Dynaformer)....

1.25 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 9fT    MILWAUKEE (Justify) is a son of the 1000 Guineas third and Oaks fourth Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who is one of Ballydoyle's select Justify crew alongside the likes of Statuette and Dame Kiri. From the Wertheimer family of Plumania (GB) (Anabaa) and Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the February-foaled bay is one of seven newcomers starting over this staying trip.