Chantilly

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 the return of Elizabeth Jane (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). 19.30 Naas, Listed, €52,500, 3yo, f, 10f 84yT ELIZABETH JANE (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) has not been seen since gaining a TDN Rising Star tag at Leopardstown in October, but still has Classic credentials having been pitched back into...

Up in trip for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois's Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}--Speralita {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}) edged another close-run affair in a French Classic in 2024. Held up at the back early by Tony Piccone, the 15-1 shot had to pass runners all quickening off a moderate tempo, but had miling speed which set her apart from her middle-distance rivals. With virtually every rival still to get by two out, the Patrice-Cottier-trained bay who had won the G2 Prix de Sandringham here a...

There was a familiar story at Chantilly on Sunday as Karl Burke plundered another French prestige prize courtesy of the colt Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}) who proved toughest in a pure speed shakedown in the G3 Prix du Bois Longines. Up with the pace set by the favourite Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}), Mohammed Al Shahi's York novice winner was under the pump by halfway with Jim Crowley digging in to reserves but where the filly cried enough a furlong out the boy from the North of England held out....

Per usual, entrants in the latest Classic on the European calendar run the gamut from blueblooded homebreds and auction purchases at a range of prices. The luckless Tamfana is returning off her fourth in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, and is one of the leading fancies, and there are several fresh shooters that will be trying Group 1 company for the first time from France and farther afield. Last year, Churchill's Blue Rose Cen took the G1 Prix de Diane Longines, and the Coolmore stallion is represented by the group-placed...

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 Observations features a half to Intello (Ger). 13.30 Chantilly, Debutantes, €50,000, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT BUZY (IRE) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is a daughter of the Wertheimers' G2 Prix de Sandringham winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches second Impressionnante (GB) (Danehill), who provided the operation with their...

Relishing the step up to a mile and a half for the first time, the Wertheimers' blueblooded TDN Rising Star Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Balladeuse {Fr}, by Singspiel {Ire}) turned Sunday's G3 Prix de Royaumont at Chantilly into a procession to book her ticket to the G1 Prix de Diane. Held up towards the rear early by Maxime Guyon, the Christophe Ferland-trained homebred took off when asked in the straight and after surging to the front 300 metres out hit the line with seven lengths to spare over Vigatata...

Lining up for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club as the least-experienced, Haras de la Morsangliere's Look De Vega (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Lucelle {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) took the required leap forward on a remarkable stakes debut to become the third member of his sire line to capture this Chantilly Classic. Following a seven-length Fontainebleau success in November with another authoritative win in ParisLongchamp's Prix de Croissy conditions event last month, the Carlos and Yann Lerner-trained , the relative of another winner of the race in its...

by Emma Berry & Heather Anderson Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club is an enticing affair, with Group 1 winner Sunway appearing poised to return to his best form. There are several intriguing new shooters, including listed winner Fast Tracker, who will be making his debut in the Wathnan Racing colours. British raider and group winner Ghostwriter, who ran fourth in the 2000 Guineas, will be plying his trade in France for the first time. All in all, most of the field is in with a chance, with the...

Thursday also saw the draw made for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, with Jeff Smith's G1 2,000 Guineas fourth Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) getting an inside post in two. In between the two ParisLongchamp conditions winners Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Look De Vega (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), the Clive Cox-trained G2 Royal Lodge S. scorer will at least have a tactical advantage in the 10 1/2-furlong Classic, with his trainer saying earlier this week, "He is very versatile and very balanced,...

Aidan O'Brien has confirmed City Of Troy (Justify), Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and outsider Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as his three intended runners in the G1 Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday. "That is what we're thinking of, maybe the three," O'Brien said in a Zoom call hosted by France Galop on Tuesday. "Everything seems well with them all at the moment, so that's what we're thinking. "They're giving Friday and Saturday dry [forecast], so you often see the ground can be slow for the Oaks and perfect for...

Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), last seen finishing fourth in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, is said to be an intended runner in Sunday's G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly as he tries to provide trainer Clive Cox with a first Classic success. One of 21 colts still in contention for the Prix du Jockey Club, Ghostwriter shaped as if ready for a step up in trip when beaten four and a half lengths on the Rowley Mile, form which received a couple of boosts on Saturday when...

Sunday at Longchamp was a day for firsts. A Classic victory for Rouhiya (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches was an important milestone in the partnership between trainer Francis Graffard and the Aga Khan's powerful racing and breeding operation. Then came a first Classic in his adopted home country for 34-year-old Mario Barrati when Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) landed the Poulains, a year after the Italian trainer had won the German 2,000 Guineas with Angers (Fr) (Seabhac). But perhaps most notable of all, especially as...