Chantilly

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...

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 return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 14.15 Chantilly, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, 12fT DELIUS (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who earned TDN Rising Star status on debut at ParisLongchamp last month, reappears over the distance of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris for which he holds an engagement....

Haras d'Etreham's first-season sire Hello Youmzain (Fr) (by Kodiac {GB}) was off the mark on Tuesday as his daughter Allee De Bercy (Fr) scored on debut in Chantilly's five-furlong Prix de la Mere Marie. Sent off at 16-1, the Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti trainee raced behind the leading pair early for Ioritz Mendizabal before finding her way to the front inside the last 150 metres. Driven out from there, she recorded a short-neck success from Cendre (GB) (Goken {Fr}). The winner is so far the only foal out of a...

Recent winners of Chantilly's G3 Prix Sigy include subsequent Group 1 scorers Signs Of Blessing (Ire), Quiet Reflection (GB) and Sands Of Mali (Fr) and this year's renewal went the way of last term's Listed Prix Saraca victor and G3 Prix de Cabourg second Sajir (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}--Simple Magic {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who displayed elite-level potential defeating a solid cast of nine sophomore rivals in the 5 1/2-furlong dash. Last term's G1 Prix Morny sixth, who encountered a testing surface and dank conditions here, broke swiftly and...

We have heard much about Christopher Head as he has stamped his name firmly in the book of young trainers to follow, and it will undoubtedly be wise also to pay attention to his sister, Victoria Head, who trains in her own right in Chantilly.  It is exactly two years since the 28-year-old sent out her first runner for Jean-Louis Bouchard, and her stable has now grown from five horses in her debut season to 25. She is currently operating at a strike-rate of 25 per cent, with six winners...

Two days after Classic prospect Narkez (Fr) brought up an 11th TDN Rising Star for Siyouni (Fr), White Birch Farm's unbeaten filly Louise Procter (Fr) made it a dozen for the Aga Khan's star sire when dazzling at Chantilly. Coming into Thursday's Prix du Belvedere off the back of two juvenile wins at Saint-Cloud and Deauville spaced apart in May and December, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained granddaughter of Anabaa's Creation (Ire) (Anabaa) travelled easily with two behind early. Set alight by Cristian Demuro approaching two out, the 2-1 favourite who is...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring.  17.30 Southwell, Novice, £8,000, 3yo, 11f 23y (AWT) CADOGAN PLACE (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is an intriguing contender in an intriguing affair as a full-brother to the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Quadrilateral (GB). Andrew Balding unleashes Juddmonte's homebred against two other fascinating newcomers in Godolphin's Hidden Law (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}),...

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 half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Rizeena (Ire). 15.10 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, f, 8f (AWT) FUJIWHARA (IRE) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is a half-sister to the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the G2 Balanchine S....

David Menuisier, fresh off the Group 1 victory of Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in this week's Criterium International, remains on the crest of a wave and, having combined with Marie Velon to snag the Chantilly undercard's Listed Prix Isonomy earlier on Friday, legged up the rider once more to complete an afternoon black-type double with Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}--Tres Magnifique {Fr}, by Zoffany {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Miesque. The March-foaled bay hit the board going an extended seven furlongs at Ffos Las in her Sept. 14 debut and...

Patrice Cottier trainee Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}--Crown Of Flowers {GB}, by Garswood {GB}) had collected prizemoney for the Gousserie Racing and Jean-Etienne Dubois partnership in all three prior black-type outings and held firm against a strong British raiding party to double her freshman sire's pattern-race tally in Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly. The 28-5 chance, who had hit the board in the G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Prix Six Perfections earlier in the campaign, was well away to stalk the leading duo in a handy third...

Chantilly's Prix de Toutevoie for unraced 2-year-old fillies on Wednesday had an intriguing look to it beforehand and it did not disappoint as the Wertheimers' Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Balladeuse {Fr}, by Singspiel {Ire}) won impressively to earn TDN Rising Star status. Placed handy behind the early leaders by Stephane Pasquier, the Christophe Ferland-trained half-sister to the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was committed passing the 300-metre marker and responded generously to put the contest to bed. Strong to the line, the 41-5 shot had...