Churchill (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 Dubawi (Ire) half-brother to Group 1 winner Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). 1.30 Newbury, Mdn, 2yo, 6fT MYSTERIOUS NIGHT (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is one of a few intriguing types in this often-informative juvenile scene-setter, being a full-brother to last year's GI Just a Game...

His Highness The Aga Khan's Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), winner of last term's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage, was a class above his rivals in Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche and laid down a marker for next month's G1 Prix du Jockey Club with an impressive 2 1/2-length success in the nine-furlong Chantilly feature. The homebred bay had previously opened up with a July 21 debut score at Bordeaux-Le Bouscat and closed his three-race juvenile campaign with a third in this venue's Sept. 29 G3 Prix de Conde....

Off the mark at the second attempt by five lengths at Down Royal Sept. 3, Demi O'Byrne's Snaffles (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) was one of a clutch of unexposed juveniles lining up for Friday's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal S. at Dundalk and ultimately proved strongest to open his black-type account in the seven-furlong test. Settled in the box seat by Shane Crosse tracking the leading duo Corviglia (Karakontie {Jpn}) and Leinster House (War Front) early, the 11-1 shot worked his way to the front with 150 yards remaining and...

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. Thursday's Observations features a son of Group 1 winner Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 14.00 Naas, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, c/g, 5f 205yT Westerberg & Coolmore's LEINSTER HOUSE (War Front) is the lone newcomer in an 11-strong field and gets assistance from Seamus Heffernan in this debut for Aidan O'Brien. The...

Coolmore and Westerberg's newcomer River Thames (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) sported Michael Tabor's second colours for Tuesday's BetVictor Supporting Irish Racing Maiden at Punchestown, but was very much first choice coming home and shaped with abundant promise by earning TDN Rising Stardom with a neck defeat of stablemate Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). He was isolated in a mid-division berth as the field stretched out over many lengths through halfway. Making impressive headway under pressure off the home turn, the 5-1 chance quickened smartly to take second entering the final furlong and...

Mark Dobbin's Ladies Church (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) registered a June 9 debut fourth at Cork, behind the reopposing Impeachd Alexander (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), and followed up a June 30 breakthrough score over five furlongs at Tipperary with an impressive display tackling the same trip in Wednesday's Listed Arqana Irish EBF Marwell S. at Naas, becoming the first stakes winner for her freshman sire (by Galileo {Ire}). The 3-1 second favourite was restrained to race in an overall third as British raider Sophie's Star (GB) (Cotai Glory {GB}) blazed a solo...

3rd-Rome, €13,200, Mdn., 6-2, 2yo, 1400m (AWT). IL GRANDE GATSBY (IRE), (c, 2, Churchill {Ire}--Irene Watts {GB} {GSP-Ity, $133,610}, by Miswaki Tern), who ran second when unveiled over 1200 metres on the local synthetic on May 9, was the second choice on the board at 2-1 in this step up in trip. Noticeably warm in the preliminaries, he perched in fourth while glued to the fence through the opening furlongs. Shifted out on the bend, he was asked for his bid 400 metres from home and, began to make inroads...

NEWMARKET, UK--Like a cyclist who has been struggling into a bitter headwind, only to find himself suddenly towed along by the slipstream of a juggernaut, Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale opened with all the startling momentum achieved, against every temperate expectation, in Book 2. Once again, the masks around the ring concealed gapes of incredulity as a brisk trade maintained all indices almost precisely in step with the returns last year, when the wider world was so very different a place. Aggregate turnover of 5,092,700gns, through the...