Dark Angel (Ire)

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Set Piece in the GIII Arlington S. at Churchill Downs in June.   Another Graded Victory For Juddmonte Veteran Decorated 7-year-old Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) won the Arlington S. at Churchill Downs earlier this month for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms and trainer Brad Cox (video). The newly minted millionaire, who was runner-up in the 2021 GI Fourstardave H., was taking his fourth graded...

For every Off-the-Track Thoroughbred enthusiast, having a sound and healthy former racehorse to partner with for a second career is all they hope for. And while these same people will tell you their horse's racing history doesn't matter much, many of these same OTTB devotees will also admit their immense pride in explaining their companion's racing career, recreating as much of it as possible to anyone who will listen. Just about everyone in the Thoroughbred industry understands that most OTTBs are runners who served as the backbone of racing, filling...

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 salty Doncaster maiden consisting of some flashy pedigrees. 14.50 Doncaster, £6,800, Mdn, 2yo, f, 6f 111yT James Doyle gets the booking for Godolphin's hitherto untried STAR OF MYSTERY (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who encounters 10 rivals in this debut for the Charlie Appleby stable. The March-foaled...

Last year's G3 Prix de Cabourg victor The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) opened this term with a third in Navan's Listed Committed S. and led from pillar to post in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. His eight-race juvenile campaign included three encounters with Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), hitting the board behind that now-retired former stablemate in the G2 Prix Robert Papin, G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park. The Antarctic broke sharply and led along the far-side rail from flagfall. In...

Shadwell already knew they had a special broodmare in Handassa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) before Friday, but the dam of Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is looking like a genuine goldmine after her 3-year-old colt Mostabshir (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) seized his TDN Rising Star badge at York. Pitched tellingly by John and Thady Gosden into the G3 Craven S. off the back of an impressive debut win at Kempton in November, the grey had finished failed to light any fires when fifth in Newmarket's leading...

Karl Burke notched an exacta in last term's Listed Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies' S. at York and repeated the dose when once-raced winner Got To Love A Grey (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Regatta {Fr}, by Layman) outlasted stablemate Dorothy Lawrence (GB) (Soldier's Call) in this year's renewal of the straight five-furlong dash. Got To Love A Grey went postward as the 5-2 second choice,  coming back off a six-length tally at Nottingham last month, and broke sharply from the far-side stall to seize an immediate lead. Unflustered on the front end...

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 half-brother to Group 1 winner Sudirman (Henrythenavitagor). 16.45 York, Novice, £30,000, 2yo, c/g, 5fT THE CARIBBEAN (IRE) (No Nay Never) is a rare Ballydoyle debutante in Britain these days, albeit at the track which the stable used to introduce smart juveniles such as Stravinsky in...

Eric Ventrou presented a 2-year-old colt by Intello (Ger), and the flashy bay brought a sale-topping bid of €49,000 from Mandore International and Stephane Wattel during Thursday's Osarus Breeze-Up Sale in the south-west of France. The May 7 foal is a half-brother to listed winner Zarwaan (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), while second dam Dublino (Lear Fan) won the GI Del Mar Oaks and produced stakes winner Answered (GB) (Authorized {GB}), who was placed three times at group level. Just below lot 42, was an M. C. Thoroughbreds-consigned filly by Night...

The breezes for the Osarus Breeze-Up Sale were held over the training track at La Teste-de-Buch on Wednesday. Just over 50 lots remain in the sale set for Thursday in the south-west of France. Some of the lots of note include a colt by Dark Angel (Ire) (lot 9) consigned by Ard Erin Stud from the family of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Rosanara (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}) and a colt by Acclamation (GB) (lot 65) who is kin to multiple group winner Signora Cabello (Ire) (Camacho {GB}); and M.C. Thoroughbreds...

Last year's Eclipse champion turf male returns to the place of his Breeders' Cup glory Friday with an expected start in the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), trained by Charlie Appleby, makes his 4-year-old debut since taking the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland last November. Off the board in only two of his 13 prior starts, the chestnut just missed in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot leading into the Breeders' Cup, took the GI Woodbine Mile by 5 1/4 lengths...

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...

Our series featuring notable success for European sires in North America, with this week's highlight being the victory of Grade I winner Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) in the GII Hillsborough S. at Tampa Bay Downs. Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Robert LaPenta's Shantisara is no stranger to the winner's circle, and the 2021 GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. heroine secured her first victory since 2021 with a 1 1/4-length triumph in the Hillsborough S. on Saturday (video). Now a 5-year-old, the mare was bred by Oliver Donlon, and sold...