Expert Eye (GB)

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream in the Belmont Oaks.   Slipper Fits For Godolphin Miss Flawless in her first four starts in England and Dubai prior to a seventh in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) handed breeder Godolphin and Charlie Appleby a victory in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes during the final days of the Belmont at the Big A meeting...

GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) has been sold by Juddmonte to continue his career in South Africa at the new stallion operation of Paardeberg Stud. A collaboration between British businessmen Steve Ajax and Charles Palmer in partnership with South African breeder Sally Bruss, Paardebrg Stud sits on 200 hectares in the Paarl region of the Western Cape. Expert Eye, the sire of Chesham S. winner Snellen (GB) and G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S winner Juniper Berries (GB), is currently in quarantine in South Africa ahead...

Eve Johnson Houghton trainee Juniper Berries (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}--Tricksy Spirit {GB}, by Lethal Force {Ire}) made five unsuccessful attempts to add to a debut win over five furlongs at Bath in April and notched a stakes breakthrough in Thursday's G3 Ire-Incentive It Pays To Buy Irish Dick Poole Fillies' S. at Salisbury, doubling her win tally in her first try at the six-furlong trip. The 16-1 outsider, who ran fourth in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen Mary S. in June and Newbury's Listed St Hugh's S. last month, was reined...

ASCOT, UK--This year's Royal Ascot has certainly been a successful one for a number of American owners, but Lindsay Laroche is no stranger to big-race success in Europe. The victory of Snellen (Ire) in the Chesham S. was that bit extra special for the Californian, however, as he is also the breeder of the daughter of Expert Eye (GB), who is the first foal of her dam Illumined (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). The seven-year-old mare raced in the colours of another owner-breeder, George Strawbridge, for whom she won twice...

Saturday's Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot was all about the fillies as the Gavin Cromwell-trained Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}--Illumined {Ire}, by Sea The Moon {Ger}) found the line just ahead of Pearls And Rubies (No Nay Never). Off the mark at Limerick 10 days earlier, having won her barrier trial beforehand, Lindsay Laroche's homebred was keen early tracking the leader of the stand's-side group but had plenty in reserve when committed by Gary Carroll approaching two out. Green and errant late as the 7-4 favourite Pearls And Rubies...

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...

    In this new semi-weekly series, the TDN takes a look at the notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column, Feb. 4-10, is highlighted by the victory of upwardly mobile mare Quattroelle (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the GIII Megahertz S. on Saturday.   No 'Quat'er Given In Megahertz Tally-Ho Stud's rising stallion star Mehmas has gone from strength to strength with his progeny, and his freshly minted 5-year-old daughter Quattroelle became his 12th graded/group winner from just three crops to race when running out a half-length...

The reigning champion sire Frankel (GB) has had his fee increased to £275,000 for the 2023 breeding season. In another stellar year, the Juddmonte stallion has been responsible for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista (GB) along with the Classic winners Westover (GB), Nashwa (GB) and Homeless Songs (Ire), and the Dewhurst S. winner Chaldean (GB). A statement released by Juddmonte on Wednesday read, "Following on from an exceptional 2021 season, we have seen Frankel further strengthen his reputation as a world-class sire with nine individual Group 1...

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 a daughter of superproducer Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). 1.20 Newmarket, Debutantes, £8,000, Mdn, 2yo, 7fT JALAPA (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}) is one of the first of the bluebloods to appear on a fascinating Saturday and the half-sister to Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) represents the...

2.10 Naas, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 8fT FONISKA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was withdrawn from her intended debut at Leopardstown in June due to a respiratory infection, but is ready to go now for Flaxman Stables Ireland and Jessie Harrington. A daughter of the G2 Kilboy Estate S. winner Bocca Baciata (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}), the May-foaled bay encounters Ballydoyle's Leopardstown third Dame Kiri (Justify), whose dam is a full-sister to Alice Springs (Ire). 2.40 Naas, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, c/g, 8fT DENMARK (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is a notable newcomer from...

There's an old proverb that reads, 'All the flowers of the tomorrows are in the seeds of today,' which came to mind when Apricot Twist (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) ran out a comfortable winner of the opening six-furlong maiden at Naas on Wednesday.  In the case of Apricot Twist, who earned herself a TDN Rising Star in pulling over seven lengths clear of her rivals on debut, those seeds were set a long time ago by Rory Mathews at Barouche Stud Ireland.  Apricot Twist is named after the notoriously sweet-scented...

Sent off the 11-8 favourite for Wednesday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Naas, Juddmonte's Apricot Twist (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) more than justified that SP to join the TDN Rising Star ranks. The first by her first-season sire (by Acclamation {GB}), the Ger Lyons-trained homebred tracked the pace far side under Colin Keane in the near-six-furlong contest before being allowed to stride to the front over two furlongs from home. Clear soon after, the daughter of the Listed Ruby S. scorer Erysimum (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) was eased down late...