Fairyhouse

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 daughter of Oaks winner Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 1.50 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 7fT BAHASA (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}) debuts for the Wertheimers and trainer Christophe Ferland, who combined to win the 2013 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac with the dam Indonesienne (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}). Only...

The Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale will for the second consecutive year be moved from its base at Fairyhouse to Tattersalls's headquarters at Park Paddocks in Newmarket due to ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic in Ireland, specifically whether international buyers will be able to attend without undergoing lengthy quarantines. The three-day sale will now take place a week earlier than originally scheduled, with Part I on Sept. 14 and 15 and Part II on Sept. 16. Tattersalls Ireland Chief Executive Officer Simon Kerins said, "The decision to relocate to...

GAIN Equine Nutrition will sponsor a new race series, The Advantage Series, for the Irish Flat Season, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Tuesday. Launched with Ado McGuinness Racing, the eight part series of races will be run for points over a variety of conditions to cater to different trainers and horses throughout the season. For each race, there will be a 40% prizemoney boost. A grand prize of €5,000 worth of GAIN Equine Nutrition products will be awarded to the trainer who tops the GAIN The Advantage Series at the...

The February National Hunt Sale, to be held at Fairyhouse in Ireland, has been moved to Feb. 23-24, Tattersalls Ireland announced on Wednesday. The decision was made due to continued uncertainty due to COVID-19 and the current lockdown in Ireland, which expires on Jan. 30. "As has been the case since the outbreak of this virus, we're having to respond as best as we can to rapidly changing scenarios, at all times balancing social responsibility and prevailing government restrictions with the best interest of all Tattersalls Ireland clients," said Tattersalls...

Ginto (Fr) (Walk in the Park {Ire}) (lot 5) set a new record for a horse sold at Fairyhouse when bringing €470,000 to top the Tattersalls Cheltenham November (Ireland) Sale on Friday. Snapped up by Noel and Valerie Moran's Bective Stud, the winning 4-year-old gelding will remain with Gordon Elliott. Consigned by Cullentra House Stables, he won a maiden at Tattersalls by 12 lengths on Oct. 25. Another 4-year-old gelding, Gringo d'Aubrelle (Fr) (Saddler Maker {Ire}) (lot 16), made €270,000 also from Bective Stud. Consigned by Monbeg Stables, the bay...

The remaining 2020 Tattersalls Ireland sales have been postponed to December after the Irish government moved the country to Level 5 COVID-19 restrictions on Monday evening. The November National Hunt Sale will be held on Dec. 12-14. The November Flat Foal & Breeding Stock Sale, including a yearling section, is now set for Dec. 16, and the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale will be conducted on Dec. 17. The three sales were originally slated for Nov. 9-13. "In these uncertain times we must plan as best as we can for further...

Warwick Racecourse welcomed a crowd of 500 annual members and hospitality guests for its jumps meeting on Monday. It was only the second time since racing resumed from a nine-week shutdown on June 1 that a crowd was permitted on a British racecourse-Doncaster had a week-long pilot project planned for its St Leger festival but that was shut down after just one card due to tightened government regulations. Trainer Christian Williams was among those praising the Warwick project on Monday, saying, "It was brilliant, I think everything has been run...

The BoyleSports Irish Grand National will not take place in 2020, with prizemoney to be funneled to two of the winter's big staying handicap chases, the Ladbrokes Troytown at Navan on Nov. 8 and the Bar One Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse on Nov. 29. Jason Morris, director of racing at Horse Racing Ireland, said, "The decision not to run the BoyleSports Irish Grand National was made to give owners and trainers as much notice as possible, and allows connections firm up their plans for the winter with some certainty....

For the third time in as many years, Friday's Goresbridge Breeze Up will have a different home. Originally developed and hosted by Martin Donohoe's Kilkenny-based auction house, the sale merged with Tattersalls Ireland last year with proceedings transferring successfully to County Meath. Another switch, this one not of the strategic kind rather more out of necessity, sees the action move across the water to Tattersalls in Newmarket as the sale, originally slated for two months previously, bids to make up for lost time. Between additional wildcards and withdrawals around 150...

Prize money levels have been restored to their pre-COVID-19 levels for each race in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Series and the new Irish EBF Median Sires Series, the Irish European Breeders' Fund announced on Monday. Each race series had its prize money cut per race by €1,000 as a result of the coronavirus, but the Irish EBF stepped in to return prize money levels to pre-COVID. There are 10 Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction races and 11 Irish EBF Median Sires races to the beginning of August, with...

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. Monday's Insights features a half-brother to Group 1 winner Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy). 1.00 Fairyhouse, Mdn, €24,000, 2yo, 6fT GIORGIO VASARI (IRE) (Air Force Blue) is a half-brother to Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy), who captured the G1 Phoenix S and G2 Norfolk S. as a juvenile and now stands...

The Board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) has agreed to conclude the 2019/2020 National Hunt season, effective immediately, with the spring festivals at Fairyhouse and Punchestown not to be rescheduled as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. "We have stressed throughout that Government and HSE guidelines around fighting Covid-19 must come first and racing will only be able to resume when the Government guidelines permit and when there is adequate medical cover in place to ensure that race meetings can be staged safely," said Nicky Hartery, Chairman of Horse Racing...