Fastnet Rock (Aus)

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 feature a full-brother to high-class racehorse Never Ending Story (Ire), going two furlongs farther than that sibling did on debut last term. 17.20 Killarney, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, 8f 20yT NAVY SEAL (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is introduced by Aidan O'Brien over the longest trip for a maiden in...

A pair of appeals regarding the finish of the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh earlier this month have both been dismissed by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB). George Boughey trainee Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), ridden by Jamie Spencer, drifted across the course near the finish and impeded placed horses when winning by two lengths earlier this month. Runner-up Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus])'s owners Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib appealed the stewards' decision to leave the placings as is. However, that appeal was dismissed...

Lope De Vega (Ire) (Shamardal) and New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will be available to cover on Southern Hemisphere time this year, Ballylinch Stud's Eoin Fives told TTR AusNZ. They will stand for €60,000 (AU$98,957) and €40,000 (AU$65,971) respectively. In total, Lope De Vega has sired 18 Group 1 winners and 112 individual stakes winners across 12 different countries. From 2011 to 2014, he shuttled to the now-defunct Patinack Farm, and left an indelible stamp on the Australian industry. The result was four elite-level winners of nine Group 1s; Santa...

Imad Al Sagar's Classic winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has been supplemented at a cost of £20,000 to the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket on July 14. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the dual Group 1 winner captured both the Prix de Diane and Nassau S. after running third in the G1 Oaks at Epsom last term. A good second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera that October, she ended her season with a fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in the U.S. Now four,...

Connections of Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}--Nigh {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had an anxious wait to learn whether their star mare would keep Saturday's G1 Yulong Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh, but ultimately the inquiry accepted that Becky Hillen's uber-bargain 5,000gns Tatts December Yearling purchase was clear best despite causing significant interference. So impressive on her favoured rain-deadened ground in last month's G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket, the George Boughey-trained 5-year-old who had also captured the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air in the autumn was confidently-supported into 6-4...

2nd-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-4, 2yo, f, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.45, fm, 1/2 length. ALLURING ANGEL (GB) (f, 2, Fastnet Rock {Aus}--All of Me {GB}, by Teofilo{Ire}), a 48,000gns weanling purchase out of the 2020 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, went off as the 4-1 third choice Thursday in her career debut. Far back off the pace with only one horse beat through the opening furlong, she raced two wide outside of Gustiamo (Blame) before clearing to the rail midway around the bend. Under a ride past the quarter pole, Alluring Angel swung...

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 Lope de Vega (Ire) colt out of a full-sister to Sea The Moon (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).   2.00 Nottingham, Novice,£7,000, 2yo, 6f18yT THINK CLIMATE (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) is a full-brother to the G2 Mill Reef S. and G3 Greenham S.-winning sire...

A colt foal by Fastnet Rock (Aus) (lot 675) starred at Deauville as trade wound down a notch during the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale on Monday. Consigned by Haras de Castillon, who had also offered eventual €2.5-million buy and Group 1 winner Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), the bay is out of the winning Purple Magic (GB) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}). He was purchased by Benoit Jeffroy on behalf of Manister House Stud for €60,000. Besides the top lot, race fillies and broodmares were the most sought after,...

In the 1997 Breeders' Cup not far away at old Hollywood Park, trainer Christophe Clement made a favorable impression with his first-ever starter at the championships, sending out Allen Paulson's Flag Down (Deputy Minister) to a sound third-place effort behind Chief Bearhart (Chief's Crown) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Thirty-nine starters had represented the stable in the 22 years since, each walked back to the barn a defeated animal. You couldn't have faulted the Frenchman if he'd begun to feel a bit like the late Bobby Frankel, who saddled...

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 daughter of Group 1 winner Madame Chiang (GB) (Archipenko). 1.15 Newmarket, Mdn, £12,000, 2yo, f, 7fT AMANZOE (IRE) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) debuts for The Starship Partnership II in the silks that her full-brother Rivet (Ire) carried to success in the 2016 G1 Racing Post Trophy....

5th-SAR, $100k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 3:21 p.m. ET Woodslane Farm homebred HAIL TO (Kitten's Joy), a full-sister to GISW Sadler's Joy, debuts for Tom Albertrani. Still going strong at age eight for these same connections, Sadler's Joy registered a career high over the Saratoga turf course in the 2017 GI Sword Dancer S. Bobby Flay homebred Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) gets her career underway for Christophe Clement. Flay purchased her unraced dam White Hot (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})--a half-sister to group winners Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Pour...

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 Insights features a half-brother to Group 1 winner Seismos (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). 2.25 Deauville, Mdn, €22,000, unraced 2yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT) Ecki Sauren's SUDDEN DEATH (FR) (Muhaarar {GB}), a €30,000 Arqana October yearling purchase, is the latest of 13 foals out of a half-sister to MG1SW Deutsches...