Frankel (GB)

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a son of Wootton Bassett (GB) and So Wonderful (War Front). 12.25 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 8fT Coolmore homebred DOUBLE VISION (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the first foal produced by G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes third So Wonderful (War Front) 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. Friday's Observations features a son of Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}).   12.35 Newmarket, Mdn, €8,500, 2yo, c/g, 7fT Wathnan Racing's hitherto unraced MAGNETITE (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a 575,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate, is a son of five-time Group 1 winner Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) and thus a full-brother...

Another record was broken at Tattersalls on Tuesday when Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe eighth Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) became the most expensive horse ever sold at the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale when knocked down from Coolmore to Hubie De Burgh and a range of other buyers to join Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.  A delighted De Burgh explained that Delius, who has won three of his six starts and was beaten a little under nine lengths by Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) in the Arc, had been on his radar for...

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 Dramatic (Medaglia d'Oro). 15.44 Dundalk, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) Aidan O'Brien trainee DRAMATIC (Medaglia D'Oro), who topped the weanling section of Keeneland's 2022 November sale when knocked down for €1.5 million, is kin to three black-type winners headed by dual Grade I-winning sire Honor...

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 sister to Group 1 winner and sire Cracksman (GB). 2.08 Doncaster, Mdn, £40,000, 2yo, f, 8fT QUEEN OF THIEVES (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a big-deal runner for Anthony Oppenheimer and the Gosdens in a maiden the stable won two years ago with Frankel's eventual Oaks...

John and Thady Gosden will be the new trainers of Nightwalker (GB) when he returns to the track in 2025, following a third-place finish in the G3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket on his final start for Sir Michael Stoute, who is due to retire at the end of the year. The son of Frankel (GB) opened his account at the second attempt at Yarmouth in September, before running an encouraging race when thrown into deeper waters at Newmarket, staying on gradually to pass the post around four lengths behind Saturday's...

This year has seen a 6% decrease in the number of live foals registered to date in the General Stud Book, according to the Return of Mares, which has been published by Weatherbys. The returns to September 30, 2024 show that a total of 12,578 foals have been born in Britain and Ireland, 840 fewer than the 2023 figure of 13,438. It marks the first time in the last decade that the overall foal crop has fallen by more than 4% from one year to the next. The 6% drop...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features the first foal out of a Breeders' Cup winner. 13.30 Curragh, Group 3, €55,000, 2yo, f, 8fT GISELLE (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) returns to the scene of her maiden win earlier in the month, having finished second to stablemate Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) at Leopardstown in...

Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a three-time Group 1 winner for John and Thady Gosden and owner Imad Al Sagar, has likely danced her last dance on a racetrack.  A winner of over £1.6m in prize-money, Nashwa has been partnered in all 18 of her career starts by Hollie Doyle, with the pair storming to Prix de Diane glory at Chantilly in 2022. However, the sporting decision to keep Nashwa in training as a five-year-old has not paid off and, after trailing home last of the 11 finishers in the Qipco...

The 2-year-old fillies have been a step or two ahead of the colts all season and further evidence that we are dealing either with a substandard crop of colts or above-average crop of fillies was seen at Leopardstown on Saturday when the battle-hardened Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Heartache {GB}, by Kyllachy {GB}) dominated the G3 Killavullan Stakes. Sent off the 11-10 favourite for the seven-furlong contest, Ballydoyle's G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third was sent straight to the front by Wayne Lordan and powered clear in the...

Coolmore's 2023 Goffs Orby Book 1 sale topper Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Multilingual {GB}, by Dansili {GB}), a €1.85-million purchase, followed up a debut second at Cork earlier this month with a breakthrough score in Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over one mile at Leopardstown. 1st-Leopardstown, €18,000, Mdn, 10-19, 2yo, 8fT, 1:47.10, sf. MINNIE HAUK (IRE) (f, 2, Frankel {GB}--Multilingual {GB}, by Dansili {GB}), the Goffs Orby Book 1 sale topper when knocked down for €1.85-million last year who registered a debut second at Cork earlier this month,...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 half-sister to a Derby winner. 4.10 Leopardstown, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 7f 30yT TAKEMETOTHEMOON (IRE) (Uncle Mo) is the sixth foal out of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who is now enshrined in Coolmore mythology as the dam of their...