Gleneagles (Ire)

Fit from an Apr. 3 10 1/2-furlong conditions heat triumph at Saint-Cloud, Jean-Louis Bouchard's 3-year-old colt Baby Rider (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) was back over that course and distance to win Saturday's G2 Prix Greffulhe. He had earlier bettered a Sept. 3 debut second tackling one mile at ParisLongchamp with an Oct. 16 maiden score back over that trip at Fontainebleau in his only other starts. Settled second early by Stephane Pasquier--in this staging post for Chantilly's June 6 G1 Prix du Jockey Club won by Study of Man (Ire) (Deep...

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-sister to MG1SW Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). 5.35 Kempton, Nov, £6,300, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT) Khalid Abdullah's MAYTAL (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is kin to four black-type performers, headed by MG1SW distaffer Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), and faces one dozen rivals in...

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 Insights features a half-brother to Garswood (GB). 12.15 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 8fT Coolmore and Westerberg's FRILL (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is a half-sister to G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest-winning sire Garswood (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and one of three representing Aidan O'Brien in this debut. The 900,000gns...

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. Today's Observations features an expensive son of Kingman (GB). 5.30 Dundalk, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, 7f (AWT) Coolmore's BLUE PLANET (GB) (Kingman {GB}) became the fifth-highest priced lot when knocked down for 1.8-million guineas at last year's Tattersalls October Book 1 fixture and the April-foaled bay is handed a low-key...

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 Insights features three well-bred Wertheimer et Frere representatives. 1.10 ParisLongchamp, Debutantes, €22,000, 2yo, c/g, 9fT ZILEO (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of three well-connected Wertheimer representatives in this contest and is the son of the multiple graded-stakes placed Lady Zuzu (Dynaformer) who cost the operation $2.35million at the...

Michael Tabor's Star Seeking (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) played the diva role during an elaborate loading process for Monday's British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice S. at Leicester and justified joint-favouritism with an impressive perfomance in the straight seven-furlong test to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. Boxed up separately to rider William Buick, the 3-1 chance was a keen fifth through the early strides until settling into a smooth rhythm behind the leaders. Inching closer once beyond halfway, she seized control approaching the final furlong and quickened clear in...

Second choice on the board at 3-1, Shock Action earned his first black-type badge in the G3 Niigata Nisai S. at Niigata on Sunday. Positioned in the center of the track in fifth for the backstretch run, he began to inch into contention on the bend despite still racing wide. In a contested third 600 metres out, he motored up toward the leaders inside the final quarter mile, seized command a furlong from home and won going away by 1 3/4 lengths. Blue Symphony closed to take second, a half-length better...