Invincible Spirit (Ire)

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. Wednesday's Observations features a pricy auction grad. 16.10 Kempton, Nov, £6,800, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) Shadwell's ALFAREQA (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is an Owen Burrows-trained daughter of G1 Cheveley Park Stakes victrix Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and was the top-priced filly when knocked down for 1.6-million guineas at last year's...

A consequence of massive book sizes is that it has become even harder for a less obvious prospective stallion to break into the elite tier. However, just as many seemingly excellent stallion prospects over the years have failed to make the grade, and there is still scope for a stallion to succeed against the odds, to 'pull himself up by his bootstraps', to join the elite after having started out considerably farther down the ladder. One such has been the admirable Invincible Spirit (Ire), whose retirement from active service at...

Invincible Spirit (Ire), the sire of 22 individual Group 1 winners worldwide, has been retired from covering duties, the Irish National Stud announced on Wednesday. Now 27, Invincible Spirit was a fixture on the Irish National Stud roster of stallions for 22 consecutive seasons, starting in 2003 after his breakthrough Group 1 victory in the Sprint Cup at Haydock the previous autumn. As a racehorse he won seven of his 17 starts for trainer John Dunlop and owner-breeder Prince Faisal, with his other wins including the Duke Of York Stakes...

Arc hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) has been sold and he will stand under the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association banner at Shinzunai Stallion Station beginning in 2025. The news was confirmed by Coolmore to TDN Europe on Saturday morning. Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux, the €340,000 Arqana August grad and Jean-Claude Rouget trainee also won the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and ran third in the Arc at three. Kept in training at four, he added the G1 Prix Ganay besides his Arc heroics for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm...

Group 1 winner and sire Territories (Ire) has been sold to continue his stallion career at Poonawalla Stud Farms in India next year, according to published reports. The deal was brokered by bloodstock agent Ajay Anne. The Godolphin runner and son of Invincible Spirit (Ire), who stood for £10,000 this year at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud, won the Prix Jean Prat at the highest level for Andre Fabre. At stud, he has sired 17 stakes winners, nine of them Pattern scorers. His current flagbearer is G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest...

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 the return of Ides Of March. 13.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT Aidan O'Brien trainee IDES OF MARCH (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the third foal produced by GI Frizette Stakes heroine Nickname  (Scat Daddy) and comes back off a debut fourth at this venue...

Jeff Smith's unbeaten G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. winner Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is pleasing trainer Clive Cox in his early preparation towards a potential start in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas back at the Rowley Mile. "He's done really well, he had a super break and he's been back cantering for three or four weeks," Cox said. "We're thrilled with the way he's developed over the winter, he's looking even stronger. "We were delighted with the campaign we enjoyed with him last year and we're all looking forward to...

The 2024 seven-strong stallion roster at the Irish National Stud will parade daily while the Goffs February Sale is going on, the INS announced on Saturday. Parades, featuring stallions like Group 1 sire Invincible Spirit (Ire), Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) who has his first 3-year-olds this year, and Classic winner Mac Swiney (Ire), will take place at the stud on Feb. 6-8 from 11-3 p.m. each day. Please contact the stud office to arrange your time at +353 045-521251.

It has been a basic tenet of bloodstock since the early days that Classic form is to be respected when a colt or a filly retires to stud. Some Classic results stand out, with the 1984 Prix du Jockey-Club often cited thanks to Darshaan (GB) leading home Sadler's Wells and Rainbow Quest in a trifecta of future superstar sires. As regards fillies, the 1990 Prix de Diane takes some beating, with Rafha (GB) coming home ahead of Moon Cactus (GB) and Colour Chart. All three ended up breeding at least...

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. Sunday's Observations features a half-brother to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and Magna Grecia (Ire). 12.55 Newcastle, £10,300, Mdn, 2yo, 8f 5y (AWT) Juddmonte's 600,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 acquisition LAUTREC (GB) (Kingman {GB}), representing John and Thady Gosden, is half-brother to MG1SW sires St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr})...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Romagna Mia in the Dowager S. at Keeneland last weekend.   Mia All Class In Dowager Team Valor International's Romagna Mia (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) won the Dowager S. at Keeneland on Sunday (video). It was the GI Beverly D. S. third's second graded/group score, having taken the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio in 2022. Bred by Cavendish Bloodstock, the Graham Motion trainee was a...

Multiple group winner Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Ghanaati, by Giant's Causeway) has been retired and will take up stallion duties at The National Stud in Newmarket next year. The dual G2 Joel S. hero's fee will be £6,500. "We are delighted to have secured Mutasaabeq to join our stallion roster for the 2024 season," said The National Stud CEO Anna Kerr. "He was a very consistent horse on the track and showed a great attitude in his races. It is rare that a prospect with such an outstanding pedigree becomes...