Jean-Claude Rouget

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 a close relative of this year's dual Group 1-winning 2-year-old Perfect Power. 1.58 ParisLongchamp, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 9fT EPIC POET (IRE) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) starts out for the White Birch Farm and Jean-Claude Rouget connection and is a 450,000gns Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book...

Jean-Claude Rouget trainee Zelda (Fr) (Zaelzal {Fr}) became the first black-type winner for her Haras de Bouquetot-based freshman sire (by Sea the Stars {Ire}) with a pillar-to-post victory by two lengths in Saturday's Listed Prix Saraca at Chantilly. Zelda bagged a July 9 debut score going six furlongs in a Saint-Cloud newcomers' heat and doubled up over seven in an Aug. 4 conditions heat at Clairefontaine, but finished last of six tackling the latter trip in ParisLongchamp's Sept. 5 G3 Prix La Rochette last time. Breaking sharply from the outside...

A Group 3 winner and Group 2-placed, 3-year-old filly Penja (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) (lot 11) brought star quality to Saturday night's Arqana Arc Sale at Saint-Cloud Racecourse, and she duly topped proceedings at €1.2 million when Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock prevailed over a remote bidder on Arqana's online platform. Boman noted Penja had been bought for German owner Jurgen Satori. "We're very happy with the purchase," Boman said. "She's an exceptional filly with a fantastic acceleration. We had to fight to get her but she's worth it. We're delighted."...

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 the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 2.07 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 7 1/2fT GOOD TOO (FR) (Ectot {GB}) earned 'TDN Rising Star' status on his winning debut at Deauville last month and Jean-Claude Rouget has opted to go steady for now with Al Shaqab's half-brother...

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 the return of a recent 'TDN Rising Star' 14.50 Chantilly, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 7fT Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani's once-raced OSMOSE (FR) (Zoffany {Ire}) attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with an impressive takedown of a Deauville debutantes' heat last month and steps up to seven...

She keeps getting better, and Saturday, George Krikorian's War Like Goddess (English Channel) will get her first chance at a Grade I victory as a likely overwhelming favorite in the 1 3/8-mile GI Flower Bowl S., which will be run at Saratoga for the first time after a 43-year run at Belmont. Bought for just $30,000 at OBS June in 2019, the bay debuted going nine furlongs on the Churchill turf last September at Churchill and rallied from second-last to take over late, and she validated that explosive late rally...

Capping Deauville's August festival on Sunday, Haras de Saint Pair's Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) justified 9-10 favouritism to prove a popular winner of the feature G2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville. Asked to go beyond a mile and a quarter for the first time when taking the G3 Prix de Reux over this track and 12 1/2-furlong trip on his latest outing Aug. 8, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained homebred was patiently ridden in rear early by Cristian Demuro. Launched to take command 300 metres from the finish, the 9-10...

Shadwell group winners Raabihah (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) are targetting the Oct. 3 G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Sept. 5 G1 Prix du Moulin, respectively, Shadwell Racing Manager Angus Gold revealed on Monday. A 4-year-old filly, Raabihah was fifth in the 2020 Arc after taking the G3 Prix de Psyche last August and running second in the Sept. 13 G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille. Prior to her victory in Sunday's G2 Prix de Pomone, the chestnut was second thrice as the...

Shadwell's 4-year-old distaffer Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}), unsuccessful in five outings since annexing last term's G3 Prix de Psyche at Deauville, rebounded off three second-place efforts this year and produced a telling burst at the end of Sunday's G2 Darley Prix de Pomone to register an impressive score upon her return to the Normandy venue. The contest was delayed by an excessive hold in the gates while a replacement battery was installed a failed break and the homebred chestnut was positioned in a stalking fourth for the most part....

Following on from a flurry of Rising Star awards in Ireland and Stateside overnight, Al Shaqab Racing's 2-year-old colt Good Too (Fr) (Ectot {GB}) joined the esteemed ranks with an impressive performance in Sunday's Prix de Montaigu at Deauville. Steadied off the pace in fifth after a sharp getaway in this one-mile newcomers' test, the 17-10 favourite made eyecatching headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge out wide with 300 metres remaining and displayed an impressive turn of foot once taking control at the furlong marker to easily...

Carrying Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani's second strip for Tuesday's Prix Le Cyrano at Deauville, 2-year-old filly Osmose (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) was very much the lead violin coming home and powered to 'TDN Rising Stardom' with a taking performance in the 6 1/2-furlong debutantes' heat. The well-backed 2-1 favourite was sharply into stride and stalked the pace in third through halfway. Looming large full of run passing the quarter-mile marker, she seized control with 300 metres remaining and powered clear in hand inside the final furlong to easily outpoint...

Entering Sunday's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches with plenty of black-type experience but without a win in that sphere, Abdullah bin Fahad Al Attiyah's Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}) was just saving her best for the big time as Cristian Demuro launched her to overhaul Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in a thriller. Prepping for this ParisLongchamp Classic with a third placing in a course-and-distance conditions event Apr. 22, the bay whose best 2-year-old form had involved third placings in the G3 Prix Six Perfections at Deauville in...