Kingman (GB)

Emulating stablemate Matrika (Ire) 12 months ago, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Truly Enchanting (Ire) (No Nay Never--Alluringly, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) made the quick turnaround from Royal Ascot to to provide her sire with back-to-back winners of The Curragh's G2 Airlie Stud Stakes on Saturday. Unable to mix it with the fastest fillies when 13th in the five-furlong G2 Queen Mary Stakes, the descendant of Urban Sea (Miswaki) had the required pace to lay up with fellow Ascot also-ran California Dreamer (GB) (Mehmas {Ire}) from the outset in this longer...

Rockcliffe Stud's homebred Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Pepita {Ire}, by Sir Prancealot {Ire}) followed up a May 24 debut seventh at Goodwood with a breakthrough score at Windsor earlier this month and continued on a roll with a career high in Saturday's Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket. The Ed Walker trainee broke sharply from the stands' side stall and seized an immediate advantage in this black-type bow. In command throughout, the 9-1 chance came under pressure when threatened passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly up...

Up in trip for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois's Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}--Speralita {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}) edged another close-run affair in a French Classic in 2024. Held up at the back early by Tony Piccone, the 15-1 shot had to pass runners all quickening off a moderate tempo, but had miling speed which set her apart from her middle-distance rivals. With virtually every rival still to get by two out, the Patrice-Cottier-trained bay who had won the G2 Prix de Sandringham here a...

Handed a tough task on debut last month in the G3 Marble Hill S., Ballydoyle's The Parthenon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}--Wonder Of Wonders, by Kingmambo) had finished close enough to Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) and Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) when fifth in that Curragh contest to justify the audacity of that decision. In calmer waters on Sunday at Gowran Park, the descendant of Urban Sea (Miswaki) showed tenacity as well as class to master the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Keen for Wayne Lordan early, the 4-11...

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 Frankel filly out of a Breeders' Cup heroine. 16.40 Haydock, Nov, £10,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f 212yT Imad Al Sagar homebred HAUTE COUTURE (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is a half-sister to G1 Jebel Hatta, G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and G1 Irish Champion S.-winning sire Decorated Knight (GB)...

Jean-Pierre Dubois's homebred 3-year-old filly Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}--Speralita {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}), unsuccessful in three black-type outings this term, added to her victory in last season's Listed Prix Delahante with a power-packed display--coming from last to first and outclassing five rivals--in Sunday's G2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly. Sparkling Plenty, the well-backed 21-10 favourite coming back off a sixth in last month's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, was under a firm hold and anchored at the tail of the field through halfway in this one-mile distaffers' test. Nudged...

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 a full-brother to a multiple Group 1-winning juvenile. 13.20 Navan, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 5f 180yT TUNBRIDGE WELLS (IRE) (No Nay Never) is a full-brother to last year's G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. hero Blackbeard (Ire) who bids to book his ticket to Royal...

Godolphin homebred Devoted Queen (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Fintry {Ire}, by Shamardal) registered victories over seven furlongs at Newmarket in October and over one mile at Kempton in April and maintained her umblemished record, racing in a first-time hood, with a two-length tally in Friday's Listed Sky Bet Michael Seely Memorial at York. Employing patient tactics towards the rear through halfway, she made smooth headway into contention approaching the final quarter-mile and kept on powerfully under late urging to win, going away, by two lengths from Spiritual (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) 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. Thursday's Observations features a half-sister to G1 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}). 15.00 Salisbury, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 5fT KASSAYA (GB) (Kingman {GB}) makes her debut for Juddmonte and Andrew Balding, who enjoyed that big day last May with her half-brother Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Also a half...

Like Saturday's 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) introduced on the all-weather during the winter, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's blueblood Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) arrived late on the scene to emerge triumphant in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and cause a second weekend surprise in Newmarket's mile Classics. Coming off her debut success at Southwell in late November to finish a staying-on third in the seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury last month, the Roger Varian-trained daughter of the G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Flower Bowl...

We already knew we were dealing with an Oaks filly in Juddmonte's Kalpana (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) prior to Sunday's Listed William Hill Pretty Polly S. at Newmarket, but now we have another after George Strawbridge's Friendly Soul (GB) (Kingman {GB}--In Clover {GB}), by Inchinor {GB}) took her measure in an epic renewal of the 10-furlong Classic trial. To the fore soon after the start under Kieran Shoemark, the 10-1 shot who scored on debut  at Kempton in December had everything on the stretch bar that 4-6 favourite heading...

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 half-brother to St Mark's Basilica (Fr). 17.50 Chelmsford City, Novice, £8,000, 3yo/up, 10fT LAUTREC (GB) (Kingman {GB}) made a winning start at Newcastle in November and takes a small step here with the Gosdens keen on protecting their precious Juddmonte commodity for now. A half-brother...