Kodiac (GB)

Already well-acquainted with France, with two prior visits culminating in a success in the nine-furlong G3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly Sept. 29, Nas Syndicate and Anne O'Callaghan's El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) made all to provide up-and-coming trainer James Ferguson with a first top-level win in Saturday's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. Dominating the mile-and-a-quarter contest under 2021's supersub jockey Ioritz Mendizabal, the 9-1 shot shook off the threat of Goldspur (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in early straight and hit the line with 1 1/2 lengths to spare over Ballydoyle's Stone...

While Aidan O'Brien was drawing a blank at Ascot, the stable was celebrating a 13th winner of Leopardstown's G3 Richmond Homes Killavullan S. on Saturday as Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) came forward from his sixth placing in Saturday's G1 Dewhurst S. Having only his second start in that Newmarket feature and his first since his winning debut at The Curragh Apr. 17, the 5-1 shot who sports the Evie Stockwell silks was settled behind the leading trio early by Seamie Heffernan and worked his way to the front with 100...

Undefeated Juddmonte homebred Straight Answer (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) has been supplemented to the Oct. 9 Darley Dewhurst S. at Newmarket. His addition brings the potential field to 12, after winning at The Curragh when unveiled on Aug. 21 and the Listed Ballyhane Blenheim S. at Fairyhouse on Sept. 20. The Ger Lyons-trained colt will possibly face G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) for the Charlie Appleby/Godolphin axis, and Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere one-two Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Noble...

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane are the men of the moment in Ireland at present and the combination were in clover again on Monday as TDN Rising Star Straight Answer (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) recorded an impressive success in Fairyhouse's Listed Ballyhane Blenheim S. Handling soft ground with aplomb on his debut over this six-furlong trip at The Curragh Aug. 21, Juddmonte's homebred led at every step on this good-to-firm going en route to a 5 1/2-length success from Glengarra (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) as the 2-1 favourite. "He's a work in progress,"...

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 'TDN Rising Star's at Newbury and Chantilly. 13.00 Ayr, Nov, £14,000, 2yo, 7f 50yT Jaber Abdullah's 120,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling MARHABA THE CHAMP (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is a son of MGSW G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye...

The second year of the Tattersalls August Sale kicked off its run at Park Paddocks in Newmarket on Tuesday. The clearance rate remained solid when compared to the 2020 renewal, which was inaugurated due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Of the 144 horses offered during the first session 127 (88%) were marked as sold for a gross of 1,459,200gns. The average of 11,490gns and median of 7,000gns were down 36% and 42% on 2020, respectively. Leading the way on day one was lot 169, Bunglejungleparty (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who...

Colin Keane had already steered Eclat de Lumiere to TDN Rising Stardom in The Curragh card's opening contest and repeated the dose to bring up a quickfire double aboard Juddmonte's 2-year-old colt Straight Answer (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the DMG Media Irish EBF Maiden over six furlongs at the County Kildare venue. Breaking smartly and racing under a firm grip in a prominent third initially, the 15-8 favourite slipped to sixth when angled to the centre of the track at halfway and soon had matters in hand when swooping for...

The Arqana v.2 Yearling Sale, which took a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will return to its home in Deauville directly after the Arqana August Sale. A one-day event, the Aug. 17 sale features 146 colts and fillies geared toward precocity on the racecourse. Current poster girl is 2021 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}), while earlier distinguished alumni include fellow French 1000 Guineas heroine Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}) and Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War), who won the colts' equivalent 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. Wednesday's Observations features a daughter of Oaks winner Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 1.50 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 7fT BAHASA (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}) debuts for the Wertheimers and trainer Christophe Ferland, who combined to win the 2013 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac with the dam Indonesienne (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}). Only...

Royal Ascot 2021 cannot be accused of lacking melodrama, especially in the 24 hours from Thursday's Gold Cup to Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup, with the monstrous monsoon and grim skies the backdrop for an epic renewal of the meeting's premier 3-year-old sprint. As the TDN Rising Stars Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) drove past the post, it was the former who was announced the winner by a head but after an agonising spell for connections of the transatlantic duo the stewards duly reversed the...

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. Tuesday's observations features a son of prolific black-type producer Reem Three (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}). 2.00 Leicester, Mdn, £7,900, 2yo, 6fT TRIPLE TIME (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the latest progeny out of the prolific black-type producer Reem Three (GB) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}), whose list of notables include...

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 daughter of Group 3 winner Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}). 4.15 York, Mdn, £15,000, 2yo, 6fT ALBAHAR (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the latest progeny out of Godolphin's G3 UAE Oaks winner Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), a half-sister to this month's...