Leopardstown

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 1 winner Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).   18.20 Leopardstown, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 8fT Coolmore homebred ECSTATIC (JPN) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is one of two nominees for Aidan O'Brien and the first foal produced by G1 Mackinnon Stakes heroine Magic Wand...

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 returning winner by American freshman sire Maximum Security. 13.40 Clairefontaine, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 8fT ROSA SALVAJE (IRE) (Maximum Security) is one of very few by her sire running in Europe and got off to the ideal start when winning at Saint-Cloud last month. Ecurie Francky...

Billionaire Luke Comer lost an appeal against the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board to overturn a three-year-suspension of his training license, the organization confirmed in a statement Thursday. The suspension is scheduled to begin July 15. The three-person appeals body was chaired by Justice Peter Kelly in addition to Laurence McFerran and Dr. Paddy Molony. Suspended last September, the trainer was ordered to pay in excess of €750,000 in fines and legal costs after traces of the prohibited substances methandienone (MD) and methyltestosterone (MT) were found in 12 of his horses....

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 the second foal out of a four-time Group 1 winner. 16.45 Leopardstown, Mdn, €25,000, 2yo, f, 7f 47yT The Niarchos Family's homebred filly PROXIMA CENTAURI (IRE) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) is the second foal thrown by four-time Group 1-winning Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman...

The seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden staged on Leopardstown's Thursday evening card has often played host to a future luminary and the latest renewal could have thrown up another as Ballydoyle's Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Mecca's Angel {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) earned instant TDN Rising Star status. Settled in mid-division early by Wayne Lordan, the 5-1 shot enjoyed an untroubled run down the outer in the straight as the stable's 8-11 favourite Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) became ensnared in traffic deeper towards the rail. Surging ahead from...

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)...

Yoshito Yahagi has provided a sprinkling of stardust to the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. by pencilling the €1.25m Leopardstown highlight in for the Japanese star Shin Emperor (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).  With numerous big-race wins in his home country and international Grade 1 success to his name in Hong Kong and at the Breeders' Cup, Yahagi has now set his sights on Leopardstown on Saturday, September 14 with a colt who finished third in the Japanese Derby last weekend.  Of course, the brother to Sottsass (Fr), who fetched €2.1m at...

If Ballydoyle's Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was disappointing at York earlier on Friday, the stable was able to rely on Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to make amends in the G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. at Leopardstown. While the win was far from flashy, it at least confirmed the 2022 Gold Cup hero to be on track for a tilt at the Royal Ascot crown he was forced to give up through injury 12 months ago. Tracking the leading pair throughout the early stages, the 1-12 favourite was sent...

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 the joint top-priced colt at the Arqana October Yearling Sale. 15.00 Newbury, Mdn, £12,000, 2yo, 6fT JOUNCY (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the seventh foal out of Juddmonte's dual listed winner and multiple group-placed Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a half-sister to the great Frankel (GB)...

Frances Crowley has ruled out a full scale return to the training ranks and described sending out her first runner in 16 years at Leopardstown on Friday as "just a bit of fun" with the ultimate goal being to provide her daughter Hannah with a breakthrough victory in the saddle.  Wife of the late Pat Smullen, a nine-time champion jockey in Ireland, Crowley created history in 2005 when she became the first woman to win a Classic race in Ireland with Saoire storming to a memorable triumph in the 1,000...

Putting another piece in the Derby puzzle on Sunday, Ballydoyle's unbeaten Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Frequential {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) marked his return with a workmanlike but promising win in Leopardstown's G3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial S. Last seen winning the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, the 4-5 favourite sat off the tempo set by stablemate Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}) under Wayne Lordan and after getting to the front a furlong out stayed on to beat that rival by a length, with the Dermot Weld trainee Taraj (Ire) (Churchill {Ire})...

Bouncing back from a return sixth in the seven-furlong G3 Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" S. at Leopardstown last month, Juddmonte's illustriously-bred Wendla (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}--Intercontinental {GB}, by Danehill) benefitted from a masterclass from Colin Keane to cause a minor upset back at that venue in Sunday's G3 Al Shira'aa Racing "Mutamakina" S. Always at the fore with the pace modest, the Ger Lyons-trained daughter of the operation's high-class Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine led the sprint for home in the mile test and had enough in hand to...