Naas

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. Monday's Observations features a half-sister to MG1SW Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).   1.15 Naas, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, f, 8fT THE ALGARVE (American Pharoah) is the 13th foal out of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and a full-sister to last...

Mark Dobbin's Ladies Church (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) registered a June 9 debut fourth at Cork, behind the reopposing Impeachd Alexander (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), and followed up a June 30 breakthrough score over five furlongs at Tipperary with an impressive display tackling the same trip in Wednesday's Listed Arqana Irish EBF Marwell S. at Naas, becoming the first stakes winner for her freshman sire (by Galileo {Ire}). The 3-1 second favourite was restrained to race in an overall third as British raider Sophie's Star (GB) (Cotai Glory {GB}) blazed a solo...

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 MGISW Lady Eli (Divine Park). 4.15 Naas, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, 5f 205yT HMS ENDEAVOUR (War Front) is the first foal out of the five-times grade I-winning Lady Eli (Divine Park) sporting the Derrick Smith colours as he makes his debut for Ballydoyle. Led...

The €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane S., run at Naas on Aug. 2, has 278 juveniles entered after the latest forfeit stage, Naas Racecourse announced on Friday. Restricted to juveniles that are EBF eligible and whose sire established a median price of not more than €75,000 at the 2020 yearling sales, the race's winning breeder will receive a free nomination to one of the Ballyhane sires courtesy of Ballyhane Stud. In addition, if the winner is by a Ballyhane Stud stallion, there is a €50,000 bonus on top of the €200,000...

For a second consecutive year, Arqana will sponsor the Listed Irish EBF Marwell S. at Ireland's Naas Racecourse July 21. The inaugural Marwell S., contested in early August 2020, was won by the Ken Condon-trained Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), who won the G2 Lowther S. in her next appearance before placing in the G1 Cheveley Park Stud S. and in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf. The announcement comes ahead of next week's Arqana Breeze-Up Sale, which has been relocated from Deauville to Doncaster due to COVID-19...

There was an unexpected turn-up in the G3 Coolmore Stud EBF Fillies Sprint S. at Naas on Sunday, with the apparent "good thing" Contarelli Chapel (Ire) (Caravaggio) managing only fourth behind the Fozzy Stack-trained newcomer Hermana Estrella (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Slowly away and racing in rear early off the strong tempo, the 50-1 shot was behind Ballydoyle's 2-7 favourite at halfway but had to come around as that rival began to struggle. Responding to Chris Hayes's urgings, the debutante worked her way past the speedy but errant Quick Suzy (Ire)...

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 recent breeze-up sale topper. 3.10 Naas, Cond, €37,500, 2yo, 5fT CADAMOSTO (IRE) (No Nay Never) has been a non-runner on four occasions either side of his impressive winning debut from the re-opposing Silver Surfer (GB) (Caravaggio) over this trip at Dundalk last month, so it...

Another Caravaggio, another TDN Rising Star as the highly impressive Contarelli Chapel (Ire) made her mark in a smart-looking field gathered for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over near six furlongs at Naas on Monday. A half-sister to last year's G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. heroine Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the January-foaled grey who races for Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor and Smith was marginally in front from the break and completely comfortable setting the pace under a motionless Ryan Moore. It was passing the...

On a day when Ballydoyle showed its strength, the regally-bred 3-year-old filly Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) brought up a treble for the team at Naas in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile. A full-sister to the high-class G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Minding (Ire), the February-foaled bay was sent off the 3-1 joint-second favourite and raced behind the early leaders under cover. Needing racing room in the straight, she was out in good time to carry Seamie Heffernan to the front a...

The first runner for her exciting first-season sire, Tenebrism (Caravaggio) also carried the mantle of Ballydoyle's first juvenile runner of 2021 into Sunday's five-furlong juvenile opener at Naas. Not that she comprehended the gravitas of the moment, but the manner in which the daughter of the high-class Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) dealt with the task in hand could not have been more pleasing for her high-profile connections. In readily dismissing her peers in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden staged on soft ground, she instantly set a lofty standard...

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 the first Ballydoyle juvenile runner of 2021. 1.15 Naas, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, 5fT TENEBRISM (Caravaggio) is Ballydoyle's first juvenile runner of 2021 and carries significance as his exciting first-season sire's potential first winner. Representing a partnership between Coolmore, Georg von Opel's Westerberg Limited and John Moores...

GAIN Equine Nutrition will sponsor a new race series, The Advantage Series, for the Irish Flat Season, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Tuesday. Launched with Ado McGuinness Racing, the eight part series of races will be run for points over a variety of conditions to cater to different trainers and horses throughout the season. For each race, there will be a 40% prizemoney boost. A grand prize of €5,000 worth of GAIN Equine Nutrition products will be awarded to the trainer who tops the GAIN The Advantage Series at the...