Niarchos Family

Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}), winner of the Coronation S. in June, will not race again this year and instead enjoy some time off. The Niarchos Family runner was runner-up in three consecutive Group 1s following her Ascot score-the July 5 Prix de Diane Longines, the Aug. 16 Prix Jacques le Marois and the Prix de l'Opera Longines on Arc Day, Oct. 4. "She ran another blinder in the Opera," said the Niarchos family's racing manager Alan Cooper of the Jessica Harrington trainee. "She's a tough, honest and...

Group 1 winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who won the G1 Coronation S. for the Niarchos Family and trainer Jessica Harrington in June, is under consideration for the Sept. 12 G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. A winner of the G2 Debutante S. at two, the chestnut kicked off her season in the Coronation, before runner-up performances in the G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly and the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, on July 5 and Aug. 16, respectively. "At the moment, Mrs. Harrington...

The moon is often contrasted with the sun: see St Francis' Canticle of the Creatures ("Brother Sun, Sister Moon"), Greek mythology (siblings Selene and Helios), innumerable popular songs (like Paul Revere and the Raiders' "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon"). And now, the pedigree of Exomoon (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a fighting  3-year-old winner of a competitive maiden at Clairefontaine last Monday. An "exomoon" is a natural satellite that orbits an exoplanet, that is: a planet outside the solar system. This tenacious colt's dam (who also has a 2-year-old filly called New...

G1 Coronation S. winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), last seen finishing a short-neck second to Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Prix de Diane on July 5, could resurface in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Aug. 16 if ground conditions play to her liking. "If all goes according to plan she could go to Deauville, but we just need to keep an eye on the ground," said Alan Cooper, racing manager to owner/breeder The Niarchos Family. "There's very hot weather...

Andre Fabre trainee Harajuku (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) went postward at generous odds of 23-5 for Sunday's Prix de la Butte Blanche at Chantilly and came home in style to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status in the seven-furlong maiden heat for fillies. She was well away to occupy a handy slot in third before improving to go second at halfway in this debut. Looming large on the bridle off the home turn, Harajuku eased to the fore approaching the quarter-mile marker and was not for catching thereafter, running on powerfully...

'TDN Rising Star' Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was eye-catching while keeping his unbeaten record intact when winning a Haydock novice race on Wednesday, generating Derby whispers, but the Niarchos Family's homebred will bypass the July 4 G1 Investec Derby. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained son of Celestial Lagoon (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) is likely to target the G2 Dante S. at York on July 9 next. "The Derby comes too soon in his career," said Racing Manager Alan Cooper. "He's a nice horse in the making. He only ran two days...

The Niarchos Family's homebred Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who earned 'TDN Rising Star' status in his debut at Leicester last year, faced fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Waldkonig (GB) (Kingman {GB}) for his seasonal return in Wednesday's Racecourse Live Streams On Racing TV Novice S. at Haydock and maintained his perfect record with an impressive success. 1st-Haydock, £5,400, Nov, 6-24, 3yo/up, 10f 100yT, 2:11.25, g/s. HIGHEST GROUND (IRE) (c, 3, Frankel {GB}--Celestial Lagoon {Jpn} {SP-Fr}, by Sunday Silence), who bounded to TDN Rising Stardom after enduring a bloopers moment at...

Emulating the emphatic G1 Coronation S. victory of her half-sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) two years ago, the Niarchos Family's Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) was also in a class of her own as Royal Ascot once again bowed to its greatest showman Frankie Dettori. Racing behind the strong tempo of the leading duo early, the 9-2 shot who was last seen winning the G2 Debutante S. at The Curragh in August forged up the rail in early straight and had command before the furlong pole. Powering...

Royal Ascot's week-long Ryan Moore-Frankie Dettori battle was underway in some style early on Tuesday, with the former prevailing in a thrilling tussle on the 4-1 favourite Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Anne S., a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in November. Sent straight to the fore, last year's G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp hero was passed and apparently beaten by Terebellum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) as Frankie took charge 1...

Who has been the biggest inspiration in your career and why? CR: I find it hard to select just one person as my career has been shaped and influenced by a number of people however, the first person would be my brother, Tim, (along with his wife, Mimi), who encouraged me the most when he suggested I join him in France during my school holidays in the early 1970s.  At the time, Tim was managing the Haras de la Verrerie for Monsieur Elie de Brignac in Normandy. Tim later offered...

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 blueblooded daughter of American Pharoah. 10.55 La Teste de Buch, Debutantes, €14,000, 2yo, f, 5fT STEP BEYOND (American Pharoah) represents the new Niarchos Family-Philippe Sogorb link-up and is a notably early juvenile runner for her owner-breeders. A daughter of the GII Santa Ana S. winner...

While the world waits for better news, a clutch of exciting 3-year-olds wait in the wings for Classics that have now officially been delayed, and one such is 'TDN Rising Star' Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who is ticking over for Sir Michael Stoute. Impressive when winning his sole start at Leicester in September, the Niarchos family's homebred met with a setback afterwards but is reported in fine shape by the owners' racing manager Alan Cooper. It is forty years since the operation prevailed in Newmarket's G1 2000 with the...