Pivotal (GB)

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 the son of G1 Prix de l'Opera-placed So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). 4.45 Doncaster, Mdn, £8,000, 3yo, 10f 43yT ASTRODOME (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is the second foal out of the G3 Musidora S. winner and G1 Prix de l'Opera third So Mi Dar...

Listed winner Mea Domina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 220) is a late addition to the Arqana Vente d'Elevage on Dec. 3. A dual winner, she will be offered by trainer Jerome Reynier. The daughter of the multiple stakes-placed Regina Mundi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) won the Listed Prix Isola Bella at Saint-Cloud this term. She is also a half-sister to G3 Prix d'Aumale heroine Rocques (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}), the stakes-placed King Pacha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), and the multiple Group 3-placed Omnia Munda Mundis (GB) (Australia {GB}). The wildcard is also from...

Philippe Sogorb trainee Fancy Me (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}--Besotted {Ire}, by Dutch Art {GB}), who ran fourth in July's Listed Criterium du Bequet at Tarbes, posted a runner-up finish in a seven-furlong conditions heat at Toulouse last month and stepped forward to claim a career high upped to one mile in Tuesday's G3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville. The 93-10 chance raced second through the early strides, but was shuffled back to track the leaders in fourth by halfway. Rowed along to reduced arrears off the home turn, she regained second...

No longer a force to be reckoned with in the major events across Europe, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's stalwart Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) provided the deflated William Haggas stable with a much-needed boost on Sunday as he signed off with a hard-fought success in the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris. Haggas issued a statement after the race to the PA news agency which read, "I'm absolutely thrilled to bits and we would like to call it a day with him now. He's been a fantastic servant and it is...

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 Midsummer (GB) (Kingmambo). 7.50 Nottingham, Mdn, £6,900, 3yo/up, f/m, 8f 75yT SUNSTONE (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is the 13th foal out of Juddmonte's prized Midsummer (GB) (Kingmambo), who provided the operation with the six-times Group 1 and Grade I heroine Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream...

Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who ran sixth in the G1 Darley July Cup on July 10, is enjoying a solid preparation in advance of a start in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest on Aug. 8. Trained by Archie Watson, the 7-year-old gelding won the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. last term and was second in the June 19 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. "He's bang on course for the Maurice de Gheest now, and we're looking forward to running him there and excited about his targets later in...

David Thompson CBE, the owner with his wife Patricia of Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket, died on Dec. 29 from renal failure at the age of 84. A proudly patriotic man whose numerous successful racehorses sported the stud's red, white and blue colours, Thompson's significant involvement in British racing and breeding began in 1975 with his purchase of Newmarket's oldest stud farm, which was then in receivership. That same year Music Boy (GB), trained initially in Yorkshire by 'Snowy' Wainwright, became the Thompsons' first Group winner, in partnership with Ken...

Led again by champion sire Pivotal (GB) (Polar Falcon), Cheveley Park announced their 2021 stallion roster on Monday. Sire of two Group 1 winners among his quintet of black-type winners this term, the 27-year-old Pivotal will again stand for a private fee in 2021. As a broodmare sire, he is responsible for 14 black-type winners, four at the Group 1 level, just this year. Dutch Art (GB) (Medicean {GB}) will also again be at a private fee for 2021. Studs around the world are reducing fees due to the ongoing...

All day long at Ascot, it was a case of deep-ground lovers need only apply and one who certainly fit that category was Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and he duly carried off the feature G1 QIPCO Champion S. Going through the conditions with an ease his rivals could not match, last year's runner-up finally registered a first top-level success in his native country having annexed the G1 Ranvet S. and G1 Queen Elizabeth S. during a Spring campaign in Australia. Well-positioned in second by Tom Marquand throughout the early stages,...

Not content to rest on her laurels, rider-of-the-moment Hollie Doyle claimed a career-best success when guiding last month's G1 Haydock Sprint Cup runner-up Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) to a dramatic success in Saturday's Qipco British Champions Sprint S. at Ascot. Hambleton Racing Partnership's veteran chestnut, who had previously claimed a first pattern-race triumph in The Curragh's Aug. 8 G3 Phoenix Sprint S., broke like greased lightning from the gates and was in command under a tight hold until allowed a measure of rein at halfway. Looking certain to be...

Group winner Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) will resurface in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. on British Champions Day Oct. 17. A good second in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. at Haydock on Saturday, the chestnut won the Aug. 9 G3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint S. for trainer Archie Watson and Hambleton Racing. "He was a very shrewd buy at £45,000 and took another step forward at Haydock, showing he can compete against the best in Group 1 races," said Watson. "Champions Day at Ascot will be...

With their own domestic racing programmes decimated by COVID-19, many Europeans naturally looked to Randwick's card in Sydney to get their weekend fix of high-class racing. There was further reason to focus on 'The Championships' with Newmarket-based William Haggas having a fancied runner in two of the Group 1 races, the G1 Schweppes Sydney Cup and the G1 Longines Queen Elizabeth S. Happily, his representative Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB} won the latter race, the meeting's showpiece feature. This triumph (which, of course, is likely to be the final British-trained overseas...