Roaring Lion

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 a close relative of the Dubawi (Ire) pair of Yibir (GB) and Wild Illusion (GB). 6.35 Newmarket, Debutantes, £8,000, 2yo, 7fT LOCAL DYNASTY (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two Charlie Appleby-trained newcomers and the pick of James Doyle, being a son of the Listed Montrose...

Such a high-profile split, whether temporary or not, between Frankie Dettori and the John and Thady Gosden stable, has naturally dominated the headlines of the last week. Whatever one's thoughts of the events during and post-Royal Ascot, there was no mistaking the affection in which Dettori is held among racegoers as he was cheered back into the winner's enclosure on his sole ride in Britain since the Saturday of the royal meeting. He has nothing booked for this week either, but intriguingly Dettori has been snapped up by Charlie Appleby...

Lion Of War (GB) (Roaring Lion) became a TDN Rising Star after bolting up at Newcastle on Thursday but David Redvers, who signed for the colt on behalf of Qatar Racing for just 7,000gns, revealed how he called on the opinion of co-trainer Mark Johnston in a bid to ascertain if he would stand up to training or not.  Redvers revealed he was surprised that Lion Of War was knocked down to him for just 7,000gns at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Sale, however, he admitted that the colt's...

Qatar Racing's 2-year-old colt Lion of War (GB) (Roaring Lion) became the first scorer from the lone crop of his ill-fated sire (by Kitten's Joy), when graduating in his June 11 debut going seven furlongs at Leicester last time, and notched another notable first when becoming a TDN Rising Star with a 10-length rout in Thursday's Pertemps Riverside Restricted Novice S. over much the same distance at Newcastle. The 8-11 favourite, burdened with a seven-pound penalty, was swiftly into stride and raced under a firm hold on the front end...

Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when Lion of War (GB) notched a debut win in Saturday's British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Maiden S. over seven furlongs at Leicester. 1st-Leicester, £7,000, Mdn, 6-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.36, g/f. LION OF WAR (GB) (c, 2, Roaring Lion--Momentus {Ire} {SP-Eng}, by Montjeu {Ire}) raced off the pace in ninth through the early fractions of this debut. Tanking forward from halfway, the 7-2 chance seized control approaching the final furlong and was ridden out in the closing...

The catalogues for the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses-in-Training Sale were released on Wednesday. There are currently 206 2-year-olds and 120 horses-in-training ready to go under the hammer on Apr. 28. Beginning at 9 a.m. local time on Apr. 26, the breezes will take place over Newmarket's Rowley Mile Racecourse. They will be shown live on the Tattersalls website and on the Tattersalls Facebook page. Graduates of the sale won group races in Britain, France, Germany and the U.S. in 2021, led by top-level winners Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and...

John Tuthill wouldn't be the type to shout from the rooftops about the racetrack successes of the graduates of his Owenstown Stud. But, then again, he doesn't have to--the horses have done the talking themselves. From a band of about 15 broodmares of his own, Tuthill bred two winners of the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. in the space of five years: Excelebration (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the Derrick Smith silks in 2012 and the filly Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for Cheveley Park Stud in 2017. He also...

Buyers at this weekend's Arqana August Yearling Sale will have the chance to get their hands on an extremely rare commodity when eight yearlings from the lone crop of 2018 Cartier Horse of the Year Roaring Lion go up for sale in Deauville. Qatar Racing's Roaring Lion was euthanized in August 2019 in New Zealand after suffering several bouts of colic. The grey had not long before finished covering a debut book at Tweenhills Stud in Britain that resulted in 90 registered foals. David Redvers, racing manager to Qatar Racing...

In the third installation of our Value Sires series, we will dig into the sire crop with its first foals born in 2020, and therefore with its first yearlings this year. After some two years in waiting since most of these retired to stud, the judges got the chance at the recently concluded foal sales to lay eyes on the first progeny of most of them, and though it is still incredibly early days, their opinions, corroborated through their actions in the ring, will have an impact on the perception...

In Moment of 2020, the staff of TDN Europe reflect on their favourite moments in racing for the year. Future Classic winner Kameko (Kitten's Joy) first came on my radar with his nose second in the G3 Solario S. in August of 2019 after winning on debut at Sandown in July. I especially noticed the flashy dark bay because he bore the same Qatar Racing silks as another favourite of mine, the late Cartier Horse of the Year Roaring Lion, also a Kentucky-bred incidentally by Kitten's Joy. A $90,000 Keeneland...

Qatar Racing colourbearer Perfect Sign (Ire) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) gave pilot Oisin Murphy his 1,000 winner. The reigning champion jockey and retained rider for Qatar Racing teamed up with the juvenile filly for trainer Michael Dods at Southwell. The 25-year-old Irishman, who was the champion apprentice in the UK in 2014, was appointed number one Jockey for Qatar Racing in 2016. On board Qatar Racing's Kameko (Kitten's Joy) he gained his first Classic success in the 2020 G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. Murphy told Sky Sports Racing: "I ride for great...

After it was announced that QIPCO had ended its sponsorship of the G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Prix du Jockey Club,  Leopardstown thanked QIPCO for their support on Thursday. QIPCO had assisted with Longines Irish Champions Weekend since it began in 2014, but is now turning its focus toward its sponsorship activities in Britain. (Click here for some highlights of the Irish Champion S.) "I would like to thank QIPCO and Sheikh Fahad for their incredible support of the Irish Champion S. for the past six years," said Leopardstown...