Sandown

Off the mark on debut over five furlongs at Thirsk May 14, the David O'Meara-trained filly Maria Branwell (Ire) (James Garfield {Ire}--Princess Pearl {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) took the next step in her stride on Thursday to capture Sandown's Listed Coral National S. Settled with two behind early by Danny Tudhope, the 3-1 shot had to chase hard after the Listed First Flier S. runner-up Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) inside the final two furlongs and despite running away from the whip initially focused enough to run down that visitor...

William Haggas's stable is in scintillating form at present and Sunderland Holding's My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) further emphasised that with success in Thursday's Listed Heron S. at Sandown. Sent off the 7-4 joint-favourite alongside the returning G3 Solario S. winner Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), the Apr. 16 Newbury maiden winner was settled in third early by Tom Marquand as the other market-leader set off in front. Wound up in early straight, the homebred half-brother to Wednesday's 12-length Listed Rothesay S. winner My Astra (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. Thursday's Observations features The Queen's group winner Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).   5.16 ParisLongchamp, Listed, €55,000, 3yo, f, 9fT RACLETTE (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lines up for this Prix Finlande on the back of a disappointing eighth in the G3 Prix de la Grotte here...

The birds were hoarse about Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) ahead of her 3-year-old bow on a Sandown card that John Gosden takes very seriously and the major Oaks mover did not disappoint as she galloped to a 9 1/2-length success in Friday's Nordoff Robbins Charlie Watts Memorial Fillies' Novice S. Sent off the 5-4 favourite for the 10-furlong contest won in similarly devastating fashion by the stable's Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) in 2008, the bay who races for Tactful Finance stuck close to the leader...

Last year's G3 Sandown Classic Trial was a momentous renewal and Friday's is another to keep a close eye on after a trio of likely types finished clear led home by Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Last seen finishing runner-up in Pontefract's Listed Silver Tankard S. in October, Juddmonte's imposing bay raced freely for Rob Hornby tracking the 6-5 favourite Goldspur (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) throughout the early stages. Edging ahead a furlong from home, the 5-1 shot was initially wayward but honest enough to give extra and hold off the late...

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 full-sister to Group 1 winner and young sire Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). 16.10 Sandown, Nov, £11,000, 3yo, f, 9f 209yT Lord Lloyd Webber's untried DARMOISELLE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a daughter of MG1SW distaffer Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and thus a...

Godolphin's annus mirabilis shows no sign of halting, with Wednesday's "Breeders' Day" card at Sandown playing host to one of the operation's more promising juveniles seen out so far. Debuting over a mile on soft ground in the Time Test EBF Novice S., the Charlie Appleby-trained colt Goldspur (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) streaked to a 6 1/2-length success to become the 16th TDN Rising Star by his sire sensation. Out of the G2 Lancashire Oaks and G3 Prix Minerve winner Pomology (Arch), the bay raced in second throughout the early stages...

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 a son of Grade I winner Daisy Devine (Kafwain). 12.58 Deauville, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 2yo, c/g, 8fT Flaxman Stables Ireland's FOR ALL MANKIND (Into Mischief), a Francis-Henri Graffard trainee, is a son of GI Jenny Wiley S. victrix Daisy Devine (Kafwain) and one of eight newcomers...

As York's Ebor festival draws to a close, with the ever-popular £500,000 handicap after which it is named the feature event on the Knavesmire, Saturday has something for every angle with abundant pattern-race action across three countries thrown into the bargain. While the 22-strong field assembled for the extended 15-furlong Ebor headed by the May 27 G3 Brigadier Gerard S. and July 2 Listed Gala S.-winning veteran Euchen Glen (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) offers a punting puzzle in Europe's version of the Melbourne Cup, the purists can revel in a string...

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 half-brother to Group 1 winner Quadrilateral (GB). 1.35 Sandown, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT THESIS (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is an intriguing newcomer in the Juddmonte silks for the Roger Charlton stable, being a half-brother to their G1 Fillies' Mile-winning Quadrilateral (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Also a full-brother...

Lanwades stallion Bobby's Kitten (Kitten's Joy), whose daughter Sandrine (GB) added last week's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. to her victory in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot, was represented by his first winner from his lone Southern Hemisphere-sired crop when the debuting Cecil Street Lad (Aus) ran out a 3/4-length winner Wednesday at Sandown in Victoria. Bred and raised by Olly Tait's Twin Hills Farm in New South Wales, the gelded son of Just A Girl (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) was the $4.40 (17-5) second favorite...

Tactical nuance will be the order of the day in Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse, with Sandown's prestige affair hosting a trio of male thoroughbreds who have been tested and proven internationally and just one other very much on the fringe. With the big three of Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) responsible for nine top-level victories between them in this country, France, Dubai and Australia, this renewal really does offer something different. All of them have a largely consistent profile with...