Sea the Stars (Ire)

Bringing genuine star quality to Saturday's G1 Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes, the Gosdens' Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) makes her belated Curragh debut having missed the 2022 Irish Oaks due to a freak aviation issue. What would have happened had her flight not been cancelled that July we'll never know, but her performance in last year's G1 Coronation Cup tells us she probably would have a Classic on her portfolio. Almost certainly guaranteed to be suited by this fair, galloping track, the 5-year-old may be peaking...

Wednesday's Listed Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Naas Oaks Trial looked a hot contest beforehand and it proved just that as The Aga Khan unearthed another 2024 Classic contender in Hanalia (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Hanakiyya {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Settled in rear by Ben Coen early, the 16-1 shot who had taken a 10-furlong Curragh maiden last month was in the right place with the pace on up front and the pressure turned up in early straight. Launched wide to overhaul the Ger Lyons representative Bellezza (Ire) (Siyouni...

Runner-up in this track's Listed Noblesse S. and in The Curragh's Listed Orby S. in her prior two starts this term, The Aga Khan's Sumiha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) stepped up a notch on Friday evening to garner a breakthrough win in Cork's G3 Darley Munster Oaks. Anchored towards the back early by Chris Hayes, the Dermot Weld-trained relative of Sinndar (Ire) stayed on resolutely to collar Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) passing the two-furlong pole and register a 1 1/4-length success as the 11-8 favourite. "It was run at...

Juddmonte's previously unraced Zilfee (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Concentric {GB}, by Sadler's Wells), who is a half-sister to the operation's icon Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), made a winning start to her career with a gutsy effort going one yard shy of 11 furlongs in Tuesday's Unibet/EBF Maiden Fillies' S. at Kempton. 2nd-Kempton, £7,000, Mdn, 6-12, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f 219y (AWT), 2:19.59, st/sl. ZILFEE (GB) (f, 3, Sea The Stars {Ire}--Concentric {GB} {SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776}, by Sadler's Wells) recovered from an early stumble to race fourth passing the judge first...

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 half-sister to the great Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). 17.50 Kempton, Mdn, £7,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f 219y (AWT) ZILFEE (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is the 11th foal out of Juddmonte's Concentric (GB) (Sadler's Wells), which places her in exalted company as a half-sister to the...

Relishing the step up to a mile and a half for the first time, the Wertheimers' blueblooded TDN Rising Star Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Balladeuse {Fr}, by Singspiel {Ire}) turned Sunday's G3 Prix de Royaumont at Chantilly into a procession to book her ticket to the G1 Prix de Diane. Held up towards the rear early by Maxime Guyon, the Christophe Ferland-trained homebred took off when asked in the straight and after surging to the front 300 metres out hit the line with seven lengths to spare over Vigatata...

Legend of Time (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a tiring fifth as the favorite while making his U.S debut in the GII American Turf S. on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard, could go favored again while facing six rivals as Memorial Day weekend kicks off with Saturday's GII Pennine Ridge S. at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. The Godolphin colorbearer won four of his five previous starts overseas, including three straight earlier this season at Meydan. "It was a big learning curve in that first race at Churchill,...

Newmarket's Darley Maiden Fillies' S. played host to the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of subsequent G3 Musidora S. third Infinite Cosmos (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) last term and this year's renewal produced another display of note as William Haggas trainee Sea Just In Time (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--My Timing {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) powered to a 4 3/4-length triumph in the straight 10-furlong test. The G2 Ribblesdale and G1 Irish Oaks entry employed a patient approach from the outset and was within range at the tail of...

Originally slated to contest the G2 Dante S. next month, Listed Blue Riband Trial winner Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will instead head straight to the G1 Derby on June 1, trainer Andrew Balding confirmed on Thursday. A winner of a Newmarket maiden at fourth asking in September, the King Power Racing-owned colt ran out a three-quarter length winner of the Epsom pointer on Apr. 23. "We were delighted with his win in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom and the plan now is to go straight for...

Godolphin's Ottoman Fleet (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Innevera {Fr}, by Motivator {GB}) had won one of five overseas starts since annexing last term's G3 bet365 Earl Of Sefton S. at Newmarket and made a winning European return with back-to-back victories in Wednesday's latest renewal of the nine-furlong test. The gelded 5-year-old backed up last term's success with a win in Belmont's GII Fort Marcy S. before hitting the board in June's GI Manhattan S. back in New York. He then returned off a sabbatical to place in Meydan's G2 Al...

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 relative of star Group 1 filly Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 19.30 Dundalk, Mdn, €13,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f 150y (AWT) MOTHER NATURE (IRE) (Justify) is an eyecatcher as the first foal out of the maiden winner Heaven On Earth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is in turn...

The Tattersalls March sale catalogue, which takes place on Wednesday, Mar. 27 at Newmarket's Park Paddocks, is now available online. The sale comprises of both Flat and NH prospects with 85 lots total, highlighted by an eight horse draft from Godolphin led by 2021 G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy-placed Brilliant Light (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Also catalogued is Floral Melody (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), a 2-year-old half-sister to SW & GSP-Eng Kylian (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) as well as stakes-placed Remarkable Force (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and several winning...