Shalaa (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. Friday's Observations feature the debut of a half-sister to a Classic winner. 14.00 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, f, 10fT THE PLANETS (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is a half-sister to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Study Of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who debuts for the...

Arqana's inaugural September Yearling Sale, a replacement for the v.2 Yearling Sale, started its two-day run on Thursday, and a smart colt by the former French-based stallion Toronado (Ire) brought a session-topping bid of €120,000 from Mathieu Alex on behalf of Pauline Chehboub's SAS Yellow Agency. Part of the Fairway Consignment draft and already named Tomokay (Fr), lot 34 is the fifth foal from his dam, the winning Hold That Tiger mare Loumaxaye (Fr). His half-brother Hayejohn (Fr), by first-season sire Johnny Barnes (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), carried all before him...

Al Shaqab Racing's €80,000 Arqana September graduate Welwal (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}, who snagged two of three juvenile outings last term, went postward for Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau at ParisLongchamp coming back off a Mar. 22 conditions second at Chantilly and was comfortably on top at the end of the one-mile test. Steadied to race behind the leaders in sixth for the most part, the 28-5 chance made headway under pressure in the straight to challenge with 300 metres remaining and was ridden out in the dying embers to deny...

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 son of MG1SW Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). 11.50 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT EREVANN (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a son of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who starts out for...

Group 1 winner No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}--Rapacity Alexander {Ire}, by Dandy Man {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will begin broodmare duties from 2022, trainer Jessica Harrington announced via Twitter on Wednesday. Bred by Noel O'Callaghan's Mountarmstrong Stud, the €190,000 Goffs Orby RNA yearling raced for Charles, Noel and Paul O'Callaghan. She won at second asking at Roscommon last July and ran fourth in the G2 Prix du Calvados in August of 2020 before taking second in a listed race at Leopardstown that September. The bay ended...

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 'TDN Rising Star's at Newbury and Chantilly. 13.00 Ayr, Nov, £14,000, 2yo, 7f 50yT Jaber Abdullah's 120,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling MARHABA THE CHAMP (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is a son of MGSW G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye...

Jessica Harrington trainee No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) came back off a break to finish 10th behind the reopposing G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in last month's G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville and stepped forward to shock a stellar field in Saturday's G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron S. at Leopardstown. She had previously backed up a solid five-race juvenile campaign to snag The Curragh's May 3 Athasi S. on seasonal return and hit the board back there in the May 23 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas...

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 MG1SW Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). 1.25 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT BLUEGRASS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal out of the G1 Commonwealth Cup and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to race for Coolmore, who paid...

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. Tuesday's Observations features daughters of Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) and Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa). 2.20 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, f, 8fT PARIS (FR) (Shalaa {Ire}), the second foal and the first filly out of the remarkable dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), starts out...

An eight strong roster at Haras de Bouquetot, anchored by MG1SW Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and new recruit and G1SW Wooded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB})-both at €15,000, was announced by Al Shaqab on Thursday. The former has already sired 16 winners, among them Australian Group 3 winner Shaquero (Aus). In addition, he has a quartet of stakes placed runners worldwide, including G3 Prix Eclipse bridesmaid Legal Attack (GB). Wooded, who won the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines on Arc Day, also won May's G3 Prix Texanita. Toronado...

The 784-strong Arqana-Osarus October Yearling Sale catalogue is now online. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the sale has been completely restructured combining the Arqana October Yearling Sale and the Osarus September Yearling Sale, running from Oct. 19-Oct. 23. Alumni of the October sale include Group 3 winner and dual Classic bridesmaid The Summit (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), G1 Prix Jean Romanet scorer Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), MGISW Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), G1 French 1000 Guineas runner-up Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Basset {GB}), and GSWs Policy of...

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. Tuesday's Insights features a Sea The Stars (Ire) filly out of a MG1SW. 2.25 Deauville, Mdn, €22,000, unraced 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT His Highness The Aga Khan's ERDANA (FR) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is the first foal produced by Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a former Jean-Claude Rouget incumbent whose...