Shamardal

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. Monday's Observations features a Shamardal half-brother to Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). 1.20 Killarney, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 8f 60yT WATER NYMPH (IRE) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), one of two Ballydoyle representatives in the line-up, is a half-sister to the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. heroine Fancy Blue (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 features a Shamardal filly out of an Oaks second.    3.15 York, Cond, £100,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT STREETS OF GOLD (IRE) (Havana Gold {Ire}) has been a revelation this season for the Eve Johnson Houghton stable and having captured the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale S. is...

by Emma Berry, Brian Sheerin & Sue Finley DEAUVILLE, France--A Shamardal colt with rarity value to add to his illustrious family ties was the sole millionaire yearling during the opening session of the Arqana August Sale when selling for €1.6 million from Gestut Ammerland to Godolphin. Bred by one of the most respected studs in Europe, the close relation to dual Classic winner and leading sire Lope De Vega (Ire) was the stand-out on a day which had a strong clearance rate for an elite sale of 84%, with the...

Earle Mack's Cash (Ire) (Shamardal), who ran second in Sandown's Apr. 22 G3 bet365 Classic Trial by only a short head to Juddmonte's Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), will make his next start in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club on June 5, according to Mack's British-based racing manager Anthony Burke. Trained by David Simcock, the colt broke his maiden at first asking going a mile at Newmarket last October. He was withdrawn from the G1 Cazoo Derby field earlier this week. Burke said, "He goes to the French Derby. We...

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 a pair of Kingman (GB) colts at Naas.   2.50 Naas, Cond, €22,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT AGE OF KINGS (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is the first foal out of the G2 May Hill S. winner Turret Rocks (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who debuts for Westerberg and Coolmore...

The betting for the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas suggests that Godolphin has a very strong hand for Europe's early Classics, with Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) a solid favourite and Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) a clear second pick. However, such strength in depth brings its own complications. The European calendar boasts three principal Guineas races (chronologically, in Great Britain, France and Ireland) and the obvious aspiration when one has the two most likely candidates is to win all three.  It is a tough, albeit not impossible, assignment for one horse alone,...

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 dual group winner Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). 1.15 Newmarket, Mdn, £10,000, 3yo, f, 7fT ENSHRINE (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is a half-sister to Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), whose three runs for Cheveley Park Stud and William Haggas last term resulted...

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 full-sister to dual juvenile Group 1 winner Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal). 5.00 Southwell, Novice, £7,300, 3yo, 8f 13y (AWT) SHARP FRANK (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is an intriguing newcomer for his owner-breeders Cayton Park Stud, being a son of the GII Lake Placid S. winner and GI...

Five-time Group 1 winner Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), and the Classic-winning Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) all have had their first mares scanned in foal, Darley Europe announced on Monday. Each stallion also has a full book. A crack miler, Palace Pier stands for £55,000 at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket. Also, a winner of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, Space Blues commands €17,500 at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. Rounding out the trio, Victor Ludorum landed the G1 Prix...

A filly, born on Jan. 16 at Plantation Stud Out of the group-placed multiple winner Achnaha (Ire) (Haatef), from the family of stakes-winning 2-year-old and producer Dusky Queen (Ire), and G3 Sweet Solera S. winner Albabilia (Ire) "[She is an] attractive, correct bay filly with loads of substance. We are very happy with her," said Plantation Stud's James Berney. "We used Earthlight as he was a very high-class racehorse, being champion 2-year-old in France and a son of Shamardal out of a talented racemare. He looks to have all the...

For any breeder of Thoroughbreds, the opportunity to watch one's carefully cultivated lines thrive across generations must be one of the greatest rewards that can be derived. The team at Darley can take pride, then, in fact that it has three Group 1-winning stallions by its own sires with their first crops to sell at the upcoming foals sales. Masar (Ire) will be remembered as a true game-changer for Godolphin on the racecourse. By emulating his sire New Approach (Ire) in winning the G1 Derby, Masar became the first blue...

Three-time Group 1 winner Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal--Tarana {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) has been retired and will become a broodmare for her owner/breeder, His Highness The Aga Khan. "Happy retirement to the brilliant Tarnawa, winner of three Group 1 races: Prix Vermeille, Prix de l'Opera, Breeders' Cup Turf," The Aga Khan Studs tweeted on Thursday. "We look forward to her new career as a broodmare." Trained by Dermot Weld, the daughter of the dual stakes winner and G3 Curragh Cup third Tarana was stakes-placed at two and won a trio...