TDN Rising Star

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 returning 'TDN Rising Star'. 13.25 Clairefontaine, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 8fT ALCANTOR (FR) (New Bay {GB}) is moved up to a mile from six furlongs by Andre Fabre, having lacked the raw pace to deal with the subsequent G3 Prix de Cabourg third Havana Cigar (GB)...

The field for Tuesday's G2 World Pool Lennox S. at Goodwood was reduced by a third after three of the nine original nominees were withdrawn, but nonetheless produced a thrilling finish in which Marc Chan's 2021 winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Ceilidh House {GB}, by Selkirk) defeated G1 Poule d'Essai de Poulains runner-up Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) to become the third dual winner of the seven-furlong contest. Last term's G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint hero was swiftly into stride...

There was a buzz in the air building up to Sunday's Prix de Crevecoeur at Deauville, the latest instalment of France Galop's series of premium races for unraced 2-year-olds, and the 7 1/2-furlong renowned staging post did not disappoint as His Highness The Aga Khan's homebred Elbaz (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}--Elennga {Fr}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}) delivered an impressive debut display. The 9-5 favourite broke alertly and was reined back to stalk all five rivals as the whipper-in through halfway. Making eyecatching headway in the straight, he quickened in impressive...

When Hall of Famer Bob Baffert debuts a well-bred 2-year-old colt at Del Mar's summer meeting, the horse racing world pauses to pay attention. Taking money opposite the MyRacehorse entry of A Day to Remember (American Pharoah), Heartland (Justify) proved his mettle with a near last-to-first effort to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star'. Off at 4-5 as the gates opened, the race looked like it may be over for the colt before it even began when Heartland ducked to the inside in the opening strides and nearly unseated jockey...

There was a buzz about Juddmonte's Task Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the 10th foal produced by unique dual Classic heroine Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy {GB}), as he went postward as the even-money favourite for Saturday evening's Starman At Tally Ho Stud British EBF Maiden S. at Salisbury. He proved why as he returned with a TDN Rising Star rosette after delivering a deeply promising 3 1/4-length success in the six-furlong contest. Swiftly into stride from an outer stall, the G2 Champagne S. entry cut across to shadow the pace in...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Shambolic {Ire}, by Shamardal), who made all for a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette with an impressive 2 3/4-length debut tally tackling seven furlongs at the Curragh in her only prior start, maintained her perfect record with a carbon-copy performance in Thursday's G3 Jockey Club Of Turkey Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown. The prohibitively priced 1-4 favourite was slick from the inside gate and seized an early two length advantage in this black-type bow. Untroubled through halfway, she was shaken up with 1 1/2...

Owen Burrows snagged the 2020 edition of Doncaster's Simon Piggott Memorial EBF Novice S. with subsequent G2 Champagne S. runner-up Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal) and he has another contender for the upper levels after Brook Farm Bloodstock's War Rooms (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}--Apticanti, by Aptitude) powered to 'TDN Rising Stardom' with an impressive debut display in the seven-furlong test. The 11-2 chance raced in mid division after a stuttering start. Easing closer to the front rank once past halfway, he surged to the front in taking fashion approaching the final furlong and...

While the racing world awaits the confirmed line-up for one of the most exciting runnings of the King George in decades, the aperitif is served by Leopardstown on Thursday with some vital staging posts for the 2024 Classic generation. While the card's feature is the G2 Romanised Minstrel S., in which the 3-year-old fillies Zarinsk (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and Tarawa (Ire) (Shamardal) look to have an edge on the older brigade, the most intriguing race is the G3 Jockey Club of Turkey Silver Flash S. for the fillies because that's...

The GII Honorable Miss H. at Saratoga is named after the highly-successful multiple stakes-winning mare from the 1970s. Owned by Edith Bancroft's sons who carried on the family tradition established by their grandfather, William Woodward Sr., the pair founded Pen-Y-Bryn Farm after their own mother's passing. With only four entered, this year's edition is highlighted by the Saratoga return of '21 champion 2-year-old filly and MGISW Echo Zulu (Gun Runner). The Steve Asmussen trainee won her juvenile debut at the Spa when she soared to become a 'TDN Rising Star'...

Aidan O'Brien had annexed six of the last 10 renewals of the Curragh's Juddmonte Irish EBF Maiden, among them 2013 winner Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), and he claimed Saturday's latest edition with Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who collected a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette with a taking performance in the seven-furlong test. The eventual winner was steadily away and raced in a close-up third initially and eased into second approaching halfway. Hitting the front soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, the well-backed 5-4 favourite was never seriously threatened thereafter and...

With a spring in his step from the word go, Timberlake (Into Mischief) lived up to his famous name on Friday afternoon at Ellis Park when he broke his maiden impressively and attained 'TDN Rising Star' status. With blinkers on and traversing seven furlongs over the dirt as the 5-4 favorite, Timberlake controlled the pace throughout and, while jockey Florent Geroux served as a passenger, increased his margin around the far turn. Cruising down the lane, the bay colt was geared down with less than a furlong left and won...

Scotland (Good Magic) came into the Curlin S. a head shy of perfection but with less than a neck for his combined win margins, and put on a show to secure his career-first black-type in the race named for his paternal grandsire. A head winner on unveiling Mar. 4 at Hallandale, and a nose second to SP Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance) in a Apr. 23 Keeneland allowance two back, he was a gusty head winner last out June 3 beneath the Twin Spires over Cagliostro (Upstart). Moving to secure his spot...