Toulouse

Spring is in the air at last and with it came the first of several Jean-Claude Rouget Classic hopefuls at Toulouse on Wednesday evening. Step forward the unbeaten Alain Jathiere homebred Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}--Vadyska {Ire}, by So You Think {NZ}), whose Prix Torrestrella tour de force created an exciting opening verse to the Pau-based maestro's 2024 address. "It's going to be a long season", he quipped in his post-race analysis on the Equidia channel, but if this impressive new TDN Rising Star is anything to go by it will...

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 brother to Grade I winner Adhamo.   18.21 Toulouse, Mdn, €21,000, 3yo, c/g, 10 1/2fT QUANTUM (FR) (Intello {Ger}) is the sole debutante in the line-up, but is a significant runner as a full-brother to the 2022 GI United Nations S. hero Adhamo (Ire). Related...

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 half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Ervedya: HALF TO ERVEDYA DEBUTS AT TOULOUSE 5.32 Toulouse, Debutantes, €16,000, 3yo, 10 1/2fT EREVIYA (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) makes her entrance on a low-key card, but as a half-sister to the star mare Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is certain...

Haras de Bouquetot's first-season sire Al Wukair (Ire) (by Dream Ahead) was off the mark at Toulouse on Wednesday as the filly Curaro Light (Fr) took the six-furlong conditions race, the Prix de la Route de Saint-Simon. Fourth on debut at Tarbes May 2, the 18-1 shot raced with two behind early before staying on to gain the advantage with 150 metres remaining. Tackled by Le Houlme (Fr) (Recorder {GB}) on the run to the line, the bay dug in to score by a short head for the Maurizio Guarnieri...

French racing will return behind closed doors on Monday after being off since Mar. 16 due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, and the initial three cards at ParisLongchamp, Toulouse and Compiegne have drawn a whopping 1,069 entries. ParisLongchamp, which received clearance on Monday to stage its meeting in the nation's capital, has drawn a total of 257 entries across 10 races. The card's feature races are the G2 Prix d'Harcourt and Group 3 Prix la Grotte, Prix de Fontainebleau and G3 Prix de Saint-Georges. Last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club...

The French racing community received good news on Monday, with the confirmation that racing will be authorised in Paris on May 11. Paris had been declared a "red zone" under the coronavirus lockdown restrictions in France, but France Galop President Edouard de Rothschild tweeted the positive news on Monday morning. "We obtained and received from the Prefecture de Police de Paris the authorisation to resume racing on May 11," de Rothschild tweeted. "This is very good news and a real victory!" The French government had earlier announced its support of...