Westerberg

Erstwhile G1 Cazoo Derby hopeful High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has emerged from his third-place run in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. in good order. Trainer Aidan O'Brien is expecting more improvement from the previously unbeaten G2 Beresford S. victor. The colt had turned in unsatisfactory bloodwork earlier this month which had ruled him out of a start in the Lingfield Derby Trial and instead had seen him re-directed to the Knavesmire. "High Definition is in good form," said Aidan O'Brien of the Coolmore parterns/Westerberg runner. "He...

Another Caravaggio, another TDN Rising Star as the highly impressive Contarelli Chapel (Ire) made her mark in a smart-looking field gathered for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over near six furlongs at Naas on Monday. A half-sister to last year's G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. heroine Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the January-foaled grey who races for Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor and Smith was marginally in front from the break and completely comfortable setting the pace under a motionless Ryan Moore. It was passing the...

The first runner for her exciting first-season sire, Tenebrism (Caravaggio) also carried the mantle of Ballydoyle's first juvenile runner of 2021 into Sunday's five-furlong juvenile opener at Naas. Not that she comprehended the gravitas of the moment, but the manner in which the daughter of the high-class Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) dealt with the task in hand could not have been more pleasing for her high-profile connections. In readily dismissing her peers in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden staged on soft ground, she instantly set a lofty standard...

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. Today's Observations features one of the sales ring stars of 2019. 12.50 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2f (AWT) MAGIC HOUR (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was at €2.2-million the second highest-priced lot at the 2019 Goffs Orby Sale when purchased by Westerberg Limited's Georg von Opel. A full-sister to...

It was 11 years ago that Xtension (Ire) (Xaar {GB}) became only the second group winner for his trainer Clive Cox when landing the G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. under Adam Kirby. In the intervening years, Cox and Kirby have become a force to be reckoned with, particularly in the major sprint contests and often with horses bought relatively inexpensively by the trainer. Xtension was himself a €15,000 yearling purchase from his breeder Paul McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud, and he was later sold on as a 3-year-old to race in...

Capping a week to remember even by his exalted standards, Frankie Dettori dropped in on Dusseldorf to whip up the crowd as he steered the Westerberg colour-bearer Miss Yoda (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) to glory in the G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana. On the front from the outset and allowed her own terms, the June 5 Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner was only headed briefly in early straight as Silence Please (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) loomed but when shaken up forged a 3/4-of-a-length success from Zamrud (Ger) (Samum {Ger}), who nosed...

There were days when we were drumming our fingers on our at-home desks or dining tables wondering what on earth to write about for tomorrow. But now that the shock of racing's shutdown has been completely erased by the return, finally, of racing in Ireland to complete a European full set, the panic is not what to write but how on earth to keep up with it all. No complaints here. The last few weeks since the French return in mid-May and Britain just over a week ago have provided...