Wootton Bassett (GB)

Benefitting from the ideal pace set-up in Saturday's G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at The Curragh, Ballydoyle's G2 Railway Stakes winner Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Immortal Verse {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) swooped to defy a penalty and continue his perfect record under Ryan Moore. Settled in third early with the pace generously provided by Rock Of Cashel (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the 5-6 favourite surged by the G3 Tyros Stakes winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) a furlong out en route to a length...

Building on her debut second over seven furlongs at Leopardstown last month, Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Chantez (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Lady Lara {Ire}, by Excellent Art {GB}) returned to the same course and distance to stamp her authority on the card's opening maiden on Thursday. Another from Ger Lyons' talent-packed team of juvenile fillies, the 220,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase was restrained to track the leading duo by Colin Keane throughout the early stages. Let loose passing the two-furlong pole, the 5-6 favourite whose GII Honey Fox Stakes-winning dam...

Wednesday's seven-furlong novice at Kempton looked an intriguing affair on paper and Juddmonte's newcomer Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Nisriyna {Ire}, by Intikhab) came through his first test with flying colours for the Gosdens. A half-brother to the stable's dual group 3 winner and G1 St Leger runner-up Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the 9-4 second favourite recovered from a tardy start to race in mid-division early under Kieran Shoemark. Staying on strongly to lead passing the furlong pole, the €340,000 Goffs November Foal Sale graduate asserted to beat Afentiko (Ire) (Hello...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 half-brother to Coolmore sire Sioux Nation. 15.45 Pontefract, Mdn, £22,000, 2yo, 6fT DASH DIZZY (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) represents Nurlan Bizakov and the Charlie Johnston stable and is a half-brother to Scat Daddy's G1 Phoenix Stakes and G2 Norfolk Stakes-winning sire Sioux Nation. Unsold at...

Joseph O'Brien trainee Apples And Bananas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Simannka {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) followed up a June 29 debut sixth at the Curragh with a breakthrough score at Killarney last month and continued on the upgrade with a career high in Saturday's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at Deauville. Breaking well to assert for an early lead, the 2-1 favourite was comfortable on the front end until coming under pressure in the straight and kept on strongly under continued rousting inside the final 300 metres to withstand...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 full-brother to multiple group winner Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). 16.05 Newbury, Mdn, £40,000, 2yo, 7fT FITZMAURICE (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) makes his debut at the track that hosted his multiple group-winning full-brother Chindit (Ire) on five occasions, with a win in the G3 Greenham...

Over halfway through Friday's session of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, a son of Wootton Bassett (GB) (lot 105) was the first yearling to breach the seven-figure mark, hammering for €1.4 million to John Stewart of Resolute Bloodstock. Consigned by Haras d'Etreham, the dark bay is a full-brother to GIII Franklin-Simpson Stakes hero Guildsman (Fr). Their dam, Dardiza (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), is a half-sister to the dam of world-beater and current Etreham stallion Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).   The seven figure mark has been broken at the ⛱️#AugustSale...

Making an instant impact in Thursday's Arqana Series Des Poulains at Deauville, Peter Maher, Carl Fitzgerald and John Baxter's Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Koubalibre {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) became his sire's ninth TDN Rising Star. Out of a half-sister to the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the €220,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate soon had control on the front end under Aurelien Lemaitre. Sent into the clear passing the furlong pole, the Christopher Head-trained 23-10 favourite registered an impressive 3 1/2-length success from Mighty Boy...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 pricy son of Into Mischief.   3.25 Dundalk, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 8f (AWT) BERNARD SHAW (Into Mischief) bids to build on his highly encouraging debut fourth under John Velazquez in The Curragh's Barronstown Stud Maiden in June in this race won in the last two...

Proving that the mile-and-a-half trip holds no fears, Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Love On My Mind {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) made his first start in the Masaaki Matsushima silks a resoundingly impressive one as he got back on the group 1-winning trail in Sunday's Grosser Preis von Berlin. Always happy in the box seat under Dylan Browne McMonagle, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Arc hopeful stayed on powerfully to take control 300 metres from the finish and stormed to a five-length success from Narrativo (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), with Best Of Lips...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 son of Tepin (Bernstein). 13.45 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 7fT DELACROIX (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the first big Ballydoyle runner on a big day for the stable and looks certain to start at prohibitive odds given the promise he showed when second on his Leopardstown...

Group 1 winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will race for the Al Riffa Syndicate and Masaaki Matsushima beginning in Sunday's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin. The Joseph O'Brien trainee's long-term goal remains the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Matsushima has already enjoyed some success in Europe as the part-owner of G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The 4-year-old won the G1 National Stakes at two, and added runner-up finishes in both the G3 International S. and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. Fourth in the...