Wootton Bassett (GB)

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Set Piece in the GIII Arlington S. at Churchill Downs in June.   Another Graded Victory For Juddmonte Veteran Decorated 7-year-old Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) won the Arlington S. at Churchill Downs earlier this month for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms and trainer Brad Cox (video). The newly minted millionaire, who was runner-up in the 2021 GI Fourstardave H., was taking his fourth graded...

Team Ballydoyle got off to a perfect start on Irish 2000 Guineas day when the once-raced Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Strawberry Lace {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) powered clear of his five rivals in Saturday's Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at the Curragh for a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette. The July 2 G2 Railway S. entry lined up as the 4-6 favourite coming back off a promising debut third in this month's Listed First Flier S. and broke sharply to seize an immediate lead upped to six furlongs...

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 Insights features the unusual step down in class when Unquestionable tries a maiden off a Listed stakes placing. 15.20 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 6fT UNQUESTIONABLE (FR) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) takes the unusual step of dropping in class for a maiden on his second start, having caught the eye...

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. Sunday's Insights features the return of TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett ({GB}) at Naas. 13.45 Naas, Cond, €40,000, 2yo, 5fT RIVER TIBER (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is dropped back slightly in trip by Aidan O'Brien following his 10-length demolition job at Naas last month, for which...

Al Shaqab Racing's juvenile filly Balsam (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Bea Remembered {GB}, by Doyen {Ire}) was a two-race maiden heading into Wednesday's Listed Prix des Reves d'Or at Vichy and went home with a stakes rosette and a breakthrough success in the bag after denting a pair of unbeaten records. Balsam, let go as the 13-2 fourth choice of seven, was sharply into stride from the outside gate and occupied a prominent slot in second through halfway. Looming large on the bridle out wide to threaten the pacesetting 'TDN Rising...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Chez Pierre (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. at Keeneland earlier this month.   Chez Pierre Right At Home In Maker's Mark The ultra-consistent Chez Pierre (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}) improved his record to six-for-seven with a 3 1/2-length tally in the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. at Keeneland on Apr. 14 (video), defeating hot favourite Modern Games (GB) (Dubawi...

Some TDN Rising Stars are marginal calls, but Ballydoyle's River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Transcendence {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) entered the "no-brainer" category at Navan on Saturday with a 10-length blitz of his rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Always travelling strongly for Ryan Moore tracking the leader in the five-furlong 164 yards contest won by fellow TDN Rising Star and stablemate Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) 12 months ago, the 5-6 favourite was let loose approaching two out and devoured the uphill climb to the line...

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 colts by Wootton Bassett (GB). 14.20 Navan, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, 5f 164yT RIVER TIBER (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was spared a debut run on deep ground at The Curragh last week in the maiden won by the stable's Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never)...

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 Frankel (GB) 'TDN Rising Star'. 17.20 ParisLongchamp, Cond, €35,000, 3yo, f, 8fT KELINA (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) returns to the course and distance of her disappointing effort when last of the dozen participants in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac when last seen on Arc day. Previously...

With Ballydoyle's Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and Juddmonte's Halfway Line (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) missing from the line-up for Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau, Malcolm Parrish's American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Tres Americanqueen {Fr}, by American Post {GB}) occupied pole position for ParisLongchamp's time-honoured course-and-distance trial for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and he did not disappoint with another sharp display. Gaining a following with a six-length win over a mile at Saint-Cloud in November and a smooth three-length success in the Listed Prix Omnium II over the...

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. Sunday's Insights features the well-bred River Tiber (Ire) at The Curragh for Ballydoyle.  1.25 Curragh, Mdn, €17,000, 2yo, 6fT RIVER TIBER (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) appears the pick of the two juvenile colts from Ballydoyle making his debut in this maiden which proved such a fertile source of group...

Having wowed with a six-length win over a mile at Saint-Cloud in November, Malcolm Parrish's exciting colt American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Tres Americanqueen {Fr}, by American Post {GB}) returned to the same course and distance on Saturday to put his name among the 2023 Classic hopefuls with an impressive success in the Listed Prix Omnium II. Held up initially by Christophe Soumillon, the Yann Barberot-trained relative of the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Tres Blue (Ire) (Anabaa Blue {GB}) was cajoled forward nearing the end of the back...