Europe

NEWMARKET, UK -- After a weekend of brutally cold winds and rain at Park Paddocks, summer decided to reappear to bless the final yearling viewing day at Tattersalls with warm sunshine. An omen of bright days ahead, perhaps? Or if you're not a fan of symbolism, a more concrete guide to what could be in store over the next three days of Book 1 of the October Sale may have been gleaned from a car park full to the brim by early morning on Monday as the crowd rolled in...

Marcstown Ltd and Andrew Rosen's 550,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate Sacred Ground (Kingman), a John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of G1 Oaks and G1 Prix de Royallieu heroine Anapurna (Frankel), made a winning debut with a last-to-first effort in Monday's bettingsites.co.uk Betting Sites Fillies' Novice Stakes at Great Yarmouth. "It was a very pleasing debut and I thought there was plenty to like and plenty to build on," said William Buick. "She was quite professional and knew her job pretty well. She's a beautifully bred filly and is only...

One of the concerns of the most recent breeding season was the relative dearth of stallions retired to stud, particularly in Britain, for 2025. That should not be a concern for the forthcoming year, with a number of retirements already announced and more likely to follow. Leading the charge, appropriately, is Juddmonte's Lead Artist, who arrived at Banstead Manor Stud last week and is available for breeders to view during the October Sales. In a year in which Night Of Thunder has surged ahead of his own sire to head...

Ceistiu, the dam of this year's Royal Ascot and Qatar Goodwood Festival winner Merchant, will be offered at the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale, which takes place from November 21-22. The daughter of Vocalised is a full-sister to the multiple Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Steip Amach, while her half-sisters include the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes winner Ceisteach (New Approach) and Fidaaha (New Approach), the dam of last year's G1 National Stakes winner Scorthy Champ. The nine-year-old Ceistiu, who is in foal to Mehmas, the sire of...

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. Monday's Observations features a daughter of Anapurna. 3.30 Yarmouth, Novice, 2yo, f, 8f 3yT SACRED GROUND (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is the third foal out of Frankel's Oaks and Prix de Royallieu heroine Anapurna who cost Marcstown and Andrew Rosen 550,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1. The John and Thady...

In many ways, the seven-furlong G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret around ParisLongchamp's bends was tailor-made for Maranoa Charlie (Wootton Bassett) and with the all-important draw and testing ground in his favour he was able to produce a career-defining performance on what looks to be his swansong. While this is a 'Win And You're In' for the Breeders' Cup Mile, the chances are we have seen the last of Bond Thoroughbred's high-powered cruiser who had so long promised to live up to his status as a TDN Rising Star, presented...

Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines had an open feel beforehand and there was a predictable bunch finish with Alpha Racing's Barnavara (Calyx) hanging on to clinch victory from See The Fire (Sea The Stars). Sent forward by Shane Foley to dictate, the Jessica Harrington-trained three-year-old who had been impressive in last month's Blandford kept digging in as threats emerged on either side to prevail by a short neck at 9-1. Less than a length covered the first five home, with One Look (Gleneagles) getting third, a short head behind...

Producing a stirring finale to Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, The Aga Khan Studs runner Daryz (Sea The Stars) wore down Ballydoyle's star filly Minnie Hauk (Frankel) to cap a stellar season for Francis-Henri Graffard. Having been given an unorthodox preparation for this monument which culminated in a close second to Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) in the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange, the 16-1 shot followed the pace set by the Japanese challenger with just the triple Oaks-winning 5-2 favourite to catch. Minnie Hauk looked to...

Unable to take part in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines moments before the off due to a misplaced passport, Asfoora (Flying Artie) followed all that pre-race drama with a welcome straightforward display to make history. Overpowering the outsider Jawwal (Wooded) inside the final furlong, the 5-2 favourite asserted her superiority under Oisin Murphy to record a half-length success, the first of any kind for her nation in France. The Abbaye is also a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint next month. "It's surreal--we...

Race two on Arc day saw a quickfire double for Ballydoyle and Christophe Soumillon, with Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett) making all to dominate the G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, a Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" for the Juvenile Turf. Up to this seven-furlong trip for the first time to cause a minor upset in Doncaster's G2 Champagne Stakes last month, the 4-1 shot was again placed straight on the front and despite veering off a true line in the run to the line was always in control. Aidan O'Brien,...

ParisLongchamp's Arc card got underway in style as Ballydoyle's Diamond Necklace swooped to provide St Mark's Basilica with his first Group 1 winner in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac. Sent off the favourite for the first of the fixture's six Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" races, the Listed Ingabelle Stakes winner who is a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, was always comfortable and when asked to mow down the Wertheimers' unbeaten Green Spirit (Kingman) did so without any need for the whip. "She's amazing," commented a smitten Christophe...

After Saturday's G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein hero Ridari (Churchill) (lot 56) was among those who failed to find a buyer, it was another key runner from that card, Rabbit's Foot (lot 51), who took top billing at the Arqana Arc Sale, just a few short hours after the daughter of Golden Horde had finished third in the G1 Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp. Offered by trainer Francois Rohaut, Rabbit's Foot was already a Listed winner at Toulouse and had finished third in both the G2 Prix de Malleret and G3...