Europe

Ah good, Book II. Even better, Book IV. This is the week when the dealers in the obvious start to get a little queasy. You know the sort: the guys whose shallow convictions can be conveniently hidden in the deep pockets required at select sales. Did they read about the possible Raphael discovered in an Aberdeenshire manor the other day? Last valued in 1899 as a £20 copy, it may now be worth closer to £20 million. Some pin-hook! In this business, of course, your blunders aren't left gathering dust...

Andre Fabre is excited about the prospect of Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) running in the G1 Cox Plate in Australia. Impressive winner of the G1 Prix du Moulin last time out--his first success at the highest level--thoughts now turn to Australia's weight-for-age championship at Moonee Valley on Oct. 22. "Everyone is very happy with Vadamos, I'm hearing good things," said Fabre. "In the morning he works like an aeroplane, but sometimes he has disappointed on track. There have been excuses sometimes, but he was very good in the Moulin and...

2.05 The Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 6fT SPIRIT OF VALOR (War Front) debuts for Stonestreet Stables, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor and Ballydoyle two weeks after being withdrawn from his intended introduction at Fairyhouse. The $850,000 KEENOV graduate, who is a half-brother to the GI Belmont S. fourth Street Life (Street Sense), meets a Jim Bolger newcomer in Holistic Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), Godolphin's descendant of the four-times Grade I winner Dispute (Danzig).

Earning TDN Rising Star status on debut over an extended mile at Leicester Sept. 6, Coronet justified that tag and favouritism with another taking performance to further enhance her reputation here. Settled towards the rear of mid-division early, the grey made stealthy progress to gain a narrow lead with 150 yards remaining and edge ahead of her stablemate Cunco and Permian to set a new juvenile course record. Out of the Listed Lord Weinstock Memorial S. winner Approach, who was second in the GII Galaxy S. and G3 May Hill...

OH YES! Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was fresh off an impressive score in last month's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh, continued a dream run for his sire and connections, leading home yet another Ballydoyle exacta in Saturday's G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket. The bay found a smooth rhythm and tracked a steady pace in fourth. Nudged along passing the two pole, the 8-11 chalk was angled into clear runway approaching the final eighth and driven out up the hill to assert by 1 1/4 lengths...

Following a sustained on-line bidding battle the 3-year-old Aga Khan bred colt Vedevani (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) has sold for €800,000 through Arqana's online bidding portal Arqanaonline. The successful bidder was Gérard Larrieu's Chantilly Bloodstock Agency on behalf of Khalifa Al Kuwari following a 25-hour long bidding process that saw eight individual bidders place a total of 47 bids on the colt who was last seen making much of the running in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last Sunday. The 'Extra Time', which guarantees all bidders a minimum...

Having gained 'TDN Rising Star' status on his winning debut at Chantilly Sept. 8, Gestut Ammerland, Newsells Park Stud and Susan Magnier's Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) returns to that venue for the G3 Prix de Conde. Trainer Andre Fabre boasts the record of seven wins in this pointer to next year's middle-distance Classics and he will know more about his colt after he has encountered two proven performers in Frankuus (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and High Alpha (Fr) (Fuisse {Fr}). The former comes here on the back of a win in...

Absent since his success in the G1 Criterium International over seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud in November, Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) returns as the season nears its end in the G3 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards Darley S. at Newmarket on Saturday. Also second in the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October, Michael Tabor's bay was one of the best of his generation and is the class act of this line-up. Interestingly, Andre Fabre has opted to send Godolphin's Ancient History (Ire) (Shamardal) across after a 10-furlong...

Saturday's G3 Dubai 100 Autumn S. at Newmarket features one who has already been in group 1 waters in the China Horse Club's Lockheed (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who bids to build on his third to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh Sept. 11. “He ran well in Ireland on ground that was a little bit too slow for him,” trainer William Haggas commented. “I nearly put him away, but the ground has stayed quick and this is the right race...

Saturday's G1 Dubai Dewhurst S. at Newmarket looks highly likely to decide the title of European champion 2-year-old, with Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) poised to assume the mantle for Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle stable, successful four times in this prestigious affair. Stepping up through the grades without giving the impression so far that he is digging into his reserves, the imposing bay faces some of Britain's premier juveniles this time. His performances when winning the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot June 18, G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown July 21 and...

4th-MLF, €27,000, Mdn, 10-7, unraced 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:38.43, gd. +ETTISAAL (GB) (f, 2, Dubawi {Ire}--Al Ishq {Fr}, by Nureyev) recovered from a sluggish departure and cut through the pack to stalk the lead in second after the initial exchanges of this first go. Nudged along passing the two pole, the 23-10 chalk quickened to the fore approaching the final furlong and coasted home under minimal coaxing thereafter to easily best Snejinska (Fr) (Sageburg {Ire}) by 1 3/4 lengths. Juddmonte's Pachinko (Tapit), a half-sister to G1 Prix Jean Romanet...

A MILE CLEAR Following his remarkable Arc one-two-three on Sunday, Aidan O'Brien was basking in yet another notable achievement at Newmarket on Friday with Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) emerging best from Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as the Ballydoyle duo pulled away from the rest in the G1 Dubai Fillies' Mile. Third last time in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. over seven furlongs at The Curragh Sept. 11, the heavily-supported 5-2 joint-favourite was waited with by Ryan Moore early but as soon as the command was given moved through to seize...