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 the promising 3-year-old Atty Persse (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and a full-sister to Cartier champion 3-year-old Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
1.50 Sandown, Hcp, £25,000, 3yo, 8f 14yT
ATTY PERSSE (IRE) (Frankel (GB)">Frankel {GB}) makes his debut in the Godolphin blue in this prestigious Esher Cup, having impressed the operation into action when scoring in the Bjorn Nielsen silks over this course and distance in September. Roger Charlton reintroduces the relative of the 1000 Guineas heroine Harayir (Gulch) against some potential improvers including George Strawbridge's Wolverhampton maiden winner Jupiter Light (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}), a John Gosden-trained son of Fantasia (GB) (Sadler's Wells).
2.40 Fontainebleau, Mdn, €25,000, 3yo, f, 13fT
FREE (FR) (Mr Sidney) is the sole debutante among 11, representing the Head family's Haras du Quesnay. Criquette Head-Maarek was able to coax a Group 1 win out of her sire half-brothers Fuisse (Fr) and Full of Gold (Fr), but she is obviously judged to be more of a staying type than the former who excelled at a mile.
3.10 Fontainebleau, Mdn, €25,000, 3yo, c/g, 13fT
MAISON D'OR (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) makes his debut for Susan Magnier, Teo Ah Khing and Mayfair Speculators and the Andre Fabre stable and will be keenly watched, having cost the partnership a cool €450,000 at Deauville in August of 2015. A son of the G2 Cape Verdi and GIII Noble Damsel S. runner-up Thai Haku (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), he is distantly related to Hernando (Fr) so it is no surprise to see him start at an extended trip.
3.20 Doncaster, Mdn, £5,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 6fT
ROUBLES (Speightstown) is only the second foal out of the brilliant Soviet Song (Ire) (Marju {Ire}), trained so skillfully by James Fanshawe for the Elite Racing Club to win five Group 1 races including the Sussex. One of a dozen sprinters in the line-up, the debutante is certain to improve for the experience.
3.55 La Teste de Buch, Mdn, €22,000, 3yo, 1 3/16mT
TROARN (FR) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) bids to build on a promising debut fourth at Chantilly earlier this month for Gerard Augustin-Normand and Antonio Caro and the Jean-Claude Rouget stable. The full-sister to last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 English and Irish Champion S. hero Almanzor (Fr) should have little trouble in getting off the mark against 10 rivals if able to repeat that level of form.
4.35 Sandown, Mdn, £10,000, 3yo, f, 10f 7yT
LOVE CONQUERS (JPN) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is an intriguing debutante for Qatar Racing Limited and Ralph Beckett in the maiden won 10 years ago by the luminary Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). The full-sister to the G1 Tokyo Yushun, or Japanese Derby, winner and sire Deep Brillante (Jpn) meets Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's 425,000gns TATFOA purchase Neshmeya (GB) (Lawman {Fr}), a Charlie Hills-trained daughter of the classy High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who has vital experience under her belt.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
