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 a plethora of well-bred performers across England and Ireland.
2.35 Deauville, Mdn, €30,000, 3yo, f, 12 1/2fT
Godolphin's BLUE ILLUSION (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is out of 2011 G1 1000 Guineas, G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Blue Bunting (GB) (Dynaformer). The homebred bay, who faces seven in this marathon test, has steadily improved in each of her four starts and represents the Alex Pantall barn coming back off a third at Chateaubriant last month.
2.45 Curragh, Cond, €20,000, 2yo, 6fT
U S NAVY FLAG (War Front">War Front) bids to build on a debut fourth for Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor and Aidan O'Brien behind stablemate Dali (Scat Daddy) at Naas last month. The son of the four-times Group 1 winner Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), she runs on the same day as her full-sister Roly Poly tackles the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and is joined by two more Ballydoyle runners in Murillo (Scat Daddy), a $500,000 KEENOV purchase, and fellow newcomer War Ensign (Ire) (War Front">War Front), a half-brother to the high-class MG1SW Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
4.30 Curragh, Mdn, €13,000, 3yo/up, c/g, 10fT
WISCONSIN (JPN) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is a fascinating first-time starter for Ballydoyle, being one of the results of matings between a select few Coolmore mares to the Japanese superstar Deep Impact. In this case, the dam is the stable's prolific Group 1 winner and Irish Oaks heroine Peeping Fawn (Danehill), who has already produced the G2 Coventry S. third Sir John Hawkins (Henrythenavigator).
4.35 Ascot, Cond, £12,000, 2yo, 5fT
AQABAH (Exchange Rate), a $180,000 Keeneland September yearling and $550,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old purchase, debuts for the Charlie Appleby arm of Godolphin. His five rivals are headed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Cardsharp (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}), who was the impressive winner of a Brighton novice event for Mark Johnston earlier this month.
5.20 Lingfield, Mdn, £4,500, 3yo, f, 6fT
YARAKI (GB) (Frankel (GB)">Frankel {GB}) is a significant runner on a day replete with regally-bred individuals, being a daughter of Lael Stables's G2 Flying Childers S. winner and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp runner-up Superstar Leo (Ire) (College Chapel {GB}). That fast and precocious star of the William Haggas stable, which also has charge of this newcomer, has already produced two classy fillies for the same yard in Enticing (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Sentaril (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
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