Observations: Oct. 23, 2015

2.00 Doncaster, Mdn, £5,000, 2yo, f, 8fT

SOUTHERN STARS (GB) (Smart Strike) is the first progeny out of the star mare Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) to grace the track and starts in the colors of her breeder Teruya Yoshida for the John Gosden stable. The February-foaled daughter of the 2009 G1 Prix de Diane, G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix Saint-Alary, 2010 Prix Jean Romanet and 2011 GI Beverly D. S. and GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. heroine meets another debutante of note in Andrew Rosen and Edward Easton’s 260,000gns purchase September Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), a Brian Meehan trainee whose dam is a half to Angara (GB) (Alzao) and who has already produced the 2013 G1 Racing Post Trophy third Altruistic (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

2.25 Newbury, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 8fT

MIDTERM (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is another significant newcomer to race on Friday, being the first foal out of the six-times Group 1 winner Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Sir Michael Stoute introduces Khalid Abdullah’s colt, who encounters another with top connections in Qatar Racing Limited’s Goldmember (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a 300,000gns TAOCT half-brother to last year’s G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Ribbons (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) from the David Simcock stable.

2.35 Doncaster, Mdn, £5,000, 2yo, 7fT

ROYAL ARTILLERY (War Front) is another intriguing newcomer from the Gosden stable which is in the ascendant at present and this time it is Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith who are represented. Out of the 2007 GII Dance Smartly S. scorer Masseuse (Dynaformer), the $450,000 Fasig-Tipton graduate is joined by the same barn’s Kalkrand (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a fellow newcomer who sports the Godolphin silks and is a half-brother to the 2014 G1 Metropolitan winner Opinion (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and full-brother to the GSW Fox Hunt (Ire).

4.45 Newbury, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 8fT

ULYSSES (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is yet another blueblood off the mark on a day replete with them, this time being a son of the 2007 G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Light Shift (Kingmambo), who is herself a half to Shiva (Jpn) (Hector Protector). Sir Michael Stoute launches the Niarchos Family’s March-foaled chestnut, who will have to be smart to deal with Kirsten Rausing’s experienced Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), a David Simcock-trained son of the MG1SW Albanova (GB) (Alzao).