Observations On Sunday's European Racing Scene

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. Sunday's Insights features action from Britain and France

2.05 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €35,000, 3yo, c/g, 10 1/2fT

PHARAONIC (GB) (Dansili {GB}) returns to the scene of his debut win over a mile in October for Khalid Abdullah and Andre Fabre and remains a fascinating prospect for the middle-distance Classics as a half-brother to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) immediately related to some strong stayers. Another unexposed type in the line-up is Guy Heald's My Scholar (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}), a Henri-Alex Pantall-trained colt who upset a Fabre runner in Mightily (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a half to Manduro (Ger), at Compiegne last month.

2.15 Doncaster, Mdn, £5,000, 3yo, 7fT

BENBATL (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the first foal out of the G1 Prix de l'Opera and GI Flower Bowl Invitational heroine Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk) who starts out for Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor stable. It is likely that the Derby-entered colt, whose second dam Bahr (GB) (Generous {Ire}) was runner-up in the G1 Epsom Oaks and successful in the G2 Ribblesdale S. and G3 Musidora S., will need further than this trip but he has obviously shown himself sharp enough at home.

2.45 Doncaster, Mdn, £5,000, 3yo, 7fT

DREAM CASTLE (GB) (Frankel (GB)">Frankel {GB}) is another unraced colt for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor to attract attention in division two of this maiden, being a son of the operation's G2 Flying Childers S. scorer Sand Vixen (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Up against 11 rivals here, they include Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum's once-raced Loujain (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a John Gosden-trained half-brother to the stable's G2 Queen Mary S. winner and G1 1000 Guineas third Maqaasid (GB) (Green Desert).

3.15 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €35,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT

YAABALADY (Smart Strike) bids to build on a smooth win over 9 1/2 furlongs on Deauville's Polytrack at the start of last month for the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum-Jean-Claude Rouget connection. The granddaughter of Golden Apples (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) has already received a boost after the runner-up in that contest Indian Skies (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) scored subsequently and she holds pole position in an intriguing contest which includes LNJ Foxwoods's Chantilly scorer Golden Attitude (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), a Freddy Head-trained relative of the great Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa).