Chantilly

After making sure that Ballydoyle's 1-2 favourite Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) delivered in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, Ryan Moore become the first jockey in history to win every English, Irish and French Classic. This was far from straightforward, with the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine pushed all the way to the line by the 35-1 outsider Pink Panthera (Chachnak), who nearly stole it for France under Tony Piccone, but Moore was in his usual unflinching mood to hold on by a short neck. Inis Mor (Galiway)...

In the aftermath of the Prix du Jockey Club, the Pantall family were enjoying their own red-letter day as their homebred Naomis (City Light) captured the G2 Prix de Sandringham. Coming off a win in Toulouse's Listed Prix Aymeri de Mauleon over this mile trip in April, the 20-1 shot travelled strongly under Tony Piccone tracking the leaders. Swooping on the front end a furlong out, the relative of Kirsten Rausing's stars Alborada and Alpinista hit the line with 3/4 of a length to spare over Vaticana (Goken). There was...

Aidan O'Brien left Chantilly on Sunday having created a legacy performance of training as he did here in the Arc several years ago after Constitution River led home Hawk Mountain and Montreal for a Team Ballydoyle G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club one-two-three. MV Magnier was on hand to pay tribute to the combined expertise of the master of Ballydoyle and Ryan Moore. "In fairness to Aidan, he was pretty confident coming here even though he was worried about the draw for Constitution River," he said. "Ryan gave him a...

Saturday, Carlisle, post time: 15:10, THE BETWAY LESTER PIGGOTT FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £125,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 11f 39yT Field: Azaniya (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Coedana (Ire) (King Of Change {GB}), Crepe Suzette (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Estrange (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Naga (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Patagonia Girl (GB) (Australia {GB}), Sharpen (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Waardah (Ire) (Postponed {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Moved from Haydock due to the well-documented ground concerns there, this represents a different test on a stiff track than it would have been at its traditional Merseyside home...

Saturday, Carlisle, post time: 15:10, THE BETWAY LESTER PIGGOTT FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £125,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 11f 39yT Field: Azaniya (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Coedana (Ire) (King Of Change {GB}), Crepe Suzette (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Estrange (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Naga (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Patagonia Girl (GB) (Australia {GB}), Sharpen (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Waardah (Ire) (Postponed {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Moved from Haydock due to the well-documented ground concerns there, this represents a different test on a stiff track than it would have been at its traditional Merseyside home...

Further advertising the prowess of his sire Hello Youmzain at Chantilly on Tuesday, Dostoievsky swooped to conquer in the six-furlong G3 Prix Texanita. Successful in the seven-furlong Listed Prix Saraca here in October, Alain Jathiere's homebred who is part-owned by his breeder, Gousserie Racing and Gerard Augustin-Normand had flopped when last of 10 in Deauville's G3 Prix Djebel in April but was a different proposition here. Drafting in behind the pace set by Samangan (Blue Point) with Christophe Soumillon keen to get cover, the Mauricio Delcher Sanchez-trained 9-1 shot was launched to pass...

She may have missed her initial target this year, but Zayida (Frankel) proved on Tuesday that she is firmly in the Prix de Diane reckoning for the The Aga Khan Studs with a clear-cut win in Chantilly's Listed Prix Finlande. Only fourth over this nine-furlong trip on her seasonal bow in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Vanteaux in early April, the granddaughter of Zarkava (Zamindar) had enjoyed a confidence boost in a course-and-distance conditions event later that month and upped her game with a dominant display here. Always travelling easily stalking the...

If Hawk Mountain wins the Prix du Jockey Club, Aidan O'Brien may look back on his decision to send the son of Wootton Bassett to Chantilly for his prep as the key event. Errant and lairy at times in front during Monday's nine-furlong G3 Prix de Guiche, last year's Futurity Trophy and Beresford winner kept giving his rivals hope but ultimately was never going to be beaten and hit the line strong with 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Lord Clover (Siyouni). Campacite (Zarak) was a head further back in...

Monday, Curragh, Ireland, post time: 16:10, CLEM MURPHY MEMORIAL IRISH EUROPEAN BREEDERS FUND MOORESBRIDGE STAKES-G2, €78,000, 4yo/up, 10f 0y Field: Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Edward Hamilton (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Tiberius Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Beset (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), Cercene (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Shaool (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}). TDN Analysis: This sees the return of the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk, who went so close in the Arc against what we now know is a genuine top colt. She won...

Tuesday, Epsom, post time: 14:40, THE BETFRED BLUE RIBAND TRIAL STAKES-Listed, £60,000, 3yo, 10f 17yT Field: Balzac (Ger) (Japan {GB}), Menzies (Ire) (Australia {GB}), New Zealand (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Pearl River (GB) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Rebel Rocker (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), Saxon Street (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). TDN Analysis: Ballydoyle send New Zealand to this Derby prep and his fifth in the Criterium International makes him the clear standard-setter, but the stable's three-year-olds are needing their reintroductions more than ever this year and he could be vulnerable. Balzac won over a...

12.17 Chantilly, Debutantes, 3yo, f, 8fT DEMAH (IRE) (Mehmas {Ire}) is an intriguing newcomer for Al Shaqab and the Francis Graffard stable, being a half-sister to last year's Prix du Moulin de Longchamp hero Sahlan (Wootton Bassett). Among her peers is Gestut Wittekindshof's homebred Nina's Victoria (Ger) (Victor Ludorum {GB}), an Andre Fabre-trained half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Pakistan Star (Shamardal).

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features the return of Wootton Centurion. 12.17 Chantilly, Cond, 3yo, c/g, 8fT WOOTTON CENTURION (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the first of two TDN Rising Stars, Presented by Hagyard to spring back into action on a fascinating card, with Victoria Head eyeing a potential Classic tilt for...