Chantilly

Guy Pariente's homebred sophomore colt Kingentleman (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Restiadargent {Fr}, by Kendargent {Fr}) was off the board in all three prior starts at black-type level and lined up for Monday's G3 Prix Texanita at Chantilly as the 27-1 outsider-of-eight coming back off a pair of sixths in last month's G3 Prix Djebel and G3 Prix Sigy. The eventual winner, successful twice at this venue earlier in the campaign, raced under a firm grip behind the leaders early and tanked forward to stalk the pace in second after the initial exchanges....

   After Tiber Flow (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Twilight Jet (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}) advertised their claims for Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup this weekend, it is the turn of Al Shaqab Racing's Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) to put his name in the hat in Monday's G3 Prix Texanita at Chantilly. The G1 Phoenix S. hero was a disappointing fifth on his return in the six-furlong G3 Abernant S. at Newmarket Apr. 13, but he has plenty in hand on his seven rivals on his best form. One who...

Tuesday's action at Chantilly saw the first winner for Dalham Hall Stud's Harry Angel (Ire) (by Dark Angel {Ire}) as the Mauricio Delcher Sanchez-trained colt Vicious Harry (Fr) took the five-furlong Prix du Coq Chantant for unraced colts and geldings. Settled in behind the early leaders by Tony Piccone, the 4-1 shot reeled in Neversay (Fr) (No Nay Never) inside the final 150 metres for a 1 1/2-length success. The dam is a granddaughter of the great Miesque (Nureyev), descended from her via the Listed Prix de Lieurey scorer and G3...

His Highness The Aga Khan's Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), winner of last term's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage, was a class above his rivals in Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche and laid down a marker for next month's G1 Prix du Jockey Club with an impressive 2 1/2-length success in the nine-furlong Chantilly feature. The homebred bay had previously opened up with a July 21 debut score at Bordeaux-Le Bouscat and closed his three-race juvenile campaign with a third in this venue's Sept. 29 G3 Prix de Conde....

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. Tuesday's Insights features Amaretti Virginia, a half-sister to Group 1 scorer Ebro River. 4.02 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, 3yo, c/g, 10fT WUNDERKNABE (GER) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) made a splash at the 2020 BBAG September Yearling Sale when selling as the highest-priced colt at €260,000. Francis-Henri Graffard introduces Heike Bischoff-Lafrentz's...

Jean-Claude Rouget is not prone to hyperbole so, when the decorated French handler compared the unexposed Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) to his only G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) earlier this week, some people did a double take. Not Benoit Jeffroy, who manages Haras de Bouquetot on behalf of the Al Shaqab operation. Jeffroy has long been aware of the standing in which the multiple Classic-winning trainer has held Al Hakeem and, when the colt won the Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly on...

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. Friday's Observations features a daughter of Group 1 winner Ridasiyna (Fr) (Motivator {GB}). 2.50 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, f, 10fT RIDAVIYA (FR) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is a daughter of the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Ridasiyna (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) who starts out for that talented mare's trainer Mikel...

Off the board in two prior starts at black-type level, Carlos and Yann Lerner trainee Miramar (GB) (Profitable {Ire}) lined out for Wednesday's 5 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly coming back off an Apr. 4 conditions second over the track's six-furlong strip on seasonal return and she swooped late to snag a career high in ultimately snug fashion. Last term's Listed Prix Zeddaan fourth raced off the tempo in rear through halfway. Scrubbed along to close passing the quarter-mile pole, the 67-5 chance came under sterner urging thereafter and...

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. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to dual group winner Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). 1.15 Newmarket, Mdn, £10,000, 3yo, f, 7fT ENSHRINE (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is a half-sister to Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), whose three runs for Cheveley Park Stud and William Haggas last term resulted...

Riviera Equine & Haras d'Etreham's 3-year-old colt Lassaut (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) followed up a Dec. 12 debut third going 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville with a taking one-length triumph upped to one mile at Chantilly coming back for his sophomore return in Wednesday's Prix de la Broutillerie. The Jean-Claude Rouget trainee, sent postward as the 16-5 second favourite, was the slowest of eight into stride and raced in rear through halfway. Easing to the outside for a clear passage soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, he came under urging approaching...

Frederic Rossi incumbent Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) followed up an Aug. 22 debut win tackling one mile at Deauville with a black-type breakthrough in Lyon-Parilly's Sept. 23 Listed Criterium de Lyon, again over one mile, last time and continued on the upgrade with a dominant score in Tuesday's G3 Prix Miesque at Chantilly. The 23-10 second favourite was swiftly into stride for an immediate lead in this first outing at the seven-furlong trip. In command throughout, she was not for catching once bustled along to poach a decisive advantage...

   Tuesday's Chantilly card has a pair of pattern races, with the seven-furlong G3 Prix Miesque acting as one of the last staging posts for 2-year-old fillies with Classic aspirations. Godolphin's Fleur D'Iris (GB) (Shamardal) sets the standard, having beaten Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G3 Prix d'Aumale at ParisLongchamp Sept. 9 only to finish last behind that stablemate on ground that was too testing in the Oct. 3 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac back there. "Everything went wrong for Fleur d'Iris in the Prix Marcel Boussac, when she...