Chantilly

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 daughter of Group 1 winner Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor). 11.50 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT Coolmore and Westerberg's JASPEROID (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is a Denford Stud-bred son of G2 Cherry Hinton S. and G3 Albany S. victrix and G1 Cheveley Park S. second Illuminate...

Everest Racing, David Redvers and Barbara Keller's 2-year-old filly Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) encountered promising sorts when hitting the board over six furlongs in both August starts at Deauville and graduated in a six-furlong Chantilly maiden last month. Returning over the same course and distance of that breakthrough score for Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, the Francis Graffard trainee exhibited late dash to claim a first black-type success with aplomb. The 15-2 chance was swiftly away and tracked the leading duo in third through halfway. Nudged along passing the quarter-mile...

Jean-Claude Rouget trainee Zelda (Fr) (Zaelzal {Fr}) became the first black-type winner for her Haras de Bouquetot-based freshman sire (by Sea the Stars {Ire}) with a pillar-to-post victory by two lengths in Saturday's Listed Prix Saraca at Chantilly. Zelda bagged a July 9 debut score going six furlongs in a Saint-Cloud newcomers' heat and doubled up over seven in an Aug. 4 conditions heat at Clairefontaine, but finished last of six tackling the latter trip in ParisLongchamp's Sept. 5 G3 Prix La Rochette last time. Breaking sharply from the outside...

Hot on the heels of Gran Sabana (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) earning a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Friday's opening contest at Chantilly, the Fabrice Chappet-trained $535,000 Ocala April breeze-up graduate Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) earned one of his own with a dominant performance in the one-mile Prix de Villebon for unraced 2-year-old colts and geldings. The 15-2 chance was keen under attempted restraint during the opening exchanges and raced in rear for the most part. Making smooth headway once angled to the outside in the straight, he quickened in impressive...

Ecurie des Charmes and Ballylinch Stud's hitherto unraced Gran Sabana (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) went largely unconsidered as a 20-1 chance for Friday's Prix de Toutevoie, a one-mile newcomers' test for juvenile fillies, at Chantilly and made a mockery of her long odds with a devastating burst to attain 'TDN Rising Stardom' on debut. The eventual winner was patiently ridden through halfway and raced off the tempo in rear until turning for home. Rowed along to close approaching the quarter-mile marker, she displayed an impressive turn of foot to move into...

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 close relative of the great Frankel. 1.45 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 8fT DARK LUCK (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is the first foal out of the G3 Prix Vanteaux winner Gold Luck (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), a half-sister to the world-renowned Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), her...

Juddmonte's 'TDN Rising Star' Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) backed up an Aug. 8 debut triumph with a command performance upped to one mile at Chantilly. 1st-Chantilly, €34,000, Cond, 9-17, 2yo, 8fT, 1:43.37, sf. RACLETTE (GB) (f, 2, Frankel {GB}--Emollient {MGISW-US, $1,350,400}, by Empire Maker), who earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with a taking display in a winner-producing debutantes' test over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville last month, was swiftly into stride and settled third behind a steady tempo through halfway. Making smooth headway in the straight, the even-money chalk cruised...

Hisaaki Saito's hitherto unbeaten 2-year-old colt Topgear (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) continued on a roll and took his tally to a perfect three from three with a hard-fought victory in Friday's G3 Prix Eclipse at Chantilly. The April-foaled dark bay went postward as the crowd's 8-5 choice returning off wins in competitive heats at Deauville last month and was under a firm hold behind the leaders in fourth through the early fractions of this six-furlong dash. Powering forward to join German raider Best Flying (Fr) (Pedro the Great) soon after...

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 'TDN Rising Star's at Newbury and Chantilly. 13.00 Ayr, Nov, £14,000, 2yo, 7f 50yT Jaber Abdullah's 120,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling MARHABA THE CHAMP (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is a son of MGSW G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye...

There will be further sorting of the juvenile pecking order on Friday, with Chantilly's six-furlong G3 Prix Eclipse featuring Hisaaki Saito's unbeaten Topgear (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Having beaten TDN Rising Star Shaikha (Fr) (Ribchester {Ire}) in the 6 1/2-furlong Prix Irish River conditions race at Deauville Aug. 26, the Fabrice Chappet-trained colt is one of a clutch of unexposed types looking to break through in pattern company. They include Abu Khadra Stables' Fai Fai (GB) (Acclamation {GB}), an Andre Fabre-trained colt who scored on debut over that same course...

Among the current top ten trainers in France are two graduates of the Godolphin Flying Start course: Francis Graffard and Jerome Reynier. These are big footsteps in which to follow for the latest former Flying Start student to try his hand at training, and what sets Tim Donworth apart is that France is not his native country. He was, however, born to a life with horses. The 27-year-old grew up on Round Hill Stud in Co Limerick, which is owned by his parents Bobby and Honora and has also been...

So dominant in the G3 Prix du Bois over six furlongs at Chantilly June 20, Siu Pak Kwan's Atomic Force (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) returned to the same course and distance on Sunday to repeat the dose in the G2 Darley Prix Robert Papin. Sent straight to the front by Stephane Pasquier as he had been last time, the 1-2 favourite never looked like relinquishing his advantage en route to a 2 1/4-length success from Baghed (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}). "He's just that type of horse, he's very simple to...