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 Oaks winner Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 1.50 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 7fT BAHASA (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}) debuts for the Wertheimers and trainer Christophe Ferland, who combined to win the 2013 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac with the dam Indonesienne (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}). Only...

Things may not have gone to plan in all of the English Classics for Ballydoyle so far in 2021, but the stable continued their charmed existence in France on Sunday as Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) provided Classic number three for the season and a first renewal of Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines for Aidan O'Brien. Combining again with Ioritz Mendizabal, who had steered St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) to glory in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Jockey Club, the master of...

Hambleton Racing's Atomic Force (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) registered a breakthrough score going five furlongs at Hamilton in his second start last month and was in dominant mood for Sunday's G3 Prix du Bois Longines upped in trip to six furlongs at Chantilly, leading from pillar to post and providing his Tally-Ho Stud-based freshman sire (by Exceed and Excel {Aus}) with a first black-type success. The March-foaled gelded bay, who posted an Apr. 3 debut second over five furlongs at Musselburgh, was away sharply for this first start outside Scotland...

Godolphin's 3-year-old colt Erasmo (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), successful at Chantilly in last term's Listed Prix Saraca and in last month's Listed Prix de Pontarme at ParisLongchamp, stepped up to better a second in the Apr. 11 G3 Prix La Force with a narrow victory in Sunday's G3 Prix Paul de Moussac Longines back at Chantilly. Settled just off the pace in fourth until taking closer order in the straight, the 14-5 second favourite launched his challenge going well passing the quarter-mile marker and was ridden out inside the final...

Chantilly on Sunday is the place to be, with the customary high fashion and regalia accompanying a fascinating card featuring the G1 Prix de Diane Longines. As usual, Andre Fabre is the first port of call and it seems at present that his unbeaten Burgarita (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) could be the one to start favourite in a wide-open edition, having impressed with two performances at ParisLongchamp. In the first, Ecurie Ama Zingteam's relative of the 2001 Diane heroine Aquarelliste (Fr) (Danehill) beat the re-opposing Khalidiya (Fr) (Oasis Dream...

Thursday saw the draw made for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, with a field of 18 diminished to 17 following the instant withdrawal of Dr Christoph Berglar's G2 Diana Trial winner Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) due to her outside stall in 17. Aidan O'Brien is looking for a third French Classic in 2021 and a first success in the 10 1/2-furlong feature with Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was denied late by Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at...

As far as passages around Chantilly's circuit go in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) enjoyed one as perfect as is possible on Sunday as he toyed with his rivals in the 181st edition of the Classic. Hardly breaking sweat to become the fourth colt to complete the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-Prix du Jockey Club double since 2005, Ballydoyle's 14-5 favourite was slotted behind the pace-setting Normandy Bridge (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) from his ideal draw by Ioritz Mendizabal and...

Sent to Sunday's G2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly having won the Listed Prix des Lilas over the same course and mile trip May 11, Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard and Gerard Augustin-Normand's Tahlie (Fr) (Rio de la Plata) proved up to the task to prevail in a tussle with Kennella (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}). Settled behind the front trio early by Christophe Soumillon, the 13-10 favourite who had the subsequent G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}) back in third when winning a conditions event over this...

Fresh from a comfortable victory in ParisLongchamp's May 13 Prix d'Hedouville, last term's G1 Deutsches Derby hero and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) was obliged to work somewhat harder for success in Sunday's G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. Gestut Schlenderhan's 4-year-old, who also ran second in September's rescheduled G1 Grand Prix de Paris, was settled off a sedate tempo in fifth--with just the slow-starting Nagano Gold (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) in arrears--past halfway in this 12-furlong test. Tanking forward to take closer order...

Peter Savill's 2-year-old filly Dizzy Bizu (Ire) (Caravaggio) posted a May 11 debut score tackling five furlongs at Chantilly and returned over the same strip to remain perfect in Sunday's Listed Prix La Fleche, providing her freshman sire (by Scat Daddy) with a first black-type success. Breaking sharply to race in a prominent second from flagfall, the 21-5 chance came under pressure on all sides passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven out inside the final furlong to assert by an ultimately comfortable 1 3/4 lengths from Anterselva (Fr) (Fast...

George Strawbridge's Suesa (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) had registered wins for the Georgina Cabrero-Carlos Laffon-Parias axis in an Oct. 13 debutantes' heat going six furlongs at Chantilly before doubling up over 5 1/2 furlongs back there in the Nov. 10 Listed Prix Yacowlef. She maintained her perfect record when snagging last month's G3 Prix Sigy for new connections, with subsequent G3 Prix de Saint-Georges victrix Ideal Beauty (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in arrears, and continued the winning trend in taking fashion by turning Monday's G3 Prix Texanita, her fourth...

His Highness The Aga Khan's Makaloun (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}) suffered the only reverse of a five-race freshman campaign when a close third over 10 furlongs in a hot renewal of October's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and bounced back in style to garner Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche, dropping down in trip on seasonal return, at Chantilly. Last term's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage and G3 Prix de Conde victor went postward as the 23-10 second choice--for a heat won by Lawman (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Almanzor...