Chantilly

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. Monday's Observations focuses on what has the makings of an informative card at Chantilly. 14.30 Chantilly, €27,400, Mdn, unraced 2yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT) Christophe Ferland entry SELVO (FR) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), a sibling of G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Queen's Jewel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), is one of several...

Monday, Chantilly, France, post time: 13:10, PRIX MIESQUE-G3, €73,200, 2yo, f, 7fT Field: Josefova (Fr) (Yafta {GB}), Magny Cours (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Hello Avenue (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Miuccia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Baklawa (Fr) (Stunning Spirit {GB}), Polly Shelby (Fr) (Space Blues {Ire}), Waramini (Ire) (Persian King {Ire}), Half Sovereign (Fr) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Ananke (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}). TDN Analysis: With the way Karl Burke's juveniles are going this term, Half Sovereign is a frightening prospect for the domestic fillies to contemplate, especially given her invaluable experience winning two novices...

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. Tuesday's Observations features an exciting son of Zarak. 14.30 Chantilly, €31,100, Cond, 2yo, 8fT Andre Fabre nominee SENEQUE (IRE) (Zarak {Fr}) failed to meet his reserve when stalling on €1.2 million at last week's Arqana Arc Sale and heads postward off the back of an impressive five-length score over...

A group of U.S.-based racing investigators recently returned from a two-week intensive exchange program where they swapped ideas and soaked up perspectives from their counterparts at organizations like France Gallop and the British Horseracing Authority. Members of the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) who work at tracks and for regulators across the U.S. were given the chance to see how integrity is measured in Europe and what practices work best in France and England. "The second annual trip was a great success, which we could not have done without our...

Taking charge at Chantilly on Sunday, Christophe Soumillon supplemented his Diane success with the card's G3 Prix du Lys Longines as Rafale Design capped another stellar afternoon for the Belgian. Coming off a win in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Hocquart last month, the Yann Barberot-trained son of Starspangledbanner was launched from rear to swoop on Surabad (Bated Breath) and Oracle (Too Darn Hot) with 300 metres remaining and assert to beat that duo by two half-length margins. Entered in Monday's London Sale in Goffs, the G1 Grand Prix de Paris entry...

Francis-Henri Graffard looked set to have the one-two-three in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines heading to the closing stages, but while that didn't transpire France's pre-eminent trainer of 2025 was ultimately in the right place as Gezora (Almanzor) brought it home. Continuing the timeless love affair between American interests and French racing, the daughter of the 2006 Diane runner-up Germance proved strongest in the Chantilly Classic to complete the Saint-Alary-Diane double for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm. Sent off at 11-2 having upped her game last month at ParisLongchamp...

Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 16:05, PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €1,000,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT Field: Cankoura (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), D'Ores Et Deja (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Shes Perfect (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Merrily (No Nay Never), Rosa Salvaje (Ire) (Maximum Security), Better Together (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), American Gal (GB) (Kameko), Zia Agnese (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}), Sand Gazelle (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}). TDN Verdict: After two tussles with Zarigana that read like a soap opera, Shes Perfect looks to...

Taken down after the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Shes Perfect (Sioux Nation) has a second bite of the cherry on Sunday in Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines. Whether or not the pride and joy of the Basher Watts Racing Club would have mastered Zarigana in the ParisLongchamp Classic had she stayed on a true line is a matter of conjecture, but we know after her two fights with that Aga Khan Studs blueblood this term that she belongs in the top echelon of her generation. While this 10...

Friday, Cork, post time: 19:44, DARLEY MUNSTER OAKS STAKES-G3, €36,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT Field: Ameerat Jumaira (GB) (Australia {GB}), Bubble Gum (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}), Elizabeth Jane (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Enfranchise (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Lemsairbat (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Magical Hope (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Satin (GB) (Australia {GB}), Sea The Boss (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Soft Winds (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Uluru (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Butterfly Wings (Justify), Gotomylovely (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Medici Venus (Tiz The Law). TDN Verdict: Elizabeth Jane signed off in 2024 with...

Juddmonte's Sunly had looked one to follow when going two-for-two in the Listed Prix de la Seine and stayed on the rise with a smooth win in the G3 Prix de Royaumont at Chantilly on Sunday. Always travelling easily for Christophe Soumillon, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained daughter of Night Of Thunder took control a furlong from home en route to a 2 1/2-length success from Cloth Of Stars's Indalimos. In doing so, the 9-10 favourite was completing a family Group 3 weekend double following the exploits of the sire's equally-exciting Estrange...

A seemingly wide-open renewal of Chantilly's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club ultimately produced the most straightforward outcome as Ballydoyle's Camille Pissarro prevailed as the 12-5 favourite. Drawn against the rail, one of the stable's abundance of Wootton Bassett colts only had to follow the pace aided by the yard's Trinity College taking the shortest route. Ryan Moore's only complication came in the closing stages as he needed to thread the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner through a gap no more than a horse's width but he had all the...

Godspeed's finishing sectionals in the G3 Prix de la Grotte showed us that she was a class act and Peter Bradley's colour-bearer confirmed that in Sunday's G2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly. This was effectively won at the break, with Christophe Soumillon instantly getting a length on the inexperienced favourite Vadinska and able to sit in mid-division while that peer was anchored out the back. Slipping by the leader Eponine with ease passing two out, the Carlos and Yann Lerner-trained daughter of Hello Youmzain was in cruise control from there...