Churchill (Ire)

Yeguada Centurion homebred Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) has been retired from racing, Paris Turf reported on Friday morning. The 4-year-old daughter of multiple group winner Queen Blossom (Ire) (Jeremy) won a quartet of Group 1s, including the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane. Trained through her first 12 starts by Christopher Head, the bay won four of her six appearances at two en route to being named the top filly of her year in France. She landed the G3 Prix d'Aumale and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac...

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. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to Victor Ludorum (GB). 13.35 Newmarket, Novice, £8,500, 2yo, f, 8fT PEARL OF HOPE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a notable Godolphin newcomer, being a half-sister to Shamardal's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire Victor Ludorum (GB). Charlie Appleby sticks...

Third in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and G3 Albany Stakes, Ballydoyle's Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}--Itqaan, by Danzig) had a class edge in Monday's Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at Naas and duly collected the valuable prize to return to winning ways. Sent straight to the forefront by Ryan Moore, the 4-6 favourite never looked likely to be caught and hit the line strong with 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Fiery Lucy (GB) (Without Parole {GB}). "She's a straightforward lovely filly who Ryan has always said could get...

Sent off the 11-10 favourite for Saturday's G2 Prix de Malleret at ParisLongchamp, Gerard Augustin-Normand's G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) justified that faith to record a notable black-type breakthrough win. Content to follow the pace early, the Nicolas Clement-trained homebred was asked to take control 300 metres from the finish as Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) became ensnared in traffic to her right and needed no second invitation en route to a 1 1/4-length success from Mosaique (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). Candala, who met with abundant trouble in...

Newmarket's July Festival witnessed some smart performances from big names on the opening day and Friday's action looks set to follow that pattern with Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) the leading lady in the feature G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes. Surprisingly, she has proven adept at this mile despite showing abundant pace as a juvenile when winning the G3 Albany Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes. Runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas, the filly who races for Steven Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing and Reeves Racing went to Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation Stakes...

Guy Heald homebred Fast Tracker (GB) (Churchill {Ire}), who is two-for-two after taking the Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly at the beginning of the month, has been sold to Wathnan Racing, Jour de Galop reported. Formerly trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, the chestnut holds entries in the G3 Prix Hocquart, the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, and the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The deal was facilitated by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock. "He was very impressive during his last race and is on an upward trajectory,"...

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. Sunday's Observations features a daughter of Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 13.45 Leopardstown, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, f, 8fT WINGSPAN (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a notable newcomer from Ballydoyle, as the second foal out of the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Matron S. heroine Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column reflects on success at Gulfstream Park for Warm Heart and Francesco Clemente.  The highlight of recent weeks has been the Coolmore partners' Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won her third top-level race in a third different country when taking the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. in Florida in late January (video). Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Coolmore-bred set a new course record, and is now bound for...

French Classic winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) heads a total of 60 entries for the $1-million Bahrain International Trophy, which has this year been upgraded to Group 2 status and is set to be run on Friday, November 17. The list of international challengers features horses from eight countries, including France, Germany, Britain and Ireland, with 38 group winners among them. Other notable entries include Godolphin's dual Group/Grade 1 winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Horizon Doré (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), recent winner of the G2 Prix Dollar, G2...

Multiple Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who won the G1 Prix de l'Opera and booked her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf as a result, will skip that engagement and is being freshened prior to being prepared for a 4-year-old campaign, Jour de Galop reported on Friday. The Yeguada Centurion homebred is trained by Christopher Head. In 2022, she won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, and then completed a rare triple when adding the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix...

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. Thursday's Observations features a relative of Grade I sire Gio Ponti (Tale Of The Cat). 14.15 Thurles, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, f, 8f 11yT Aidan O'Brien trainee GUSHING (American Pharoah), a $435,000 Keeneland September graduate, is a daughter of GIII Cardinal H. third Antonia Autumn (Bernstein), herself a half-sister to...

Yeguada Centurion's Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}--Queen Blossom {Ire}, by Jeremy) had failed to fire in two starts after notching a Classic double in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane, but was pitch-perfect in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines at ParisLongchamp to secure for a fourth elite-level triumph in game fashion. Last term's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine was supported down to favouritism in the betting market and broke on the lead from the inside stall before accepting a tow in third in...