Dark Angel (Ire)

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 half-brother to Grade I winner Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}). 2.33 Dieppe, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT KUBRICK (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a notable newcomer to grace the small Normandy venue, being a half-brother to the GI Hollywood Derby, GI Shoemaker Mile and GI...

Godolphin's Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), second in the G1 Lockinge S. and the G1 Queen Anne S. in May and June, respectively, has turned in a poor scope and will not run in the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. at Sandown on Saturday, trainer Saeed bin Suroor revealed. A winner at Group 2 level in France last October and in the G2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan in January, the 5-year-old entire would have had Frankie Dettori in the irons. "Frankie is our man, but unfortunately the horse is not going...

The catalogue for the Aug. 13-15 Arqana August Yearling Sale is online and can be viewed at www.arqana.com. Having already produced the likes of Angel Bleu, Hello You, Mangoustine, Rougir, Sealiway, Noble Truth, Meditate and Skalleti, the 2022 renewal is comprised of 313 yearlings which will be sold over three days, a departure from the two-day format previously. The sales times are as follows: Saturday, Aug. 13: 2p.m. - lot 1 to 145 Sunday, Aug. 14: 5.30p.m. - lot 146 to 230 Monday, Aug. 15: 5.30p.m. - lot 231 to...

David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, has put forward Wednesday's Kensington Palace S. favourite Haziya (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) as being Sheikh Fahad's best chance of having a winner at Royal Ascot, but revealed the week will be defined by how G1 French 1000 Guineas heroine Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) performs in the G1 Coronation S. on Friday. Mangoustine carried former NBA star Tony Parker's black and white silks to victory in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp last month and Redvers, who bought the filly...

Disappointing when only fifth trying a mile in The Curragh's Listed Tetrarch S. May 2, Peter Brant's TDN Rising Star Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was back in his comfort zone in Thursday's G3 Ballycorus S. as he successfully returned to the seven-furlong trip and Leopardstown venue of his Apr. 2 Listed 2000 Guineas Trial S. win. In front initially before handed a lead by the eventual third Pretreville (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}), the 13-8 favourite who was also runner-up in the G1 Phoenix S. in August blew by that...

Tony Parker's Infinity Nine Horses was in the limelight at ParisLongchamp on Sunday as the Mikel Delzangles-trained Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) denied Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) the G1 1000 Guineas-G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches double in a frantic finale. Having surrendered her unbeaten record when third in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de la Grotte Apr. 17, last year's G3 Prix Miesque winner was back on track where it mattered under one of the world's most journeyed and accomplished jockeys in Gerald Mossé. Settled behind the leading quartet early...

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 full-brother to Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). 1.45 Naas, Cond, €40,000, 2yo, 5fT THE ANTARCTIC (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is Ballydoyle's first runner on this Royal Ascot Trials Day card, tackling this Coolmore Stud Calyx Race having scored on debut at Tipperary last month. The...

4th-Keeneland, $75,045, Msw, 4-27, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.01, gd, 1/2 length. CHARDY PARTY (IRE) (f, 3, Dark Angel {Ire}--Spiritual Lady {GB} {SW-Eng}, by Pastoral Pursuits {GB}), off a step slow from the inside gate at 4-5, raced mid-pack in ninth along the rail behind early front-runner Peligroso (Honor Code). She remained stuck inside, marred by traffic trouble, into the far turn. Passing the eighth pole and still several lengths off the lead, she swung out off the rail into the four path and kicked on, catching the pace-setting Peligroso...

Dual Group 1 winner Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will pass on the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Apr. 30 and wait for the May 15 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains in France. Successful in the G2 Vintage S. in July, the grey earned a pair of Group 1 wins in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp and in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud, both in October. The Marc Chan silkbearer resumed with a third-place effort in the G3 Greenham S. at Newbury on Apr. 16. Trainer Ralph Beckett...

A few weeks ago the bookmaker Fitzdares made Dubawi (Ire) favourite to be champion sire this year for the first time, and perhaps no horse deserves it more than Darley's utterly dependable 20-year-old. However, the race to the top will not be easy, particularly judging by the apparent strength in depth of the challenge of Frankel's offspring for this year's major races. Though the reigning champion, as well as the Gosden stable and owner-breeders Cheveley Park Stud, were dealt a blow by the withdrawal of Inspiral (GB) from Sunday's QIPCO...

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 full-brother to Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).   15.55 Tipperary, Cond, €22,000, 2yo, 5fT THE ANTARCTIC (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a 750,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate representing Aidan O'Brien, is a full-brother to MG1SW speedster Battaash (Ire) and faces five rivals in this debut....

Fresh off a season in which he earned the mantle of Europe's leading sire of 2-year-olds, it would seem that Dark Angel (Ire)'s legacy as a sire of precocious and classy sprinter/milers is set. The question inevitably becomes, then, who is next in line to carry on his branch of the Acclamation (GB) sireline? The 17-year-old Dark Angel already has a Group 1-producing sire son in his G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 July Cup-winning Lethal Force (Ire), whose Golden Horde (Ire) also won at the Royal meeting when he...