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. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. placegetter Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}). 13.30 Punchestown, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, f, 7fT Coolmore and Westerberg's WEST COAST (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is a daughter of G2 Rockfel S. victrix Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and thus kin to two...

DONCASTER, UK--The desire of John Dance to develop Manor House Stud into a major force was well on show during the first day of the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale in Doncaster yesterday as the owner came out on top at £120,000 for the session-topper (lot 109), a well-related son of Dark Angel (Ire). While the day's ceiling was a far cry from the record high of £440,000 achieved in 2019 by the Kingman (GB) colt Admiral Nelson (GB), no one could dispute the vibrancy of a trade that wound...

The opening hour of last week's Yorkshire Oaks card was about as good as it gets for a sales firm just days out from its flagship stand. Thirty-five minutes before Goffs UK was firmly in the spotlight with the running of its time-honoured Premier Yearling S., Premier Yearling Sale graduate Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never) provided a welcome introduction with victory in the G2 Lowther S. Bought for what now feels like a staggering bargain (£20,000) last summer, Zain Claudette has won three of her first four starts including...

York's Saturday action kicked off in style, with the apple of Saeed bin Suroor's eye Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) again demonstrating his raw quality as his love affair with the impressive Marco Ghiani continued in the G3 Sky Bet and Symphony Group Strensall S. Dynamic in the June 16 Royal Hunt Cup at a mile and the 10-furlong Listed Steventon S. at Newbury July 17, Godolphin's progressive and as-yet untested 4-year-old was exposed on the wing early racing two lengths off the pace. Carting his rookie jockey to...

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 half-sister to Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}). 1.30 Carlisle, Mdn, £7,000, 2yo, f, 5f 182yT Jaber Abdullah's HALA HALA ATHMANI (GB) (Dabirsim {Fr}), a Kevin Ryan trainee, is a half-sister to four black-type performers headed by G1 Diamond Jubilee S. and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup-winning...

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. Tuesday's Observations features a daughter of G1 French 1000 Guineas runner-up Veda (Fr) (Dansili {GB}). 3.00 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 6 1/2fT VEDEVA (FR) (Dark Angel {Ire}) debuts for The Aga Khan and Alain de Royer-Dupre and is a daughter of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up...

The catalogue for the Goffs Sportsman's Sale, which takes place at Kildare Paddocks on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, is online and features 410 commercial yearlings. The 2020 edition of the sale produced this year's G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Prix du Bois scorer Atomic Force (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), who was purchased by Stephen Hillen and Kevin Ryan for £22,000 and has since been sold on to race in Hong Kong. Every yearling catalogued is eligible for the €100,000 Goffs Sportsman's Challenge, set for Sept. 5, 2022 over...

The catalogue for the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale, featuring 14 yearlings by the late 12-time European Champion Sire Galileo (Ire), is now online. Slated for Oct. 5-7, the sale is also jam-packed with yearlings by fellow top sires Dubawi (Ire) (20), Frankel (GB) (24), Kingman (GB) (43), Lope de Vega (Ire) (43), and Sea The Stars (Ire) (34) just to name a few. Of the 502 yearlings-all eligible for the £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus--set to go through the ring at Park Paddocks, there are half- or...

Half-sisters to both of this year's Guineas winners in England have been catalogued for the Goffs Orby Sale, which takes place on Sept. 28 and 29. A total of 444 yearlings-all of which will be eligible for the Goffs Million, Europe's richest 2-year-old race, in 2022--have been assembled for Ireland's Premier Yearling Sale, which returns this year to its usual home at Goffs's Kildare Paddocks. Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire})'s half-sister from the first crop of U S Navy Flag will be consigned as lot 120 by Clare Castle...

Champion sprinter and four-time Group 1 winner Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}), has been retired from racing, connections announced on Saturday. The 7-year-old gelding raced in the Shadwell colours for the late Sheikh Hamdan and in 2021, his daughter, Sheikha Hissa. His final start was a seventh-place run aiming for a fifth-straight win in the G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood on Friday. Racing Manager Angus Gold said on behalf of Shadwell Estate Company, Ltd., "Following telephone conversations with HH Sheikha Hissa Bint Hamdan...

With overnight soft-ground conditions deteriorating to heavy, Tuesday's G2 Unibet Vintage S. was shorn of G2 July S. victor and likely protagonist Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) on a card struck by multiple scratchings. Step forward Marc Chan's Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who followed up a one-length second in Saturday's Listed Pat Eddery S. to post a career high in Glorious Goodwood's day one juvenile feature. The 10-3 second choice and Ralph Beckett trainee had previously finished 13th behind the reopposing Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) when contesting...

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 well-related Shadwell colourbearer. 1.15 Newbury, Novice, £7,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT MOTASHAWEQ (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is a son of the G2 Queen Mary S. winner and G1 1000 Guineas third Maqaasid (GB) (Green Desert) who hails from the family of Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) and the...