Frankel

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. Sunday's Observations features a daughter of Frankel and multiple group winner Heartache. 1.20 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT SIGNORA (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) lines up as Ballydoyle's first string in this maiden won in 2020 by their Oaks heroine Snowfall, bidding to put her Albany flop behind her. Third...

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 an offspring of Gossamer Wings. 1.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT ACTION (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the third foal out of the G2 Queen Mary runner-up Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy), whose second is the current Derby and Irish Derby hero Lambourn by Galileo's Australia. Wayne...

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. Monday's Observations features the son of a Breeders' Cup heroine. 5.15 Killarney, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 8f 20yT BENVENUTO CELLINI (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) made a deep impression when coming off second best to stablemate Dorset at The Curragh last month and will be expected to go one better in this...

Jockey Flavien Prat had himself a year in 2024 on the way to his first Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey. How good was he? He set records for Stakes wins (82) and Graded Stakes wins (56). He won the Breeders' Cup Classic. He won 16 Grade I races. The list could go on, but he has turned the page. He will make no predictions for 2025. The 32-year-old French native just wants to keep on riding. He sat down with Tim Wilkin to talk about life as a top jockey...

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 daughter of Group 2 winner Indie Angel. 1.40 Newmarket, Mdn, £25,000, 2yo, f, 7fT DARKWING (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is one of the key players in this maiden won in recent times by Ballydoyle, Poetic Charm and Desert Flower, being the first foal out of Cheveley...

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 son of Newspaperofrecord. 1.15 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT BENVENUTO CELLINI (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the second foal out of the accomplished Newspaperofrecord (Lope De Vega) after the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Giselle also by Frankel. Not Ryan Moore's choice in this Barronstown...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Nitti in the San Juan Capistrano Stakes.  Make Believe Brings Up A Santa Anita Double Make Believe's Nitti captured the GIII San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita for trainer Leonard Powell on June 15 (video). It was a first black-type win for the 4-year-old gelding who races for Innergy Racing Corp, Zephyr Racing and Sonny Pais. Bred by John Walsh, Jerry O'Brien and the...

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. Friday's Observations features a Ballydoyle juvenile in what is traditionally an informative maiden. 5.20 The Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 2yo, f, 7fT MINERVA (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) bids to build on her debut third at Leopardstown earlier this month in the maiden won 12 months ago by stablemate Lake Victoria and...

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. Thursday's Observations features a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Dreamloper. 15.50 Newbury, £40,000, Nov, 3yo, f, 8fT In-form trainer Ed Walker is represented here by DREAMASAR (IRE) (Masar {Ire}), a half-sister to the stable's G1 Prix d'Ispahan and G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope De Vega...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victories of Sapphire Beach and Hey Nay Nay. No Nay Never Sires Pair Of Juvenile Debut Winners Sapphire Beach, flying the flag for Three Diamonds Farm, won a five-furlong sprint over a sloppy Churchill main track on May 30 (video). Trained by George "Rusty" Arnold, the Charlie Brooks-bred re-rallied to finish second after being cut off by the winner, and the placings were reversed in...

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 'TDN Rising Star' in Red Letter. 3.55 Navan, Listed Darley Irish EBF Kooyonga Stakes, €55,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 8f 30yT RED LETTER (GB) (Frankel {GB}) takes in a welcome confidence boost here, having been asked a big question on her 3-year-old bow when seventh in the...

EPSOM DOWNS, UK -- It is impossible to think of the Coolmore operation without the name Sangster coming to mind and, not for the first time, a member of the clan has been instrumental in aiding Coolmore to Classic glory. The imperious Minnie Hauk reeled in and eventually - but only just - overhauled her front-running stable-mate Whirl to give Ben Sangster his second winner of the Oaks as breeder after Dancing Rain struck at Epsom back in 2011. For good measure, he also bred last year's Coronation Cup winner...