Giselle (Ire)

With just two overmatched rivals in opposition, Aidan O'Brien trainee Giselle's superior form and class told as the daughter of Frankel overcame Lingfield's Epsom-style intricacies, delivering a facile nine-length success in the track's William Hill-sponsored Listed Oaks Trial on Saturday. Last term's G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes third and 3-10 pick was a shade keen racing third in a first-time hood through the initial stages of this seasonal debut. Negotiating the downhill section and taking closer order in the home straight, she seized control approaching the quarter-mile marker and bounded clear...

The entries for the Betfred Oaks were released on Tuesday, with 47 fillies in contention for the Classic which is due to take place at Epsom on Friday, June 6. Aidan O'Brien is responsible for no fewer than 16 contenders as he bids for an 11th Oaks success, having won the race seven times since 2012 alone. His formidable squad is headed by the unbeaten Lake Victoria (Ire), who completed a hat-trick of top-level victories as a two-year-old when winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes, Cheveley Park Stakes and Breeders' Cup...

All eyes were on Ballydoyle's 10-11 favourite Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) ahead of Tuesday's G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes, but it was the stablemate Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Salsa {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) who came up with the goods to edge The Curragh's mile feature. Sent straight to the front by Wayne Lordan from the outset, the relative of Galileo's star mares Hydrangea (Ire) and Hermosa (Ire) kept digging in as And So To Bed (Ire) (Kodiac {GB} threatened and briefly headed her in the final furlong to re-assert close home...

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 the first foal out of a Breeders' Cup winner. 13.30 Curragh, Group 3, €55,000, 2yo, f, 8fT GISELLE (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) returns to the scene of her maiden win earlier in the month, having finished second to stablemate Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) at Leopardstown in...

The seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden staged on Leopardstown's Thursday evening card has often played host to a future luminary and the latest renewal could have thrown up another as Ballydoyle's Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Mecca's Angel {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) earned instant TDN Rising Star status. Settled in mid-division early by Wayne Lordan, the 5-1 shot enjoyed an untroubled run down the outer in the straight as the stable's 8-11 favourite Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) became ensnared in traffic deeper towards the rail. Surging ahead from...

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 Frankel filly out of a Breeders' Cup heroine. 16.40 Haydock, Nov, £10,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f 212yT Imad Al Sagar homebred HAUTE COUTURE (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is a half-sister to G1 Jebel Hatta, G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and G1 Irish Champion S.-winning sire Decorated Knight (GB)...