Iffraaj (GB)

Former Kildangan Stud resident Jungle Cat (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) became the latest freshman off the mark when the Karl Burke-trained newcomer Miss Jungle Cat (GB), a 60,000gns Tattersalls Somerville yearling, pounced late to snag Saturday's Betway EBF Novice S. going a shade over five furlongs at Musselburgh. In fourth and under pressure at halfway, the 16-5 chance refused to wilt at the business end and kept on relentlessly under a continued drive to deny Explicit (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths inside the final 100 yards. Miss Jungle...

The catalogues for the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses-in-Training Sale were released on Wednesday. There are currently 206 2-year-olds and 120 horses-in-training ready to go under the hammer on Apr. 28. Beginning at 9 a.m. local time on Apr. 26, the breezes will take place over Newmarket's Rowley Mile Racecourse. They will be shown live on the Tattersalls website and on the Tattersalls Facebook page. Graduates of the sale won group races in Britain, France, Germany and the U.S. in 2021, led by top-level winners Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and...

Dubawi (Ire) (Dubai Millennium {GB}) will stand for an unchanged fee of £250,000 at Dalham Hall Stud and anchors the 2022 roster for Darley Europe. His fee is the most expensive in Europe. He enjoyed a notable success at the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships, with three winners in a single year, the first sire to reach that mark in the 37-year history of the Breeders' Cup. The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf went to Modern Games (Ire), Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Mile was won by new Kildangan Stud resident...

Cheveley Park Stud's hitherto unraced Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) went off as a 15-2 chance for the first division of Friday's 888sport British EBF Novice S. at Newmarket, a contest won in 2019 by last term's G2 Derby Italiano hero Tuscan Gaze (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and came home by daylight to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status with an impressive debut display. He recovered from a slightly awkward getaway to stalk the pace out wide through halfway. Powering to the front on the bridle approaching the quarter-mile marker, Audience was shaken...

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 son of G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). 14.05 Newmarket, Nov, £9,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT Sunderland Holding's MY PROSPERO (IRE) (Iffraaj {GB}) is a half-sister to this term's G1 Prix d'Ispahan third and William Haggas stablemate My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi...

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 daughter of Group 1 winner Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor). 11.50 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT Coolmore and Westerberg's JASPEROID (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is a Denford Stud-bred son of G2 Cherry Hinton S. and G3 Albany S. victrix and G1 Cheveley Park S. second Illuminate...

The Arqana August Yearling Sale features a catalogue of 355 blue-blooded colts and fillies as it returns to its regular slot in the calendar from Aug. 14-16 in Deauville. The first two days will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the final day, Monday, will start at 1 p.m. The sale has produced many stakes winners over the years including G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), and fellow Group 1 winners Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}),...

When Napa Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) won Friday's first race at Keeneland, bloodstock agent Ben McElroy was more relieved than ecstatic. Some six months earlier, he purchased Napa Spirit at the Goffs Orby Yearling sale in Ireland with a set goal in mind. He was looking for a unique type of horse, one that could win in the U.S. and Europe, would be fast and precocious, like the grass and be a good fit for the Royal Ascot meet. Friday's win was the latest sign that he had more...

Sharpened by a return fourth in the 6 1/2-furlong Listed Prix Montenica on Chantilly's Polytrack Mar. 18, Fast Raaj (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}) made that fitness edge count in Thursday's G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville. Racing for a partnership between Ecurie du Parc Monceau, Haras d'Etreham, Riviera Equine S.A.R.L and trainer Yann Barberot, the bay who had won here over 7 1/2 furlongs again on the Polytrack in October was anchored in a share of last off the strong early tempo alongside one of the other colts who had enjoyed an...

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 Insights features a half-brother to Group 1 winner Seismos (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). 2.25 Deauville, Mdn, €22,000, unraced 2yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT) Ecki Sauren's SUDDEN DEATH (FR) (Muhaarar {GB}), a €30,000 Arqana October yearling purchase, is the latest of 13 foals out of a half-sister to MG1SW Deutsches...

Five horses have been added to the Arqana Autumn Sale as wild cards. Four horses-jumpers Garkapstar (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}) (lot 439), Get Vingt Sept (Fr) (Rail Link {GB}) (lot 460), and Hawai Game (Fr) (Diamond Boy {Fr}) (lot 461); as well as the Flat SP Argyron (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) (lot 410); will sell on Nov. 16. Rounding out the fivesome is a half-brother to Grade 1-placed Theleme (Fr) (Sidestep {Aus}) named Kloth of Utopia (Fr) as lot 910. The weanling colt is by Cloth of Stars (Ire) and will go...

Tally-Ho Stud resident Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}-Lucina {GB}, by Machiavellian) equaled Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic)'s number of first-crop 2-year-old winners on Sunday, with Power Under Me (Ire) bringing up his 38th individual winner. The gelding, bred by Barbel Reiss and a €28,000 Goffs November weanling, won on debut over six furlongs at Naas. Always prominently placed, the Vincent Gaul colourbearer asserted late to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Coulthard (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}). Of Mehmas's 146 2-year-olds, 94 (64%) have started, and his winners to runners percentage stands at 26%. Clustered among...