Kodiac (GB)

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 2022 Arqana May Breeze-Up topper. 5.50 Windsor, Mdn, £9,950, 2yo, 6f 12yT SAKHEER (IRE) (Zoffany {Ire}) debuts for KHK Racing and Roger Varian, having topped the Arqana May Breeze-Up at €550,000. A half-brother to the G2 Kilboy Estate S., G3 Park Express S. and GIII...

1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 7-22, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.49, fm, head. APPRAISE (IRE) (c, 2, Kodiac {GB}--Champagne Or Water {Ire} {SW-Ire, $109,065}, by Captain Rio {GB}), given an unconvincing 11-1 chance for his first time to the races, came away in the front group despite mild contact with Inflation Nation (Ire) (Speightstown) at the break. Beat to the lead by both Clubhouse (Speightstown) and Alibi Ike (Munnings), he chased in third into the far turn before coming three wide past the quarter pole. He took over with a furlong to run...

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. Friday's Observations features a well-bred Godolphin duo trained by Charlie Appleby. 1.00 Newbury, Novice, £9,999, 2yo, 7fT LENORMAND (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a half-brother to the G1 Kennedy Mile winner Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) who starts out for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in the maiden won 12 ...

Amo Racing has lodged an appeal against the result of the G2 Norfolk S. during the 2022 Royal Ascot meeting. Their horses Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) were second and third in that race to The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}). The winner veered abruptly across the course late in the five furlong contest, which impeded Crispy Cat and Brave Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation), who finished fourth. Jockey Paul Hanagan received a 10-day ban for careless riding aboard the winner. The winning margin was 1...

Global Esteem (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (lot 45) topped the Tattersalls Online June Sale on Friday, selling for 25,000gns to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock. Offered by Global Group Racing, the 5-year-old is a four-time winner and a full-brother to listed winner and G3 Sceptre S. third Terror (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). Second on the buyers' sheets was the 3-year-old placed filly Princess Azure (Ire) (Air Force Blue) (lot 21). Offered by Jessica Harrington's Commonstown Stables, the daughter of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Princess Sinead (Ire) (Jeremy) brought 17,000gns from Omega Racing. A...

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. Saturday's Observations features a half-sister to Group 1 winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio). 1.05 Navan, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 5f 162yT STATUETTE (Justify) is the fifth foal out of the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), making her a half-sister to last...

York's Knavesmire had witnessed a TDN Rising Star on Saturday as Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) streeted his 2-year-old peers and there was another to earn that tag on Sunday as Amo Racing Limited's Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) romped to a seven-length success over the track's flat fast five furlongs. The 2022 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale topper at 525,000gns had the misfortune to run into Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on debut at Ascot May 7, but this Sky Bet Sunday Series EBF Novice S. offered...

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 daughter of Grade I winner Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). 1.40 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 6fT NEVER ENDING STORY (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another significant Ballydoyle newcomer on this important weekend, being the first foal out of the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational winner Athena (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. Saturday's Observations features a pair of Kingman (GB) colts at Naas.   2.50 Naas, Cond, €22,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT AGE OF KINGS (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is the first foal out of the G2 May Hill S. winner Turret Rocks (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who debuts for Westerberg and Coolmore...

NEWMARKET, UK—The excellence of the Tattersalls marketing team is familiar, but nobody realised they had friends in quite such high places. For the racing gods, as a rule so notoriously uncooperative, have this week followed a script that could scarcely have promoted the Craven Breeze-Up Sale more lavishly—with graduates of last year's auction winning Classic trials, just up the road on the Rowley Mile, shortly before each of its two sessions. On Wednesday it was the turn of champion juvenile Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who extended his unbeaten...

NEWMARKET, UK—We know that these breeze-up consignors have nerves of steel: otherwise they simply couldn't do the job. As such, the bloodstock industry could not have appointed a better echelon to test the stormy waters of the last couple of years, when they were first to be broadsided by the pandemic and then tried to put things back on an even keel last year. The opening session of the opening sale of the European circuit, then, gave them a chance to put their world back on its axis—even as they...

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...