Lady Bowthorpe

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 exciting newcomer in the Juddmonte silks. 12.50 Doncaster, £22,000, Nov, 2yo, 6f 2yT Juddmonte's LEONETTO (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a half-brother to G1 Nassau Stakes heroine Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and multiple Group-winning G1 Prix de la Foret third Speak In Colours (GB) Excelebration...

A great day for the Cumanis' Fittocks Stud draft continued with the sale of lot 218, the Dubawi colt out of G1 Nassau Stakes winner Lady Bowthorpe (Nathaniel), for 1,300,000gns. He became the first purchase at Book 1 this week for Coolmore. The colt's breeder Emma Banks, who sold his full-brother to Godolphin at last year's sale for 2,000,000gns, said, "I'm so lucky to have a mare that has produced two beautiful yearlings. Her [Too Darn Hot colt] foal is lovely and she's in foal to Wootton Bassett, so it's...

"This business is a great leveller," says Emma Banks, who is preparing for the sales debut of the first foal of her star mare Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) at Tattersalls next week. The Dubawi (Ire) colt is being consigned by Fittocks Stud, where he was born, and is lot 242 on Wednesday.  "It's getting nerve-wracking. He's going to be the second horse I've sold this year. I had a yearling in the Somerville Sale, which didn't sell. I'd have happily raced him but Tim Easterby bought him outside the...

William Jarvis is to decide between Group 1 targets for stable star Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) at Goodwood next week with the Qatar Nassau S. and Qatar Sussex S. both under consideration.  The 5-year-old mare, owned by Emma Banks, started her season with victory in the G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket and was then runner-up to Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Lockinge S. A poor blood test has ruled Palace Pier out of the Sussex S., bringing the mile contest and a clash with top 3-year-old...

Having sprung a surprise when winning Ascot's G3 Valiant Fillies' S. over a mile in July, Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) demonstrated a deadly turn of acceleration which made the difference on Sunday as she upgraded her portfolio with a win in Newmarket's G2 Betfair Dahlia S. Comfortable being held up in last off the moderate early pace by Kieran Shoemark, the 6-1 shot tracked last year's runner-up Queen Power (Ire) (Shamardal) heading down into the "dip" and blew by that 2-1 favourite inside the final 150 yards. At the...

Let's not forget, however great the lure of the sales ring or a wafting cheque book may be, thoroughbreds are bred to race. In the case of Prince Khalid Abdullah, Coolmore and Peter Brant, it could be said that we have three owner-breeders who are somewhat immune to commercially-based decisions when it comes to keeping a horse in training. Nevertheless, they are to be commended for racing on mares of the calibre of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}). At 'only' five, Magical...