Lope de Vega (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. Friday's Insights features a full to Breeders' Cup winner Wuheida (GB) (D 3.05 Newmarket, Novice, £5,400, 2yo, f, 7fT A'SHAARI (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a full-sister to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Wuheida (GB) out of the dual top-level scorer...

Last year's G3 Zetland S. winner Max Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is pointing towards the Sept. 12 G1 St Leger, but will only take up that engagement if ground conditions are suitable, according to trainer Ralph Beckett. Max Vega beat just two home in the G1 Investec Derby, but looked a stayer in the making when second to Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Geoffrey Freer S. on Aug. 15 despite rider Harry Bentley dropping his whip late on. "Max Vega will go to Doncaster,...

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. Tuesday's Insights features a son of MG1SW Speedy Boarding (GB). 2.55 Haydock, Nov, £5,400, 2yo, 7f 212yT Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's LEGEND OF DUBAI (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of MG1SW Speedy Boarding (GB) (Shamardal), ran into the 'TDN Rising Star' effort of Guru (GB) (Kingman {GB}) when...

The catalogue for the Goffs Orby Sale, which includes a Sea The Stars (Ire) half-sister to a trio of Group 1 winners out of Theatrical (Ire) mare Green Room (lot 176), is now online. Numerous blue-blooded pedigrees make up the two-day sale, with 474 yearlings set to go under the hammer on Sept. 29-30. Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is a €175,000 graduate of the Orby Sale. Ballylinch Stud will offer the 12th foal of the unraced Green Room, whose 2018 Galileo...

Denied in the G2 Railway S. at The Curragh July 18, Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) returned to the same course and six-furlong strip on Sunday to dominate a competitive renewal of the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. Despite the presence of four group-winning colts Steel Bull (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), Ventura Tormenta (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}), the market spoke mainly for Lucky Vega who was supported into 4-1 second favouritism and also Ballydoyle's maiden St...

MGSW Duke of Hazzard (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S. and G2 Celebration Mile S. at Goodwood last August, will now be pointed at the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. Unplaced in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot upon resuming on June 16, the 4-year-old improved to third in the G2 Summer Mile S. there on July 11 and went one better in the July 28 G2 Lennox S. last out for trainers Paul and Oliver Cole. "I think the plan will be to...

Haydock's G2 bet365 Lancashire Oaks was blighted by the withdrawals of Antonia de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Dame Malliot (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), but such was the manner of victory of Waverley Racing's hot favourite Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) it may be that their resistance would have proven futile regardless. Having made all in dramatic fashion when beating the subsequent G2 Hardwicke S. scorer Fanny Logan (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the course-and-distance G3 Pinnacle S. June 7, the 1-2 market-leader was...

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 Insights features a half-sister to European Horse of the Year Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). 12.25 Chateaubriant, Mdn, €18,000, 3yo, f, 9f 165yT His Highness The Aga Khan's ZARZA (FR) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), an Alain de Royer-Dupre trainee, is the standout runner of the day with the homebred bay being...

Fast approaching a silver jubilee of time served in the trenches, there remains nothing which acts as such an effective catalyst for in-house discussion and disagreement as our beloved niche, TDN's Rising Stars. "Genius is 1% talent and 99% hard work." So said Einstein. I don't suppose he gave that one a second thought, though his words perfectly illustrate the backstory of notable achievements in almost any sphere. However, for this publication's signature product, there is no small measure of luck required too. "TDN Rising Stars allow readers to identify...

If there is one adjective that embodies everything about Shamardal, it would have to be 'class.' That magic yet highly elusive ingredient that separates a great Thoroughbred from the field has permeated every aspect of his being from the time his blue chip mating was planned, through to his own quartet of Group 1 successes on the racecourse and on to his sons and daughters, who made an immediate impact on the track with Classic winners in Europe and Australia in his first crop and whose dominance was emphasized last...

Dual French Classic winner and leading sire Shamardal (Giant's Causeway--Helsinki {GB}, by Machiavellian) has been euthanised at the age of 18 after dealing with "a range of health issues." Announcing the news on Thursday, Joe Osborne, managing director of Godolphin Ireland, paid tribute to Kildangan Stud's flagship stallion. "Shamardal embodied mental and physical toughness—as a racehorse and as a stallion," he said. "As the racing world has seen over the past 15 years, he passed those qualities on to his progeny. "He contended with a range of health issues over...

The Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale catalogue, featuring a daughter of Frankel (GB) (lot 142) out of Irish MGSW and G1 Matron S. third Ainippe (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB}) from Longways Stables, was released online on Monday. Slated for May 22 with the breezes at Fairyhouse Racecourse the day before, the 225-lot sale will be held in the Tattersalls Ireland sales ring from 10:30 a.m. local time. The breezes will begin at 10 a.m. C. H. Thoroughbreds offers a Kingman (GB) filly (lot 25) from the family of English/Italian...