Lope de Vega (Ire)

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Choisya in the GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland. Queen Of Keeneland Rabbah Bloodstock homebred Choisya (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), a winner of the G2 Cape Verdi and G2 Balanchine at Meydan this winter, took her show on the road and ran out a half-length winner of the GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland on April 12 (video). She is trained by Simon...

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. Friday's Observations features the return of a multiple group winner. 4.30 Chelmsford, Cond, £75,000, 3yo, 6f (AWT) SKY MAJESTY (IRE) (Blue Point {Ire}) was unbeaten as a juvenile through the tests of the G3 Firth of Clyde Stakes and G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and is back to kickstart her...

Putting a disappointing juvenile finale firmly behind him at Newbury on Saturday, Juddmonte's Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) emerged best in a fascinating G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes. Labelled a TDN Rising Star after his debut at Sandown in August, the homebred relation of Frankel (GB) who had flopped when sixth in Doncaster's Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes in September tracked Rashabar (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) towards the stand's side throughout the early stages. Mastering that rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, the 8-1 shot,...

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 a full-brother to Coolmore stallion Blackbeard (Ire). 2.20 Curragh, Cond, €22,000, 2yo, 5fT CHARLES DARWIN (IRE) (No Nay Never) is the fourth foal out of the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes fourth Muirin (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), whose son Blackbeard (Ire) carried all before him for...

He's not only back, he might be even better than he was last year. 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (h, 5, Lope de Vega {Ire})--Zindaya, by More Than Ready), a back-to-back Grade I winner in 2024 before an uncharacteristic off-the-board finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, unleashed a scintillating turn of foot in his 5-year-old debut at Keeneland Friday, capturing the $650,000 GI Maker's Mark Mile Stakes by 4 1/4 widening lengths. There was no catching the 4-5 favorite as 3-1 second choice Integration (Quality Road), most recently...

Leopardstown's opening fillies' maiden on Wednesday has produced some luminaries in recent times and Robert Moran's Catalina Delcarpio (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) looks another as she surged to TDN Rising Stardom. Well-supported into 11-4 second favourite for the 10-furlong test, the Paddy Twomey-trained 400,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase tanked along in the hands of Billy Lee behind the leaders off the moderate pace. Full of running turning for home, the relative of the Oaks third High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) surged to the front upon command approaching...

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. Monday's Observations features a notable newcomer for the Gosdens. 5.25 Kempton, Mdn, £8,000, 3yo/up, 8f (AWT) ERNST BLOFELD (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is a notable newcomer for John and Thady Gosden at a track at which they have introduced some smart types, being White Birch Farm's homebred son of the...

Let go at 8-1 for Sunday's G3 Prix la Force at ParisLongchamp despite his trainer Andre Fabre holding the record of eight successes in the Prix du Jockey Club trial, Godolphin's Cualificar (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) emerged front and centre to extend that tally. Off the mark over 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud last month, the son of the 2015 Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) followed the early pace and had first run on The Aga Khan's Studs' 6-4 favourite Azimpour (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to score by a...

The Aga Khan's Studs' Tarima (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was a warm order for Leopardstown's opener on Sunday and the half-sister to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) and Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) read the script to open her account. Sent off the 4-7 favourite, the Dermot Weld-trained newcomer delivered a flourish from rear under Chris Hayes to take command inside the final furlong and register a 1 3/4-length success from Noli Timere (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). "Chris hadn't planned to sit quite so far back on her, but she just got turned...

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. Sunday's Observations features a full-sister to a Breeders' Cup winner. 2.00 Leopardstown, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, f, 8fT INTENSIFY (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is the pick of Ryan Moore of a duo representing Aidan O'Brien, with the full-sister to the accomplished Newspaperofrecord (Ire) preferred over Crystal Ball (Ire) (Wootton...

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. Thursday's Observations features features a daughter of a Grade I winner. 14.29 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, f, 8f (AWT) Godolphin newcomer ILDA ROSA (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is a homebred daughter of GI Man O' War Stakes heroine Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and thus a half-sister...

A gelding by I Am Invincible (Aus) brought top dollar at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Hong Kong International Sale when selling for HK$5 million (€593,909) to Philip Liu. Sold as lot 12, he is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Summer Passage (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}). I Am Invincible's star progeny to race in Hong Kong include Group 2 winner Wishful Thinker (Aus) and 2024 HKIS graduate Markwin (Aus), who has earned HK$3.76 million, including a HK$1-million ISG Bonus. Second on the buyers' sheet was lot 5, a gelding by...