Marseille-Borely
Haras de Castillon's first-season sire Texas (by Wootton Bassett) was off the mark with his initial crop on Friday as Azamra took the first at Marseille-Borely. Standing at a fee of €3,800, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up was represented in the five-furlong Prix de Carro by the Nicolas Perret-trained filly who began in the worst possible manner by ducking right out of the stalls and taking a fierce grip in rear without cover. Still able to surge by her peers and gain the advantage a furlong out, the 6-1...
Marseille-Borely was the venue for the first European winner in 2026 by a first-crop sire on Wednesday as Sealiway's Witchway struck in the Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois colours. Happy to follow the strong pace under Hugo Besnier in the five-furlong maiden, the 8-5 favourite took control 300 metres from the finish and drew away in style to record a 2 1/2-length verdict over Dicanto,a colt from the first crop of Haras du Taillis's resident Dicaprio. There was another short-neck margin back to the third Body Physical, the first runner for Haras des...
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. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to a Classic winner. 13.27 Marseille-Borely, Mdn, €21,000, 3yo, f, 10fT Lordship Stud and Philipp von Stauffenberg's unraced FLEUR DE LIS (FR) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) is a Jerome Reynier-trained half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}). She...
Haras du Mont Goubert resident Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Christophe Escuder-trained daughter By Sensation (Fr) shed maiden status over six furlongs in Monday's Prix du Petit Cercle at Marseille-Borely. 3rd-Marseille-Borely, €23,000, Cond, 5-27, 2yo, 6fT, 1:07.38, g/s. BY SENSATION (FR) (f, 2, Threat {Ire}--Home Office {Fr}, by Kitten's Joy), an Apr. 24 last-out third going five furlongs at this venue, went forward to stalk the pace in second early before claiming control after the opening exchanges. Shaken up...
Patrice Cottier trainee Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}--Speralita {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}) notched a three-length debut success at Marseille-Borely earlier this month and swooped late over the same course and distance in Monday's Listed Prix Delahante to maintain her perfect record on black-type bow. She was steadied off the tempo and settled into a smooth rhythm racing sixth through halfway in the 8 1/2-furlong contest. Hurried along rounding the home turn, the 9-10 favourite made relentless headway under mild rousting in the straight and kept on strongly to usurp long-time...
Europe's first 2-year-old contest of the year, Marseille-Borely's five-furlong Prix de Carqueiranne, takes place Thursday morning and has attracted a final field of eight newcomers. It features a trio hailing from the Fabrice Vermeulen yard, including €10,000 Arqana September graduate Bad Boy (Fr), who will become the first representative of Haras de Saint-Vincent's freshman sire Fas (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The February-foaled bay is a son of Listed Prix Caravelle third Queendara (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), herself a daughter of Listed Prix Occitanie victrix and G3 Prix de Royaumont placegetter Dance...
Patrice Cottier trainee Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}--Sweet Alabama (Fr), by Enrique {GB}) took his tally to a perfect two-for-two when annexing Monday's Listed Prix Delahante at Marseille-Borely. The gelded 2-year-old had posted a five-length debut win at Salon-de-Provence last month and bounded to another wide-margin triumph on black-type bow in the 8 1/2-furlong juvenile contest. Foiling a Cottier exacta, Harry Way (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) nailed Horizon Dore's stablemate Cambronne (Fr) (Alex The Winner) on the line for second. Monday, Marseille-Borely, France PRIX DELAHANTE-Listed, €60,000, Marseille-Borely, 10-24, 2yo, 8 1/2fT,...
With Aigle Vaillant (Fr) (Wings of Eagles {Fr}) becoming the third individual winner for his freshman sire (by Pour Moi {Ire}) at Le Pin Au Haras on Sunday, Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois' homebred 2-year-old filly Blue Wings (Fr) took matters a stage further by becoming the Beeches Stud incumbent's first stakes scorer in Monday's Listed Prix Delahante at Marseille-Borely. Blue Wings, who posted a July 25 debut runner-up finish going seven furlongs at Bordeaux's La Teste de Buch venue, graduated in a Sept. 4 one-mile maiden here in her penultimate start and...