Navan

Some TDN Rising Stars are marginal calls, but Ballydoyle's River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Transcendence {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) entered the "no-brainer" category at Navan on Saturday with a 10-length blitz of his rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Always travelling strongly for Ryan Moore tracking the leader in the five-furlong 164 yards contest won by fellow TDN Rising Star and stablemate Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) 12 months ago, the 5-6 favourite was let loose approaching two out and devoured the uphill climb to the line...

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 colts by Wootton Bassett (GB). 14.20 Navan, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, 5f 164yT RIVER TIBER (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was spared a debut run on deep ground at The Curragh last week in the maiden won by the stable's Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never)...

Aidan O'Brien's 3-year-olds were described as a "strong" group by the trainer on Monday and there was further proof of that at Navan 48 hours later as the yard took the two maidens including the closer with Drumroll (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a full-brother to the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Saxon Warrior (Jpn). Slowly away and forced to play catch-up for much of the Vintage Crop Raceday April 22nd Maiden over a mile, the 13-2 shot stuck to his guns late on as the leaders...

GAIN The Advantage Series will continue to be supported by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and GAIN Equine Nutrition for the third consecutive year. Last year's series was won jointly by trainers Pat Martin and Kevin Coleman, who shared an overall league prize of €5,000 worth of GAIN equine products. After two successful years, this year there will be an added race at Tramore Racecourse. The race will be restricted to horses owned by a syndicate or racing club to support and encourage the growth in this area, and like the...

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. Wednesday's Observations features the first foal out of a dual Group 1 winner. 5.35 Navan, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo/up, c/g, 8fT BALLSBRIDGE (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is the first foal out of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the sister to Gleneagles...

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. Wednesday's Observations features a 'TDN Rising Star'.   12.20 Chantilly, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, c/g, 9fT PADISHAKH (FR) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) earned TDN Rising Star status on debut when beating the subsequent winner Halfway Line (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) at ParisLongchamp at the start of last month. Jean-Claude Rouget keeps Nurlan...

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...

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 Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).   2.05 Navan, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, 5f 162yT BROADHURST (IRE) (No Nay Never) is the latest representative of Coolmore's red-hot sire to emerge from Ballydoyle, with the February-foaled bay having proved a €620,000 sensation at the Goffs Orby. The first foal...

Fourth behind Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in The Curragh's G1 Moyglare Stud S. and sixth to Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket either side of a win in the former venue's G3 Weld Park S. at two, Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) returned to add her name to the list of Oaks aspirants with a hard-fought success in Saturday's Listed Salsabil S. at Navan. Settled behind the leading duo early, the daughter of the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was muscled her way through a gap...

Saturday's Listed Committed S. at Navan was as intriguing a Commonwealth Cup pointer as can be found at this stage of the season and full credit has to be handed to the race-hardened New York City (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) for making his presence felt despite being passed over by Ryan Moore. Unable to win in five starts at two but tried in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket and beaten under five lengths when ninth in that September feature, the full-brother to the G2 Duke of York S.-winning...

2.00 Navan, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, 5f 164yT AESOP'S FABLES (IRE) (No Nay Never) is the latest potential Royal Ascot star to appear for Ballydoyle in 2022 and a notable one as a half-brother to that meeting's Listed Windsor Castle S. winner Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Along with that sire, whose career win total included the G3 Phoenix Sprint S., this February-foaled bay is also a half to the stable's G3 Chester Vase runner-up Sandhurst (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and he meets Peter Brant's Curragh third Midnight Toker (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}),...

Moyglare Stud Farm's 2020 G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won last term's G3 Loughbrown S. in one of six starts since that Classic highlight, makes an early seasonal debut in Saturday's 14-furlong Listed Vintage Crop S. at Navan. Not seen before May in three prior campaign openings, she faces nine rivals for her debut at the Co. Meath venue, headed by 2020 G1 Prix du Cadran heroine Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}). Earlier on the seven-race card, nine 3-year-old fillies will...