Saxon Warrior (Jpn)

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...

Westerberg and Coolmore's 2-year-old colt Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}--Tickled Pink {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) earned his black-type stripes with a game win in last month's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at Deauville and continued his upward momentum with another narrow success, and a first pattern-race victory for his freshman sire (by Deep Impact {Jpn}), in Saturday's G3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly. The 19-10 second choice, who graduated at Gowran Park in his fifth attempt last month, was sharply into stride and settled off the...

Delivering Saxon Warrior (Jpn) with a breakthrough first black-type winner at Deauville on Saturday, Victoria Road (Ire) took the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at a mile to also crown a memorable afternoon for Aidan O'Brien who had enjoyed a clean sweep of the 2-year-old contests at The Curragh. Always prominent under Ioritz Mendizabal, the 4-1 shot who had broken his maiden at the fifth attempt 10 days previously over seven furlongs at Gowran Park worked his way to the front inside the last 100 metres and mastered...

Coolmore's first-season sire Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is off the mark after his son Ser Sed (Ire) captured the 5 1/2-furlong Prix Mercier for unraced juveniles at Le Lion d'Angers on Sunday evening. Professional to load and speedy from the gates, the February-foaled bay who is owned by Azeddine Sedrati and Jean-Claude Seroul was steadied to track the leading trio by Hugo Lebouc. Delivered wide in the short straight, the Joel Boisnard trainee grabbed the lead passing the furlong pole and saw off the 9-10 favourite Once Upon a...

DEAUVILLE, France--The second and final session of the select part of the Arqana August Sale lit up in ebullient fashion with two seven-figure yearlings, including the €2.4-million sale topper by Dubawi, a half-sister to Group 2 winner Babylone (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Charlie Gordon-Watson made a significant impact on the day's action when acting for an unnamed client and signed for the filly (lot 108) out of Typique (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) shortly after bidding €525,000 for lot 99, a filly by Frankel (GB). The sale leader was consigned by Haras...