Sea the Stars (Ire)

Declarations for Saturday's Champions Day bonanza at Ascot were finalised Thursday morning, with no surprise defections from the main contests. Shadwell's hitherto undefeated Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will conclude his racing career in the £1.3-million Qipco Champion S. and faces off against last year's G1 Derby and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Baaeed has drawn stall one, and Adayar stall six, in the day's feature event. Elsewhere on the £4-million card, Cheveley Park Stud's G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix...

Longview Stud consigned a colt by Sea The Stars (Ire) (lot 1048) during Book 2 on Tuesday, and the chestnut son of dual stakes winner Along Came Casey (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) caught the eye of Roger Varian at 700,000gns to take the lead for the session. Also placed three times at Group 3 level, the mare has already produced the G3 Darley S. winner Feliciana De Vega (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Bred by Highview Bloodstock, Ltd., the colt's extended family contains GI Beverly D. S. heroine Fire The Groom...

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 Observations features a Shamardal half-brother to Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). 1.20 Killarney, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 8f 60yT WATER NYMPH (IRE) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), one of two Ballydoyle representatives in the line-up, is a half-sister to the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. heroine Fancy Blue (Ire)...

Flying Honours, who was 2-7 when caught out by a sprint finish last time, had placed himself among the key 2023 Derby prospects previously when beating the subsequent Haynes, Hanson & Clark winner Stormbuster (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) by 5 1/2 lengths in Salisbury's Listed Stonehenge S. also at a mile Aug. 19. Charlie Appleby was delighted to have him back on track. "As William said, you can see how we got beat last time. They have gone a good gallop today and he has had to stay and stay well...

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. Thursday's Observations features a daughter of Grade I winner Daddys Lil Darling.   2.00 Thurles, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, f, 8fT SAVETHELASTDANCE (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal out of the GI American Oaks heroine Daddys Lil Darling (Scat Daddy), who was purchased by M V Magnier for $3.5...

Sir Michael Stoute trainee Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Bint Almatar, by Kingmambo) registered a first win for His Majesty King Charles III when defeating eight rivals by 4 1/2 lengths, and more, in Tuesday's Kube Leicester's Premier Event Hire Venue Handicap at Leicester. The Godolphin-bred 4-year-old gelding, sent postward as the 10-3 second favourite for the 10-furlong contest, came from off the pace under Ryan Moore to lead approaching the final furlong and lengthened clear in the closing stages to defeat Sea The Casper (Ire) (Sea The Stars...

Shadwell's unbeaten Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is reportedly in good order following his recent home work in advance of what is likely to be his final career jump in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 15. The aforementioned 10-furlong contest has always been conditioner William Haggas's preferred option for a final start. The Hills brothers have been putting Baaeed through his paces on the Newmarket gallops alongside some Group 1 stablemates, and the colt appears to have come out of his work with flying colours....

Diverted to ParisLongchamp's G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu after a headline-heavy week, G1 Melbourne Cup victrix Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) was unable to land a telling blow and trailed home seventh behind Sunderland Holdings' Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Soho Rose {Ire}, by Hernando {Fr}), who added to her pattern-race tally with a career high in the 14-furlong distaffers' feature. The William Haggas trainee arrived at the Bois de Boulogne venue having annexed Goodwood's July 30 G2 Lillie Langtry S. and Deauville's Aug. 21 G2 Prix de...

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. Thursday's Observations features 'TDN Rising Star' Beylerbeyi (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). 1.25 Salisbury, Novice, £9,500, 2yo, 8fT BLUESTOCKING (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is the fifth foal out of Juddmonte's G1 Matron S. heroine Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and another in the silks to start her career with Ralph Beckett. Heading...

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 Observations features the 2021 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale topper. 4.10 Newmarket, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT REGAL HONOUR (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) represents Charlie Appleby's Godolphin stable and ticks a lot of boxes as a 625,000gns Book 1 graduate who is a half-brother to the G1 Moyglare Stud S....

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride likely G1 Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the two-mile race at Flemington on Nov. 1, trainer James Ferguson announced. "McEvoy has been confirmed," said Ferguson, who has worked with McEvoy in years' past. "He's won the race three times and knows his way around Flemington. He's a very good friend of mine and we have worked together a lot in the past." The two-time group-winning gelding is due to enter quarantine shortly. Racing in the colours of K K...

Four yearlings--by Galileo (Ire), Sea The Stars (Ire), Dark Angel (Ire), and Camelot (GB)--have been supplemented to the upcoming Goffs Orby Yearling Sale on Sept. 27-28. From Baroda Stud is lot 229A, a filly by the late, great Galileo (Ire). She is a daughter of Group 3 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {GB}). A filly by Sea The Stars and out of Aegean Girl (Ire) (Henrythenavigator) (lot 315A) also hails from the draft of Baroda Stud. Aegean Girl is a half-sister to G3 Bengough S. hero...