Wootton Bassett (GB)

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 return of Rhetorical (Ire). 19.45 Newmarket, Nov, £10,000, 3yo, 10fT Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase RHETORICAL (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a William Haggas trainee who shed maiden status over this trip at Newbury last month, is a half-brother to GI Joe Hirsch...

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 a seven-figure 2-year-old by Galileo (Ire). 14.40 Sandown, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT ROYAL OFFICER (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is Godolphin's 1million gns Craven Breeze-Up topper who missed his intended debut at Haydock last week due to the quickening ground. A half-brother to the listed scorer Hidden Dimples...

Coolmore juvenile Easy Mover (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Rain Goddess {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), whose Group 3-winning dam ran second in both G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Pretty Polly S., opened Friday's card at Fairyhouse with a narrow success in the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. The Aidan O'Brien trainee, who is a half-sister to last year's ill-fated Listed Dee S. winner San Antonio (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), prevailed by a head from Ado McGuinness representative Canto Della Terra (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).   1st-Fairyhouse, €18,000, Mdn, 6-7, 2yo, 6fT, 1:15.13, gd....

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 the first foal of a Group 1-winning mare. 14.00 Great Yarmouth, Nov, £9,800, 2yo, 7f 3yT John and Thady Gosden trainee ATTACK (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the first foal produced by G1 Prix Marcel Boussac victrix Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). The €460,000 Goffs Orby yearling...

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 Wootton Bassett (GB) half-brother to standout fillies Tenebrism (Caravaggio) and Statuette (Justify). 13.20 Curragh, Mdn, €25,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT HENRI MATISSE (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) injects instant spark into an already talent-stacked Curragh card as the sixth foal out of the G1 Coronation S. and...

Joseph O'Brien has laid out an adventure in America for juvenile Group 1-winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the target being the GI Manhattan S. in New York on June 8, in a path eventually routing to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. After having his sophomore season disrupted by injury, Al Riffa resurfaced in the G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp and was only beaten by three-quarters of a length in a wild scramble on the wire. O'Brien admits his charge's size is something of a concern, and...

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 daughter of the G1 Coronation S. winner Fallen For You (GB). 18.10 Windsor, Mdn, £40,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 8f 31yT Normandie Stud's hitherto unraced FIGHT FOR YOU (IRE) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), a John and Thady Gosden trainee, is a half-sister to three black-type performers produced by...

Showing that he retains all his ability, AMO Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Railway S. winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Frida La Blonde {Fr}, by Elusive City) made virtually all on his seasonal bow in Sunday's G3 Goffs Lacken S. at Naas. Last seen finishing third in the seven-furlong G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh in September, the 2-1 second favourite who was racing under a three-pound penalty demonstrated his early speed to take control under David Egan and stayed on strongly...

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 joint top-priced colt at the Arqana October Yearling Sale. 15.00 Newbury, Mdn, £12,000, 2yo, 6fT JOUNCY (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is the seventh foal out of Juddmonte's dual listed winner and multiple group-placed Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a half-sister to the great Frankel (GB)...

Last seen finishing runner-up in the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault at Chantilly in March, Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois and Jean-Claude Seroul's Wootton Verni (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) stepped up to land Monday's G3 Prix Greffulhe and survive a subsequent inquiry at Saint-Cloud. Tackling 10 1/2 furlongs for the first time under Cristian Demuro, the 9-2 shot, who holds an entry in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, was anchored last of the quartet early before being launched wide of the duelling Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and Casapueblo (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) to...

Aidan O'Brien annexed the two latest editions of Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Navan with subsequent Group 2 winners Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) and River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and he secured the hattrick after 1.25-million guineas Tattersalls Book 1 graduate Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) produced a 'TDN Rising Star' display in the extended five-furlong contest. Aesop's Fables and River Tiber also earned Rising Stars in this event and Camille Pissarro becomes Wootton Bassett's seventh Rising Star. Camille Pissarro dwelt slightly as the...

Group 1 winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is unlikely to contest the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas and instead be pointed for the May 1 G3 Ascot Commonwealth Cup Trial S., according to trainer Adrian Murray. Murray said of the Amo Racing colourbearer, "Bucanero goes to Ascot, he's in the six-furlong race. It's highly unlikely he will go for the Guineas. "We're going to campaign him as a sprinter, his brother [Wooded (Ire)] won a Group 1 over five furlongs and he shows us an awful lot of speed....