Observations on the European Racing Scene for Saturday, Apr. 21

[Wandering Eyes]

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 Insights features a half-brother to G1SW Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

4.20 Newbury, Mdn, £8,550, 3yo, 8fT
TA ALLAK (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) is another significantly-bred member of the Roger Varian stable to emerge at this crucial stage of the season, being a half-brother to the recent G1 Dubai Turf hero Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s son of the MG1SW Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk) encounters another newcomer of note in the Gredleys’s Olympic Odyssey (GB) (Camelot {GB}), a George Scott-trained half-brother to the owner’s G1 2000 Guineas third Olympian Odyssey (GB) (Sadler’s Wells).

4.55 Newbury, Mdn, £15,000, 3yo, 11fT
SHAREEF STAR (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) has caught the eye of workwatchers in Newmarket of late and debuts for the Sir Michael Stoute stable in this intriguing maiden. Ryan Moore is on Saeed Suhail’s 700,000gns TATOCT son of the useful Gotlandia (Fr) (Anabaa), whose equally exciting unraced stablemate Crystal King (GB) (Frankel {GB}) joins him. Sir Evelyn de Rothschild’s homebred is a half-brother to the fellow Freemason Lodge representatives Crystal Capella (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Hillstar (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), all of whom flew the flag for the yard in recent times.

5.40 Nottingham, Mdn, £7,000, 3yo, 10f 50yT
DEPARTMENT OF WAR (IRE) (Declaration of War), a half-brother to the high-class miler Toormore (Ire) (Arakan) and G2 Champagne S. winner Estidhkaar (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who represents a relatively new link up in Smith/Magnier/Tabor/Jooste and the Richard Hannon stable. He meets fellow unraced colt Mazboon (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s 400,000gns TATFOA purchase from the Roger Varian stable whose family links with the afternoon’s Newbury maiden runner Olympic Odyssey (GB) (Camelot {GB}).

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