Observations: March 30, 2019

[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. Today’s Observations features a highly regarded Jean-Claude Rouget trainee and numerous bluebloods.

2.50 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €35,000, 3yo, c/g, 10 1/2fT
MAKMOUR (FR) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) was described by trainer Jean-Claude Rouget as his “grand espoir” in a recent interview with Jour de Galop, which is a significant pointer to the expectations on the Aga Khan homebred who holds entries in the Classics, including the Epsom Derby. Having cruised through his sole racecourse outing over 7 1/2 furlongs on Deauville’s Polytrack in November, the bay faces a tough reintroduction against another Aga Khan homebred colt in the Mikel Delzangles-trained Shendam (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), an impressive winner on his debut over nine furlongs at ParisLongchamp in October, and two Wertheimer homebreds from the Carlos Laffon-Parias stable including Maxime Guyon’s pick, Starmaniac (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a son of the Group 1 heroine Plumania (GB) (Anabaa).

4.35 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €25,000, 3yo, f, 10fT
GLACIATE (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is a half-sister to the pair of Nayef Group 1 performers Snow Sky (GB) and Ice Breeze (GB), with the latter’s trainer Pascal Bary also in charge of this Juddmonte homebred. The G1 Prix de Diane entry encounters another notable blueblood in Tabor/Magnier/Smith’s Secret Walk (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), a 600,000gns TATDEC graduate and Andre Fabre-trained daughter of the accomplished High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}).

4.35 Navan, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo, 8fT
JUST SO (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is a half-sister to the G1 Eclipse S.-winning sire Mukhadram (GB) (Shamardal) who gets her career underway for Ballydoyle racing in the Derrick Smith silks. The chestnut is up against 17 rivals here, with His Highness The Aga Khan’s similarly unraced Shelir (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) one of the most eye-catching from the Dermot Weld yard, being a grandson of the 1993 G1 Prix de Diane heroine Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}) whose exciting relative Shendam (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) will have already raced at Saint-Cloud earlier in the afternoon.

4.45 Doncaster, Mdn, £5,800, 3yo, 10f 43yT
JUST YOU WAIT (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a fascinating newcomer on a big day for Godolphin, being a half-brother to the champion 2-year-old and proven sire Teofilo (Ire) and a full-brother to the recent G2 Cape Verdi and G2 Balanchine winner Poetic Charm (GB), as well as the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial scorer Bean Feasa (GB). Charlie Appleby gets the bay homebred started against 16 rivals, including King Power Racing’s Andrew Balding-trained Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), the 500,000gns TATOCT purchase who has one piece of juvenile form when second to Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}), which would make him tough to beat.

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