Observations for Apr. 17

[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. Wednesday’s Insights features a son of Oaks heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

4.10 Newmarket, Mdn, £10,000, 3yo, f, 7fT

OJOOBA (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) debuts for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum who has long held much store in this Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ S. which he has won six times since 2000. This time, it looks to be the Owen Burrows-trained daughter of the G1 Epsom Oaks third Rumoush (Rahy) who carries the hopes of her owner-breeder and she is bred to be smart as a full-sister to the group-winning Muntazah (GB) and half to the classy Wadilsafa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Talaayeb (GB) (Dansili {GB}). She will have to be to get the better of Juddmonte’s Wolverhampton third Clerisy (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a Sir Michael Stoute-trained half-sister to the high-class Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}).

 

4.45 Newmarket, Novice, £10,000, 3yo, 10fT

JALMOUD (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was second on debut on Newcastle’s Tapeta in November, which could be the tip of the iceberg given that he is a son of the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Charlie Appleby saddles Godolphin’s February-foaled half-brother to last year’s G1 Fillies’ Mile third Magic Lily (GB), who is met by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Newcastle scorer El Misk (GB) (Dansili {GB}), a John Gosden-trained son of the owner-breeder’s South African luminary Igugu (Aus) (Galileo {Ire}).

 

5.45 Dundalk, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, 5fT

KING NEPTUNE (War Front) is Ballydoyle’s second 2-year-old runner of the season and highly significant on breeding, as a full-brother to the highly-regarded ex-Shadwell runner Faydhan who failed to meet his potential with just a placing in the Listed European Free H. to show at the end of his career. A late May foal, he faces a decent form standard in the recent course-and-distance runner-up Yesterdayoncemore (Ire) (No Nay Never), a Fozzy Stack-trained filly who races for Deron Pearson, Paul Shanahan and M V Magnier.

View the full article