Observations on the European Racing Scene for Friday, May 11

[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. Friday’s Insights features a daughter of G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

1.20 Curragh, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, f, 5fT
FANTASY (IRE) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is the latest progeny out of the star sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) to grace the track, having fetched 1.6 million gns at Tattersalls October. Therefore a half to the MG1SW Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), she also races for that luminary’s trainer Aidan O’Brien and is joined by the stable’s Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy), the $500,000 KEESEP half-sister to the stakes winners Laureate Conductor (Bernstein) and Baby J (J Be K) who skipped a run against impressive TDN Rising Star Fairyland (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) at Naas on Monday.
1.55 Curragh, Mdn, €17,500, 2yo, 5fT
ISLE OF INNISFREE (Scat Daddy) debuts at the re-opened The Curragh on a day that Coolmore are keen to try out some potential future stars and this colt, who is owned in partnership with Flaxman Stables, is a full-brother to last year’s G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Norfolk S. hero and fellow Aidan O’Brien trainee Sioux Nation. His readiness will be tested by another from his own stable in Empire State (Scat Daddy) who was third at Dundalk nine days ago.
5.20 Curragh, Mdn, €16,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT
MOST GIFTED (IRE) (War Front) is another debutante for Coolmore and Aidan O’Brien to take the eye on a fascinating day of action in Kildare, being out of the 2008 G1 Prix de Diane runner-up and G1 Irish Oaks third Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) who is herself a half to the Epsom Derby-winning sire Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Joining her is the stable’s Darkness Falls (War Front), a daughter of the 2012 G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who was eighth on debut at Naas in October.
6.15 Nottingham, Cond, £6,000, 3yo, f, 8f 75yT
ADORABLE (IRE) (Kodiac {GB}) created a lasting impression when successful for the Mick Channon stable at Newbury last month and as a daughter of the 2000 GI Ramona H. heroine Caffe Latte (Ire) (Seattle Dancer) has scope to move on to better things eventually. She encounters a real blueblooded newcomer in Fittocks Stud’s 260,000gns TATOCT purchase Floria Tosca (Ire) (Shamardal), a daughter of the brilliant Islington (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) Luca Cumani was intent on securing at the Ballymacoll dispersal.

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