Observations on the European Racing Scene for Wednesday, Sept. 19

[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 €1.6 million Goffs Orby Yearling Sale topper Old Glory (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

2.30 Yarmouth, Mdn, £7,400, 2yo, 7f 3yT
ROYAL MEETING (IRE) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is a son of the G1 Alan Robertson Fillies’ Championship winner Rock Opera (SAf) (Lecture) whose Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) captured the 2012 G2 Richmond S. Remarkably, he added two more at that level on dirt this year, including the G2 Godolphin Mile and Saeed bin Suroor has charge of his half-brother who debuts against 14 rivals.

 3.20 Naas, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 6fT
LAND GIRL (War Front) debuts for Khalid Abdullah and Dermot Weld and is a daughter of the smart Principal Role (Empire Maker), a half-sister to Midships (Mizzen Mast). Her 19 rivals include Ballydoyle’s Afar (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to two black-type performers from the stable who was fifth when made favourite on her debut at The Curragh last month.

 3.30 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 8fT
OUZALA (IRE) (Dansili {GB}) starts out for the Wertheimer-Freddy Head connection and is a half-sister to the operation’s 2013 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Indonesienne (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}). She meets Grace Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), an Alain de Royer Dupre-trained half-sister to the connections’ 2012 G1 Falmouth S. heroine Giofra (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

 4.10 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT
ANCIENT MARINER (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) represents the Magnier/Tabor/Smith-Andre Fabre combination which enjoyed such a red-letter day when this colt’s half-brother Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) swooped to conquer in the 2011 G1 Epsom Derby. Also closely related to the dual Group 3 winner and dual Classic-placed Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), the May foal encounters a Shadwell blueblood in Mushayyed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a Freddy Head-trained half-brother to the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois-winning sire Tamayuz (GB) (Nayef) connected to the yard’s burgeoning sprinting power Tantheem (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}).

6.00 Naas, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 8fT
EGRECIO (GB) (Intello {Ger}) is another notable Juddmonte newcomer to represent the Dermot Weld yard, this time being a half-brother to the 2011 G1 Matron S. winner Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}). That talented mare’s full-brother First Sitting (GB) took last year’s G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron.

 7.00 Naas, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT
OLD GLORY (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the day’s most interesting newcomer, being the 2017 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale topper at €1.6 million who starts out for Zayat Stables LLC, Magnier, Tabor and Smith. Aidan O’Brien pitches the half-brother to the G2 Herbert Power S. winner Assign (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) into the maiden won by the stable’s Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

View the full article