Chantilly

Trainer Christopher Head and owner-breeder Leopoldo Fernando Pujals have already taken home the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches trophy with Blue Rose Cen (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) and their year could become even more memorable should favourite Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) take another step forward in an impressive season to date. There's a strong homebred feel to the line-up, and only five of the runners have ever appeared at an auction. Four are graduates of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, while Winter Pudding (Fr) will be flying the flag...

Following a draw conducted live in Epsom's hallowed circle, a final field of 14 has been confirmed for Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby. Ballydoyle number one Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has pulled "lucky" stall 10, still the most beneficial draw in Derby history having housed Shahrastani, Reference Point (GB), Nashwan, Quest For Fame (GB), Generous (Ire), Galileo (Ire), Sir Percy (GB), Ruler of the World (Ire) and Masar (Ire). Chief market rival Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will exit from next door in nine, while leading contenders Passenger (Ulysses...

Twelve horses stood their ground for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, led by Jaber Abdullah's homebred G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), and there will be one supplementary entry in Feed The Flame (Fr) (Kingman {GB}). The Andreas Schutz-trained Marhaba Ya Sanafi is joined by Yeguada Centurion's Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who has won a pair of Group 3 contests for Christopher Head this season and is the current market favourite. The unbeaten Feed The Flame is trained by...

The Qatar Prix du Jockey Club Equestrian Parade, featuring riders and horses from the AFASEC (jockey apprentice school), will pass through the streets of Chantilly from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. They will bear the colours of the €1.5-million G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club field, which will take place on Sunday, June 4. The 10-race card will also feature family racecourse events. For more information on the Prix du Jockey Club festivities, please visit the France Galop website.

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 Observations features an Almanzor (Fr) 'TDN Rising Star'. 15.25 Chantilly, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, f, 10fT ELZORA (FR) (Almanzor {Fr}) earned TDN Rising Star status for Riviera Equine and Eric de Chambure and the Jean-Claude Rouget stable with a stirring display at ParisLongchamp last month and preps for a...

If there was any doubt who was the Cock Of The North among the French 3-year-old middle-distance colts heading into Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche, Yeguada Centurion's Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}--Hardiyna {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) provided the emphatic answer with a dominant display at a rain-soaked Chantilly. Compared to Frankel (GB) by the commentary team of Racing Galop afterwards, the homebred first foal out of the owner-breeder's €72,000 Goffs November purchase from The Aga Khan's draft was more Old Vic (GB) as he sliced through...

Philippe Allaire's Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Enchanting Skies {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) landed  Tuesday's €50,000 Prix du Coq Chantant at Chantilly, the latest in France Galop's series of premium races for unraced 2-year-olds, earning in the process a 'TDN Rising Star' badge after posting an impressive 5 1/2-length triumph in the five-furlong dash. Beauvatier broke from the outside stall and raced in rear while working his way across to the stands' side rail. Making smooth headway from halfway, the 23-10 second favourite cruised to the front on...

Handed his chance at black-type after impressive wins over 10 furlongs at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January and over 9 1/2 furlongs at Bordeaux-le-Bouscat last month, Ecuries Serge Stempniak's Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}--Absolutly Me {Fr}, by Anabaa Blue {Ire}) showed his Classic hand in Thursday's 10-furlong Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly. Again exhibiting early keenness as Cristian Demuro sought cover towards the rear, the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris entry was far from compromised by that initial expenditure of energy as he swamped the leaders...

Craig Bernick and Haras d'Etreham's hitherto untested 2-year-old filly Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never--Sparrow {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) was hammered down to 5-2 favouritism at the tills for Thursday's €30,000 Prix des Closeaux at Chantilly and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' badge after making all for an impressive success in the straight six-furlong newcomers' test. Breaking smartly to seize an immediate lead, she was in command throughout and kept on powerfully under pressure inside the final quarter-mile to easily outclass Freville (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by 3...

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. Thursday's Observations features a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). 16.08 Chantilly, Debutantes, €30,000, 2yo, 6fT LES PAVOTS (IRE) (No Nay Never) starts her career for Craig Bernick, Haras d'Etreham and Francis-Henri Graffard and is a half-sister to the G1 Cox Plate and G1...

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 Observations feature the debut of a half-sister to a Classic winner. 14.00 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, f, 10fT THE PLANETS (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is a half-sister to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Study Of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who debuts for the...

Nick Bradley Racing and Elaine Burke's Marshman (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}--White Rosa {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had twice knocked on the door as a juvenile last year and delivered a first black-type triumph, tackling his third such contest, in Monday's G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly. The Karl Burke trainee debuted with a six-furlong maiden win at Ayr in July, doubling up with an 8 1/2-length rout at Thirsk one month later, before running second in York's Aug. 19 G2 Gimcrack S. and a below-par fifth in Newmarket's Sept. 24 G1...