Compiegne

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 a son of Group 1 winner Grey Lilas (Ire) (Danehill). 13.55 Compiegne, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, c/g, 10fT GREY LUX (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is a son of the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp heroine Grey Lilas  (Ire) (Danehill), whose best progeny to date was...

Haras du Quesnay's first-season sire Recoletos (Fr) (by Whipper) is off the mark after his daughter Markswoman (Fr) captured the opener at Compiegne on Tuesday. Fifth over 6 1/2 furlongs on debut at Craon June 13, the 23-5 shot was restrained early to race in rear. Cajoled into contention in early straight, she needed a remainder to overhaul Anoline (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) and responded to head that rival inside the last 100 metres for a 3/4-of-a-length success. She is the last known foal out of the dam, a relative of...

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. Tuesday's Insights features a half-brother to G1SW Dolniya. 12.05 Compiegne, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, 8fT DALMAR (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}) is a notable newcomer, being a half-brother to the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}) out of a half-sister to the brilliant Daylami (Ire) and Dalakhani (Ire). Francis-Henri...

Haras du Petit Tellier's The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when the Carlos and Yann Lerner-trained 16-5 favourite Jay Gatsby (Fr) shed maiden status in Friday's Prix de la Vallee de l'Automne (Maiden) over seven furlongs at Compiegne. 3rd-Compiegne, €20,000, Mdn, 7-2, 2yo, 7fT, 1:29.13, vsf. JAY GATSBY (FR) (c, 2, The Grey Gatsby {Ire}--Hijaziyah {GB}, by Testa Rossa {Aus}), who posted a June 11 debut fourth over course and distance last time, was well away to race on the front...

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 a son of G1 French 1000 Guineas third Heuristique (Ire) (Shamardal). 3.35 Compiegne, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT TOURISTIC (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a son of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third Heuristique (Ire) (Shamardal), who was acquired by the Wertheimers for 675,000gns at the...

5.15 Compiegne, Debutantes, €20,000, 3yo, 10fT BALTIC GOLD (IRE) (Golden Horn {GB}) is the first foal out of the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Baltic Baroness (Ger) (Shamardal) who debuts for the same Gestut Ammerland-Andre Fabre stable. The January-foaled descendant of the high-class Borgia (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) meets a trio of similarly well-connected peers in the fellow colts Scenario (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), a Waldemar Hickst-trained half-brother to the Group 1 winner Scalo (GB) (Lando {Ger}), and Westward (GB) (Dansili {GB}), George Strawbridge's full-brother to With You (GB) and We Are...

His Highness The Aga Khan's hitherto unraced Zaykava (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a daughter of unbeaten MG1SW European Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar), was the main focus of attention for Wednesday's Prix du Cochet, a 10-furlong heat for newcomers, on a low-key card at Compiegne and duly obliged as the well-backed 7-5 favourite. 5th-Compiegne, €20,000, Mdn, 7-1, unraced 3yo, 10fT, 2:11.10, sf. ZAYKAVA (FR) (f, 3, Siyouni {Fr}--Zarkava {Ire} {Horse of the Year-Eur, Ch. 3yo Filly-Eur, Hwt. 2yo Filly-Fr & MG1SW-Fr, $4,793,989}, by Zamindar) was the main focus of attention for this low-key...

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 daughter of the undefeated Arc heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). 2.24 Compiegne, Debutantes, €22,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT VISSANI (FR) (Dariyan {Fr}) debuts for The Aga Khan and Alain de Royer-Dupre and is a half-brother to the triple Group 1-winning stayer Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) whose dam...

French racing will return behind closed doors on Monday after being off since Mar. 16 due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, and the initial three cards at ParisLongchamp, Toulouse and Compiegne have drawn a whopping 1,069 entries. ParisLongchamp, which received clearance on Monday to stage its meeting in the nation's capital, has drawn a total of 257 entries across 10 races. The card's feature races are the G2 Prix d'Harcourt and Group 3 Prix la Grotte, Prix de Fontainebleau and G3 Prix de Saint-Georges. Last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club...

The French racing community received good news on Monday, with the confirmation that racing will be authorised in Paris on May 11. Paris had been declared a "red zone" under the coronavirus lockdown restrictions in France, but France Galop President Edouard de Rothschild tweeted the positive news on Monday morning. "We obtained and received from the Prefecture de Police de Paris the authorisation to resume racing on May 11," de Rothschild tweeted. "This is very good news and a real victory!" The French government had earlier announced its support of...

Three meetings at in France next week are to take place behind closed doors in a response to the coronavirus outbreak. At Compiegne, Monday's jumps card and the Wednesday fixture on the Flat will have no paying customers, with the order coming from the mayor of Compiegne and the president of the Compiegne Racing Society. It is a similar story at Chantilly, where Tuesday's programme will not be open to the public. Racing professionals will be admitted as normal. The move is the first of its kind for the sport...