Cursory Glance

It might seem a bit late in the year to be talking mating plans, but last week's call to Gary Hadden turned out to be a very timely one indeed, with the man at the helm of Craig Bennett's Merry Fox Stud having not one but two significant developments to report. Tragically, the first such update regarding Bennett's beloved Cursory Glance was of the worst possible kind. The daughter of Distorted Humour, who won the G3 Albany Stakes and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in a career spanning just four starts...

5.50 Wolverhampton, Novice, £6,800, 2yo, 9f 104y (AWT) SWEET MEMORIES (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is one of two blue-blooded newcomers from the John and Thady Gosden academy, with Lordship Stud responsible for this 680,000gns Book 1 purchase who is a half-sister to the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor). The other Clarehaven runner is George Strawbridge's filly Cloud Angel (GB) (Frankel {GB}) whose dam is a half to Order Of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

The pedigree of a Thoroughbred is but a one-dimensional grid to the naked eye. What one chooses to see beneath it depends entirely upon them. Good horses are produced by accident, it's true. But in a business where the overwhelming majority of foals, even from the most prolific crosses, never win a black-type race, bloodstock consultant Gary Hadden makes it a habit to look beneath the surface when planning matings, always looking for ways to increase the odds in favour of his clients. "The thing that everyone probably starts with...

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 Insights features a half-sister to a G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine. 4.50, Lyon-Parilly, Mdn, €18,000, 3yo, 12fT BEAUTIFUL TIMING (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) debuts for Godolphin, having cost the operation 700,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1. Henri-Alex Pantall introduces the half-sister to the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Cursory...