Fancy Blue (Ire)

Another Caravaggio, another TDN Rising Star as the highly impressive Contarelli Chapel (Ire) made her mark in a smart-looking field gathered for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over near six furlongs at Naas on Monday. A half-sister to last year's G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. heroine Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), the January-foaled grey who races for Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor and Smith was marginally in front from the break and completely comfortable setting the pace under a motionless Ryan Moore. It was passing the...

Classic heroine Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}-Chenchikova {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells) has been retired, according to a tweet from Paul Smith, son of co-owner Derrick Smith. Bred by Coolmore, the bay raced for a Coolmore partnership. "Fancy Blue retires," Derrick's son Paul Smith tweeted of the 3-year-old who sustained a tendon injury in training. "Thank you to Donnacha O'Brien and all connected with her." A winner of a Naas maiden last September and of the Listed Staffordstown Stud S. a month later for Aidan O'Brien at two, Fancy Blue...

She is here. She made it. Relax, breathe easier. All the personnel linked by her journey from Juddmonte foal to Clarehaven thoroughbred icon have their work complete. There is only Frankie now in the human chain that connects to the wondermare whose very name evokes positivity and entitlement. At 4:05pm Parisian time, Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) brings closure to her epic odyssey against a suitably dramatic climatic backdrop. As if she has summoned the trinity of gods of the wind, the rain and the clouds to frame her historic bid...

Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), fresh from a thrilling victory in Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane earlier this month, doubled up in battling fashion and continued to lead the way for the freshman stable of Donnacha O'Brien with a second Group 1 success in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood. Accepting a tow from Aidan O'Brien trainee and G1 Mackinnon S. victress Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) into the straight, the 11-4 chance inched closer to launch her challenge at the quarter-mile marker and was driven out once...

It is the turn of the fillies and mares on Thursday, with the G1 Qatar Nassau S. headlining a fascinating third day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. It features a clash between two fillies whose limits are far from set at present, with Shadwell's Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) taking on the year-younger Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The former steps up from a mile for the first time, having captured the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot June 16 and G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket July...

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 Observations features a half-sister to French Classic winner Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). 1.10 Great Yarmouth, Novice, £6,400, 2yo, 7f 3yT MISS CHESS (IRE) (Zoffany {Ire}) was purchased for the Phoenix Ladies Syndicate for €220,000 at the Arqana Deauville August Sale as a relative of High Chaparral...