Invincible Spirit (Ire)

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. Sunday's Observations features a half-brother to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and Magna Grecia (Ire). 12.55 Newcastle, £10,300, Mdn, 2yo, 8f 5y (AWT) Juddmonte's 600,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 acquisition LAUTREC (GB) (Kingman {GB}), representing John and Thady Gosden, is half-brother to MG1SW sires St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr})...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Romagna Mia in the Dowager S. at Keeneland last weekend.   Mia All Class In Dowager Team Valor International's Romagna Mia (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) won the Dowager S. at Keeneland on Sunday (video). It was the GI Beverly D. S. third's second graded/group score, having taken the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio in 2022. Bred by Cavendish Bloodstock, the Graham Motion trainee was a...

Multiple group winner Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Ghanaati, by Giant's Causeway) has been retired and will take up stallion duties at The National Stud in Newmarket next year. The dual G2 Joel S. hero's fee will be £6,500. "We are delighted to have secured Mutasaabeq to join our stallion roster for the 2024 season," said The National Stud CEO Anna Kerr. "He was a very consistent horse on the track and showed a great attitude in his races. It is rare that a prospect with such an outstanding pedigree becomes...

4th-BAQ, $90K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 2:12 p.m. The expectations for JUST JULES (Justify) are high given her $1.05m price tag as a yearling at Keeneland September last year. Purchased out of a partnership by her breeder, the filly is a half to GSW Ballet Dancing (Medaglia d'Oro) and MGSP Untreated (Nyquist). This is also the family of champion 2-year-old filly Halfbridled (Unbridled). Just Jules is drawn inside for trainer Bill Mott. A homebred for Peter Brant, Belle Gambe (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is out of Unaided (GB) (Dansili {GB}),...

Emotions ran high deep into the opening session of Book 3 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when young pinhooker Luke Coen produced an incredible result with his Invincible Spirit (Ire) filly selling for 115,000gns.  Coen may be in his early 20s but he knows the time of day and came to Park Paddocks full of confidence with his €23,000 foal purchase from Goffs last November.  After an entertaining bidding war, it was Olivia Perkins-Mackey, who works closely with bloodstock agent Justin Casse and trainer Joseph O'Brien--and who was involved...

Unbeaten entering Saturday's G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket but untried in black-type company, Jeff Smith's Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) came through the test with flying colours to count himself among the 2024 Classic contenders. Always travelling easily in the wake of Ballydoyle's front-running G2 Champions Juvenile S. runner-up Capulet (Justify), the 100-30 second favourite who hails from the Juddmonte family of a former giant to master this Rowley Mile in Zafonic took the measure of that 7-4 favourite when sweeping to the fore two out. Pushed out...

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 a seven-figure Arqana yearling. 14.23 ParisLongchamp, Mdn, €50,000, unraced 2yo, f, 8fT Pascal Bary trainee LADY INVINCIBLE (FR) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is the second of three foals out of a half-sister to MG1SW sire Shamardal (Giant's Causeway). The May-foaled bay is a €300,000...

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 Insights features a relation to listed winner English King (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). 18.15 Haydock, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, 7f 212yT AGE OF TIME (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) was, at €800,000, the second-highest-priced breezer at Arqana May when purchased by Godolphin and is the first foal out of a half to...

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. Sunday's Observations features a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner and sire Recoletos (Fr). 14.33 Deauville, Debutantes, €50,000, 2yo, f, 6fT MONTE SANCHA (FR) (Frankel {GB}) is a significant member of this valuable Prix de Lisieux, being a full-sister to the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp 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. Wednesday's Observations features a half-brother to Group 1 winner Sudirman (Henrythenavitagor). 16.45 York, Novice, £30,000, 2yo, c/g, 5fT THE CARIBBEAN (IRE) (No Nay Never) is a rare Ballydoyle debutante in Britain these days, albeit at the track which the stable used to introduce smart juveniles such as Stravinsky in...

Shadwell's 5-year-old entire Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Ghanaati, by Giant's Causeway) was rewarded for his consistency in pattern-race company with a course-and-distance win in September's G2 Joel S. and, penalised three pounds for that success, made a winning seasonal return in Friday's rescheduled G2 bet365 Mile at Newmarket. Racing on the front end after a slick getaway, the 4-1 chance poached a decisive advantage approaching the quarter-mile marker and kept on powerfully under continued urging inside the final furlong to easily account for MG1SW G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Native...

A 5% share in 5-year-old entire Old Flame (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 198), a Group 2 winner, sold for A$70,000 to Chatsworth Farm at the Inglis Digital February (Early) Sale on Wednesday. Bred by Juddmonte Farms, the bay is a son of juvenile winner Lilyfire (First Defence) and made his first four starts in the Northern Hemisphere, winning two. Purchased for 250,000gns out of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale in 2021 by Snowden Racing/Will Johnson Bloodstock, he has thrived Down Under. A winner of three of his eight starts...