Night of Thunder (Ire)

5th-KEE, $100K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 3:08 p.m. ET. SCARLET POPPY (IRE) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) makes the races after she was purchased by Stonestreet Stable and M.V. Magnier for 800,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The Wesley Ward trainee has a trio of gelding half-brothers who have won stakes in Europe, including Ross Castle (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), Snazzy Jazzy (Ire) (Red Jazz) and Ten Year Ticket (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). Also drawn is Ready for Shirl (More Than Ready), who is out of GI Breeders' Cup...

Godolphin's Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) made her seasonal return a successful one and downed 'TDN Rising Star' Ramatuelle (Justify) to become her connections' first winner, in a thrilling renewal, of Deauville's G3 Prix Imprudence. The 37-10 third favourite, who shed maiden status at Great Yarmouth in September before winning the Listed Bosra Sham S., was positioned second in the far-side group and raced in an overall fifth through halfway in this seven-furlong distaffers' Guineas trial. Looming large out wide with 300 metres remaining, she quickened to the...

With the European Classics around the corner, expect an explosion of activity over the next few days beginning at Deauville on Tuesday with the G3 Prix Imprudence and G3 Prix Djebel. TDN Rising Star Ramatuelle (Justify) lines up in the former, stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time after a storming juvenile campaign that saw her take the G2 Prix Robert Papin and G3 Prix du Bois and finish a narrow second to Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) in the G1 Prix Morny here in August. Godolphin's Listed...

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 Shadwell's Group 1 winners Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). 18.30 Newcastle, Novice, £16,000, 3yo/up, 8f (AWT) WALEEFY (IRE) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) bids to build on his encouraging debut third at Lingfield two days before...

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. Saturday's Observations features a Night Of Thunder (Ire) half-brother to a pair of Group 1 winners. 12.15 Lingfield, £6,600, Nov, 2yo, 7f 1y (AWT) Shadwell's hitherto unraced WALEEFY (IRE) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) is a homebred son of Listed Prix de Liancourt victrix Aghareed (Kingmambo) and thus a half-brother...

   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 victories of Buffoon and Kick A Rhyme for trainer Mike Maker and Pura Vida Investments during the past week.   Lope De Vega Colt Strikes At Keeneland Buffoon (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) put it all together at second asking at Keeneland for Pura Vida Investments and trainer Mike Maker on Saturday (video). Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd., the €175,000...

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 Observations features a Kingman (GB) half-brother to Frankel (GB). 11.15 Newmarket, £8,000, Mdn, 2yo, c/g, 7fT Juddmonte's KIKKULI (GB) (Kingman {GB}) makes his eagerly awaited debut for the yard of Roger and Harry Charlton with his quartet of black-type siblings featuring MG1SW full-brothers Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and...

   There were some who were preparing to write off John Fairley's mare of steel Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Pure Illusion {Ire}, by Danehill) following her uncharacteristically disappointing effort in the G1 Flying Five at The Curragh last month, but the 6-year-old answered the doubters by simply placing another of the world's big sprints onto her impressive resume as she conquered Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines. While she may not quite be the same supercharged dragster who went through an unprecedented treble at this level...

    Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) became the second new stakes winner for his Darley sire in one day at Haydock Park after the victory of Flight Plan (GB) in the G2 Dullingham Park S. at Leopardstown. A winner of an Ascot novice race on debut in July, the colt was second to Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in the Listed Pat Eddery S. there at the end of the month. Content to sit near the tail of the field as Hot Fuss (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) made...

Entering Saturday's G2 Dullingham Park S., or Solonaway S. as it is registered, slightly under the radar, Clipper Logistics' 3-year-old Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) did it for Britain as he led his rivals a merry dance to dominate the Leopardstown mile contest. Tried in the 2000 Guineas in the spring, the Karl Burke-trained 15-2 shot who was last seen finishing third in York's G3 Strensall S. was always in control under an enterprising ride from Danny Tudhope. Playing perfectly to the front-running bias that this track is...

   Friday sees the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. take centre stage at York with the returning heroine of last year Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) the star turn in the line-up for the Win-and-You're-In contest ahead of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Emphatic 12 months ago when dismissing the 2-year-old The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), the John Quinn-trained 6-year-old has to do it all again with another juvenile Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) lurking with his 21-pounds weight-for-age swing. Having come up...

Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), winner of the Windsor Castle S. and later the G3 Jaeger Lecoultre Molecomb S., has been supplemented to the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York on Friday with Andrea Atzeni set to ride. Jason Hart, who was onboard for those two victories, maintains his partnership with three-time Group 1 winner Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). Big Evs will be the only 2-year-old in contention. "It's [been] a long time since a two-year-old has won the Nunthorpe [Kingsgate Native, 2007]. So,...