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Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred 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 the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 13.05 Chantilly, Listed (Prix Maurice Caillault), €55,000, 3yo, 9f (AWT) Yeguada Centurion's TITO MO CEN (IRE) (Uncle Mo) makes the transition into black-type company returning off a seven-length 'TDN Rising Star' performance in his debut run at this venue...

Two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer David Hayes has been enjoying a strong season with his runners, and on the back of a trio of Group 1 victories courtesy of Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), is aiming to add the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800 metres with either Rubylot (Aus) (Rubick {Aus}) or Hong Kong debuter and G1 South African Derby-placed Mondial (SAf) (Flower Alley). The former is the most experience runner in the field with 17 Hong Kong starts, good for five wins. Already a winner over...

Hong Kong sprinter extraordinaire Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) headlines the HK$13-million G1 Queen's Silver jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. Trained by David Hayes for the Ka Ying Syndicate, the likeable gelding is operating on a nine-race winning streak, and had the re-opposing Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) and Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) second and third when he took the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup last month over his pet distance of 1200 metres. The world's highest rated turf sprinter in 2024, the gelding will be partnered...

Godolphin's G3 Prix Imprudence heroine Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) holds pride of place in Friday's AED850,000 G2 Cape Verdi Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors for fillies and mares. The 1600-metre Meydan turf feature will be the first start for the 4-year-old filly since a 12th-place finish in the G1 Prix Jean Prat on July 7. The start prior, she had wound up fourth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in May. "We are very pleased with Romantic Style heading into her seasonal return and her preparation...

There will be no Autumn Triple Crown in Japan this year. Tenno Sho (Autumn) and Japan Cup hero Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), was retired to stud after a foreleg injury on Friday as the fan favourite for the G1 Arima Kinen. His absence, reduces the field to 15, however, the 2500-metre race still has nine Group 1 winners signed on. Heading the ante-post betting is Urban Chic (Jpn) who will leave from stall three under Christophe Lemaire. The Silk Racing runner, one of two Suave Richard (Jpn) Group...

Fresh off his Arma Veloce (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB})'s tally in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last Sunday, owner Teruo Ono has a chance to bag a Japanese juvenile Group 1 double with the undefeated Arte Veloce (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Kyoto on Nov. 15. A winner at Sapporo in July and again in Tokyo's G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup besting Taisei Current (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) on Oct. 5, the colt carries the mantle of ante-post favourite. Japanese legend Yutaka Take will be perched...

In 2023, Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) parlayed a victory in the G2 Fuji Stakes en route to a neck defeat of Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the G1 Mile Championship. This term, the top Japanese pair face a tougher ask, as Europe's Champion Miler elect Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) attempts to become the first international winner of the race since it was opened to worldwide participation in 1998. Trained by Tomokazu Takano, Namur will have pilot Cristian Demuro at the controls and they will break from stall four....

There are a trio of elite-level contests at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, with the Criterium International boasting arguably the most exciting protagonist in Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who looks to cap an unbeaten juvenile campaign. Having won his first three starts by a cumulative margin of nearly 20 lengths, including the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon over this mile trip and track earlier this month, Peter Maher, Carl Fitzgerald and John Baxter's TDN Rising Star is all substance and little hype as he faces his sternest test to date taken...

Japanese horses returning from overseas exploits and melding back into the local population with more Pattern race glory is not a rarity, and 2023 Japanese Triple Tiara heroine Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) aims to do just that in the 2000-metre G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo on Sunday. A winner of the 2022 G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in addition to her Classic heroics (Oka Sho, Yushun Himba and Shuka Sho) last term, the bay found only superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) too good in the G1 Japan Cup...

It's QIPCO British Champions Day, so it stands to reason that we are talking about autumn soft ground as the European flat season continues to turn on its axis. Where the summer specialists City Of Troy (Justify), Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) are missing for varying reasons, the way is open for those who relish the kind of test this surface provides. Every one of the five pattern races on Ascot's fixture boasts at...

The Japanese Classic finale sees G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) line up against 17 rivals in the 3000-metre G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) at Kyoto on Sunday. Trained by Shogo Yasuda on behalf of Danox Co, the favoured son of dual Grade I runner-up Top Decile (Congrats) has been on a break since his Derby win in May. He will also be venturing beyond 2400 metres for the first time and leaves from stall four. Yasuda said of the 2024 G3 Keisei Hai...

As autumn tightens its grip on racing nations in the Northern Hemisphere, one of the year's final Classics takes place, Kyoto's G1 Shuka Sho (Japanese Fillies' St Leger) over 2000 metres. Handed ante-post favouritism is Sunday Racing's G1 Yushun Himba heroine Cervinia (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}). The 2023 G3 Artemis Stakes heroine finished well back in the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) field to rival Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) in April, and the last time she was seen on a racecourse was in the May 19 Oaks, defeating that aforementioned...