Roaring Lion

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 12th-CD, $120k, Msw, 3yo/up, 7 1/2f, 6:24p.m. ET Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Woodford Racing LLC partner-up on this $500,000 KEESEP procurement in PATOU ROAD (Quality Road), who will be getting a late start to the races for his powerhouse connections. In the barn of Pletcher, who has had a notably great year with the ownership group, the colt is out of Patou (Ghostzapper), herself a half-sister to GSW Moulin de Mougin (Curlin)--the dam of GSP Spicer (Quality Road); GISP Vionnet (Street Sense)--dam of...

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 the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 topper.  17.15 Kempton, Nov, £6,800, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT) Godolphin debutante RAINBOW SKY (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is a full-sister to G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Star Terms (GB), topped the sheets at last year's Tattersalls...

12.50 Lingfield, Mdn, £6,800, 2yo, 10f (AWT) Qatar Racing's hitherto unraced 450,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate SHADOW OF WAR (GB) (Roaring Lion), one of two representing John and Thady Gosden here, is a half-brother to G1 Gold Cup and G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and the dual Group 1-placed Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}). He is opposed by a baker's dozen which includes stablemate A Gift Of Love (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is a daughter of Listed Galtres S. victrix Our Obsession (Ire) (Shamardal) and...

Ahmad Al Shaikh's Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion--Beach Bunny {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) backed up victories at Windsor and Kempton in August with a half-length second in last month's G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket and stepped forward to register a determined success in Saturday's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, becoming the first Group 1 winner from the lone crop of his sire (by Kitten's Joy). The 49-10 chance was swiftly into stride and led through the early fractions of this 10-furlong test. Headed on the turn for home, he...

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 son of Dubawi (Ire) and the G2 Rockfel S. heroine Lucida (Ire) (Shamardal). 14.45 Great Yarmouth, Mdn, £14,000, 2yo, 7f 3yT John and Thady Gosden trainee OBELIX (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who will sport KHK Racing's G1 St Leger-winning colours, bumped into a good...

Ahmad Al Shaikh's twice-raced 2-year-old colt Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion--Beach Bunny {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}), a €20,000 Goffs Orby graduate, notched a landmark score for Mark Johnston when making all in Wednesday's British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice S. at Kempton. The March-foaled chestnut, who was let go as the 6-5 favourite, became the trainer's 5,000th winner when annexing the one-mile test by an impressive four lengths from 13-8 market rival Super Mo (Uncle Mo). 1st-Kempton, £6,800, Nov, 8-24, 2yo, 8f (AWT), 1:42.35, st/sl. DUBAI MILE (IRE) (c,...

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 Godolphin blueblood. 2.20 Yarmouth, Novice, £9,950, 2yo, 7f 3yT MODERN DANCER (GB) (Kingman {GB}) bids to defy a penalty for a smooth debut win over this trip at Doncaster in June for Godolphin's Charlie Appleby team which is starting to fire with its juveniles now....

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 close relative of the Dubawi (Ire) pair of Yibir (GB) and Wild Illusion (GB). 6.35 Newmarket, Debutantes, £8,000, 2yo, 7fT LOCAL DYNASTY (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two Charlie Appleby-trained newcomers and the pick of James Doyle, being a son of the Listed Montrose...

Such a high-profile split, whether temporary or not, between Frankie Dettori and the John and Thady Gosden stable, has naturally dominated the headlines of the last week. Whatever one's thoughts of the events during and post-Royal Ascot, there was no mistaking the affection in which Dettori is held among racegoers as he was cheered back into the winner's enclosure on his sole ride in Britain since the Saturday of the royal meeting. He has nothing booked for this week either, but intriguingly Dettori has been snapped up by Charlie Appleby...

Lion Of War (GB) (Roaring Lion) became a TDN Rising Star after bolting up at Newcastle on Thursday but David Redvers, who signed for the colt on behalf of Qatar Racing for just 7,000gns, revealed how he called on the opinion of co-trainer Mark Johnston in a bid to ascertain if he would stand up to training or not.  Redvers revealed he was surprised that Lion Of War was knocked down to him for just 7,000gns at Book 3 of the Tattersalls October Sale, however, he admitted that the colt's...

Qatar Racing's 2-year-old colt Lion of War (GB) (Roaring Lion) became the first scorer from the lone crop of his ill-fated sire (by Kitten's Joy), when graduating in his June 11 debut going seven furlongs at Leicester last time, and notched another notable first when becoming a TDN Rising Star with a 10-length rout in Thursday's Pertemps Riverside Restricted Novice S. over much the same distance at Newcastle. The 8-11 favourite, burdened with a seven-pound penalty, was swiftly into stride and raced under a firm hold on the front end...

Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when Lion of War (GB) notched a debut win in Saturday's British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Maiden S. over seven furlongs at Leicester. 1st-Leicester, £7,000, Mdn, 6-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.36, g/f. LION OF WAR (GB) (c, 2, Roaring Lion--Momentus {Ire} {SP-Eng}, by Montjeu {Ire}) raced off the pace in ninth through the early fractions of this debut. Tanking forward from halfway, the 7-2 chance seized control approaching the final furlong and was ridden out in the closing...