Soprano (Ire)

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. Saturday's Observations features the return of a Group 1 runner-up. 3.15 Kempton, Listed, £55,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 8f (AWT) SHUWARI (IRE) (New Bay {GB}) makes her belated comeback in this Listed Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes, having missed the whole of last season. One of 2023's better juvenile fillies, the Ollie Sangster-trained...

Multiple Group 1 winner 'TDN Rising Star' City of Troy (Justify) was the first horse into the quarantine barn from the 11-horse Saturday evening ship-in for Ballydoyle at Del Mar, as per a Breeders' Cup release, which references information from the International Racing Bureau. The Aidan O'Brien-trained star is scheduled to make a first appearance on track Tuesday morning. Many of the European horses used the weighing scale in the quarantine barn and connections are reporting positive prognoses for their runners. The arrivals will remain in quarantine until Monday afternoon...

New Century (GB), the full-brother to the colt who topped Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when selling to Godolphin for 1,000,000gns, is said to be "flying at home" following his success in the GI Summer Stakes at Woodbine, with a trip to the Breeders' Cup next on the agenda for the son of first-season sire Kameko. Like Kameko, New Century is trained for owners Qatar Racing by Andrew Balding, who said "He's got a great constitution and has taken everything in his stride, from travelling to Canada...

Trainer Cherie DeVaux achieved Saturday what many trainers work a lifetime to attain when taking Keeneland's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup with Lael Stables' She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}). After having a day to digest the watershed moment, she summed up the experience succinctly. "Awesome ... amazing." According to DeVaux, a couple of changes factored in the filly's second Grade I win and DeVaux's first at the Lexington oval. "We expected her to run a good race," DeVaux said. "She was training well... she always trains well. She has...

Quite fittingly, a pair of group-winning Europeans have made the trip over the Atlantic for Saturday's GI Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup Stakes, headed by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Trained by George Boughey, the 3-year-old filly was last seen finishing 1 1/2-lengths in third behind winner Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the one-mile G1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown Sept. 14. That form alone would justify another look at this Irish-bred filly given that Porta Fortuna is a multiple Group 1...

Trainer George Boughey is considering a trip to Kentucky with Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) following her third-place finish in the G1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday. The Highclere-owned filly has thrived on a busy campaign and produced what was arguably a career-best effort when beaten just a length and a half behind Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) at Leopardstown, doing well under the circumstances to finish as close as she did after racing freely in the early stages. Already a two-time winner in 2024, having won the Sandringham Stakes at...

Proving herself the complete racing machine on Saturday, Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Barry Fowler and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) added Leopardstown's G1 Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes to her already enviable top-level tally with the minimum of fuss. Coming of age this summer with wins in the G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Falmouth Stakes, the pride and joy of Donnacha O'Brien's stable who had also captured last year's G1 Cheveley Park Stakes was a touch free and fresh in the...

Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), placed twice at the highest level, is in good order ahead of a start in the G1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on Sept. 15, according to Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Harry Herbert. A winner of the G2 Sapphire Stakes over the minimum trip at the Curragh in July, the 4-year-old filly was third to Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in the G2 King George Stakes at Goodwood, before running fan favourite Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) to three-quarters of a length in the G1 Nunthorpe...

Providing her first-crop sire Too Darn Hot (GB) with his first black-type winner on Saturday, Clipper Logistics' Listed Star S. runner-up Fallen Angel (GB) proved far too strong in Newmarket's G3 Molson Coors Sweet Solera S. Denied by Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in that Sandown contest over this seven-furlong trip last month, the Karl Burke-trained 9-4 favourite travelled strongly near the front end under Danny Tudhope before starting the stretch of her rivals approaching the final furlong. Soon clear of the Star S. third Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), the...

Frankie got going early on Friday as he steered Steven Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing 2020 LLC and Reeves Racing's Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) to success in the G3 Albany S. for a landmark 80th Royal Ascot winner. Sent off at 5-1 having garnered Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. last month, the Donnacha O'Brien trainee travelled smoothly over two lengths behind the speed up the centre. Arriving to reel in Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) passing the furlong pole,...