War Front

Weston became his sire (by War Front)'s first winner at Santa Anita in June, and the Spendthrift freshman's first stakes and graded stakes winner Saturday, while also providing young trainer Ryan Hanson with his first graded trophy. The bay defied 21-1 odds to run away with a 4 1/2-furlong heat June 21 over the much pricier Ambivalent (Constitution), and was backed as the best local hope to defeat heavily favored Wesley Ward trainee Roderick (Into Mischief). Bouncing out abruptly, Weston was shuffled back in the early scramble for position but...

Thursday's G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros S. lost a potential major player after Jessie Harrington deemed the ground too fast for the likely favourite Cadillac (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and with the surface slick at Leopardstown it was a front-runner who prevailed in Military Style (War Front). This year more than any other it seems that the Foxrock venue is favouring those on the front end when the going is riding as it was here, but such is the blueblooded nature of the winner it is dangerous to argue...

Claiborne Farm has purchased an interest in Classic winner War of Will (War Front--Visions of Clarity {Ire}, by Sadlers Wells), who will stand at the Paris, Kentucky farm upon the conclusion of his racing career. The winner of a trio of a trio of graded events at three, including the GI Preakness S., the Gary Barber-campaigned colt most recently scored in the GI Maker's Mark Mile over the Keeneland turf July 10. War of Will's 2021 stud fee will be announced following the Breeders' Cup. "War of Will has an...

Fresh from an impressive tally in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S., Coolmore's Battleground (War Front) emulated last year's winner of that contest--Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal)--by doubling up in Tuesday's G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. at Goodwood. Employing patient tactics trapped three wide in sixth after a level break in the seven-furlong contest, the 13-8 favourite made smooth headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge at the quarter-mile marker and he was driven out once seizing control soon after to deny G2 Superlative S. runner-up Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency HALF TO GIRVIN DEBUTS AT ELLIS 3rd-ELP, $37K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 2:46p.m. Winchell Thoroughbreds went to $525,000 to acquire the well-related MIDNIGHT BOURBON (Tiznow) at Keeneland September and he makes her career bow in this test. The bay is a half-brother to GI Haskell S. winner Girvin (Take of Ekati), GSW Cocked and Loaded (Colonel John) and MGSP Pirate's Punch (Shanghai Bobby). TJCIS PPs   SON OF CURVY MAKES CAREER BOW IN SOCAL 1st-DMR, $50K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 5:00p.m. Richard Mandella unveils the son of...

DONCASTER, UK-- They say good things come to those who wait and few people in the bloodstock world have had a more anxious wait for action this spring than the European breeze-up consignors, who have seen their regular sales slots pushed back by at least two months in a world sent awry by the COVID-19 pandemic. A collectively large sigh of relief was heard on Wednesday as first Goffs UK then Arqana posted results far exceeding most expectations.  The words 'resilience' and 'extraordinary' were used freely by vendors and buyers...

As the action switched from the Goffs UK catalogue to Arqana at Doncaster, Grove Stud's daughter of War Front (lot 224) lit up the ring with a £650,000 final bid from Kerri Radcliffe and U.S.-based owner Larry Best of OXO Equine. The $185,000 Keeneland September yearling is out of the GIII Orchid S. winner Beauty Parlor (Elusive Quality)--not to be confused with the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence? That's certainly a plausible inference, looking at the latest Grade I event staged on American turf. Of the seven fillies and mares contesting the Just A Game S. at Belmont on Saturday, four were bred in Europe; and three of those also started their track careers there. Moreover the solitary American winner at Royal Ascot was actually bred and raised in Ireland, and exported only last fall from Tattersalls. It stands to reason, of course, if European blood...

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. Today's Observations features a half-brother to Horse of the Year and leading sire Kingman. 1.40 Newmarket, Novice, £6,400, 2yo, f, 7fT WEDDING DANCE (IRE) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) cost 600,000gns at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale and starts out for Charlie Appleby taking on four experienced rivals. She is...

Fifth on debut over six furlongs at Naas June 8, Battleground (War Front) took a step forward to win the Listed Chesham S. as the 11-4 favourite for a 73rd Royal winner for Aidan O'Brien. Always travelling strongly tracking the pace under Ryan Moore, the first foal out of the brilliant Arc heroine Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took over from March Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and stayed on strongly to beat that rival by 2 1/2 lengths, with the sole filly Seattle Rock (GB) (Fastnet...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 1st-BEL, $64K, Msw, 2yo, 5fT, 1:15 p.m. ET International star sire power will be on display in Friday's opener at Belmont, as Coolmore unveils RIVER TIBER (War Front) against Gary Barber's Mrs Frankel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and six other juveniles in this intriguing turf sprint, the first 2-year-old turf race in New York this year. River Tiber, a $500,000 Keeneland September buy, is a full-brother to 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Hit It a Bomb and 2016 G1 Cheveley Park S. victress Brave...

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 Insights features the first foal out of a full-sister to Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 12:40 Chantilly, Debutantes, €22,000, 2yo, c/g, 7f (AWT) VALDARANN (FR) (Siyouni {Fr}) is an early starter for His Highness Aga Khan and the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt is a significant one being out of a...