Wootton Bassett (GB)

Second to the reopposing Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in his July 16 debut over seven furlongs at the Curragh, Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah's Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Love On My Mind {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) graduated over the same course and distance last month and stepped forward to provide apprentice jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle with a career high in Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., his third seven-furlong outing at the Co. Kildare venue. The 9-1 chance settled into a rhythm behind all five rivals through...

A filly by Churchill (Ire) out of the dual listed-placed Rabiosa Fiore (GB) (Sakhee's Secret {GB}) emerged as the €200,000 top lot during Saturday's SGA Yearling Sale in Milan. Consigned by Razza Vedano, the Mar. 6 foal (lot 28), named Rinnovati (Ity), is a half-sister to the two-time stakes winner Amalaura (Ire) (Raven's Pass). Another half-sister, the Saxon Warrior (Jpn) filly Rage Of Bamby (Ire) graduated at Leicester on Sept. 6. Marco Bozzi was in action for the relative of French Classic heroine East Of The Moon (Private Account). Bozzi...

Jean-Claude Rouget unveiled another TDN Rising Star at ParisLongchamp on Thursday as Nurlan Bizakov's Padishakh (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Penny Lane {Ger}, by Lord Of England {Ger}) scored with abundant promise in the Prix de Fontenoy over a mile for colts and gelding beginners. Anchored in fifth early by Cristian Demuro, the 100-30 second favourite tended to over-race but when asked to stretch two out found a 10.94 penultimate split to reach the Wertheimers' Speechman (Kingman {GB}) on the front end. Stretching away from the furlong pole, the bay hit the...

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is the GI Alabama S., one of the oldest stakes races in the country. Dating to 1872, eight years after the first Travers S. was run and 12 years after the first Queen's Plate (the oldest stakes race in North America), the Alabama is the last leg in New York's Triple Tiara following the GI Acorn S. and the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. The major-league...

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 son of dual group winner Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}).   16.45 York, Mdn, £80,000, 2yo, 7fT Aidan O'Brien trainee SALT LAKE CITY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), a son of G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Flying Childers S. victrix Heartache (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) loaded up with...

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is the GI Longines Test S., a prestigious 3-year old filly event on the Saratoga calendar for the past century. Ah, the Test, the glorious Test. Remember the scintillating call--already 20 years ago--by Tom Durkin during the epic stretch battle between You and Carson Hollow? This race has been so good for so long. At seven furlongs since its second edition, it has delivered pulsating stretch...

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. Thursday's Observations features a relative of Group 2 winner Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). 4.38 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT WILLIAM TELL (FR) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at €420,000 was the joint-second highest-priced lot at last year's Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale and debuts days after that auction's topper Denmark...

Earning compensation for respectable efforts in the top league, Michael Pescod's Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) battled to a typically game success in Saturday's G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile at Ascot. Third in the May 14 G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury and fourth in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot June 14, the 85-40 second favourite was in shallower waters here and took to the lead early to establish his presence. Looking likely to surrender as the 7-4 favourite Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) edged ahead...

The 315-strong Arqana September Yearling Sale catalogue was released on Friday. Slated for Sept. 8-9, the sale will offer a selection of forward and mature yearlings, and is an substitute and extension of the v.2 Yearling Sale that was traditionally held directly after the August Yearling Sale in Deauville. Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}), a €40,000 purchase out of the v.2 Sale, went on to win the G1 French 1000 Guineas. One of only two Wootton Bassett (GB) yearlings in the catalogue is lot 217, a son of Group...

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. Thursday's Observations features the final foal out of Marlinka (GB) (Marju {Ire}). 4.45 York, Mdn, £20,000, 2yo, 6fT UBETTABEQUICK (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the joint top-priced filly at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale at €350,000, debuts for Martin Webb Racing and the Nigel Tinkler stable who teamed up...

Peter Brant's €$1.95-million investment at last year's Arqana December sale to acquire Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) looks like it might be paying off as the even-money favorite in Saturday's GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. showed off an uncommon turn-of-foot to blow away fellow Brant/Chad Brown representative and 'TDN Rising Star' In Italian. The victory came almost exactly 24 hours after Brant and Brown celebrated another victory with a fast-finishing female in still-unbeaten GIII Modesty S. heroine Bleecker Street (Quality Road). Brown saddled the exacta in...

Fresh off running second in the Mar. 26 G1 Al Quoz Sprint over the Meydan turf in Dubai, Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire})'s connections are considering a start in the G2 Duke Of York S. on May 11 for the 4-year-old filly. The McMurray Family colourbearer won the G3 Hackwood S. last July and ran fourth in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. on Sept. 4. She tired to 11th in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. on Oct. 16 and was third in the G3 1351 Turf...