Wootton Bassett (GB)

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. Saturday's Observations features a pair of colts by Wootton Bassett (GB). 14.20 Navan, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, 5f 164yT RIVER TIBER (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was spared a debut run on deep ground at The Curragh last week in the maiden won by the stable's Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never)...

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 Frankel (GB) 'TDN Rising Star'. 17.20 ParisLongchamp, Cond, €35,000, 3yo, f, 8fT KELINA (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) returns to the course and distance of her disappointing effort when last of the dozen participants in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac when last seen on Arc day. Previously...

With Ballydoyle's Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and Juddmonte's Halfway Line (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) missing from the line-up for Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau, Malcolm Parrish's American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Tres Americanqueen {Fr}, by American Post {GB}) occupied pole position for ParisLongchamp's time-honoured course-and-distance trial for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and he did not disappoint with another sharp display. Gaining a following with a six-length win over a mile at Saint-Cloud in November and a smooth three-length success in the Listed Prix Omnium II over the...

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. Sunday's Insights features the well-bred River Tiber (Ire) at The Curragh for Ballydoyle.  1.25 Curragh, Mdn, €17,000, 2yo, 6fT RIVER TIBER (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) appears the pick of the two juvenile colts from Ballydoyle making his debut in this maiden which proved such a fertile source of group...

Having wowed with a six-length win over a mile at Saint-Cloud in November, Malcolm Parrish's exciting colt American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Tres Americanqueen {Fr}, by American Post {GB}) returned to the same course and distance on Saturday to put his name among the 2023 Classic hopefuls with an impressive success in the Listed Prix Omnium II. Held up initially by Christophe Soumillon, the Yann Barberot-trained relative of the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Tres Blue (Ire) (Anabaa Blue {GB}) was cajoled forward nearing the end of the back...

by TDN AusNZ Protagonist (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) continued the success story of British trainer William Haggas in Australia when he captured the G3 Sky High S. (2000 metres) at Rosehill (video), beating fellow French-bred 6-year-old gelding Zeyrek (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) when holding on in a photo finish. It won't be a huge surprise to the team at home, as you may remember Haggas serving a warning on Protagonist late last month when he told TDN AusNZ readers, "You shouldn't underestimate him, he's quite a smart horse." Still,...

4th-Deauville, €27,000, Mdn, 12-16, unraced 2yo, f, 7 1/2f (AWT), 1:31.73, st. QUICKSTEP (FR) (f, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}--Dance Toupie {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) was well away from the inside stall to race in a handy third after the opening quarter of this debutantes' heat. Making smooth headway on the bridle in the straight and sent with 300 metres remaining, the even-money pick took a slender advantage into the final furlong and kept on powerfully under whipless coaxing in the closing stages to defeat Sunlike (Fr) (De Treville {GB}) by...

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...