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. Friday's Observations features a 'TDN Rising Star'.
2.00 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT
WE'LL DEFEND (FR) (Zelzal {Fr}) carries the TDN Rising Star label into this Prix de Diane pointer, having impressed with her four-length success on Chantilly's Polytrack last month. Victorious Racing and Ecurie Nass's half-sister to the high-class La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) represents the Carlos and Yann Lerner stable taking on six peers including Francois Jean-Louis Branere's Bordeaux winner Lobelia (Fr) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), a Jean-Claude Rouget-trained daughter of the G1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern heroine Temida (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}).
2.27 Newbury, Debutantes, £12,000, 3yo, f, 7T
CAJOLE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two significant newcomers for Cheveley Park Stud on a big weekend for the operation, being the fourth foal out of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes heroine Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). John and Thady Gosden have charge of the homebred, while William Haggas has care of the Stud's Consecrated (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a half-sister to the yard's G2 Hungerford Stakes winner and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes runner-up Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).
5.30 Dundalk, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 5f (AWT)
MISSION CENTRAL (IRE) (No Nay Never) is one of two from Ballydoyle as the stable sends out its first 2-year-old runners of 2025 in the maiden won in recent times by Caravaggio and No Nay Never's Blackbeard (Ire). A 625,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase, his dam is a full-sister to the G1 Falmouth Stakes heroine Prosperous Voyage (Ire) with Ryan Moore opting to partner him over the yard's First Approach (Ire) also by No Nay Never. Donnacha saddles a third runner for Coolmore by that sire in the unraced filly Award Ceremony (Ire), a daughter of the dual group 3 winner and group 1-placed Actress (Ire) (Declaration Of War).
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