Europe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sottsass Earmarked for Juddmonte International

Classic winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is targeting the G1 International S. at York in August, Racing Post reported on Thursday. Successful in the 2019 G1 Prix du Jockey Club, the White Birch Farm runner ran third in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last fall, and returned with a fourth in the G2 Prix d’Harcourt at ParisLongchamp on May 11. Stepped back up to Group 1 level in the Prix Ganay, he secured another top flight win in June. A late season target for Sottsass is the Arc.

Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget told Racing Post, “Sottsass is in very good form and he will go to York. I think that’s the race he needs to be running in, he is a Group 1 horse. If he stayed home at Deauville he would be giving a lot of weight away in a lesser race [G3 Gontaut-Biron]. After York, if all goes well, he could take in the G2 Prix Foy and then the Arc.”

Rouget also announced that G1 Prix Saint-Alary victress Tawkeel (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) will make her next start in the upcoming G1 Qatar Nassau S. on July 30.

“Tawkeel goes to Goodwood and is in good form,” he added.

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Sussex Taking Shape as Classic Colts Face Elders

Juddmonte’s undefeated G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas hero Siskin (First Defence) and G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas Kameko (Kitten’s Joy), who represents Qatar Racing, lead the nine-strong G1 Qatar Sussex S. field at the latest entry stage on Thursday morning.

The duo are joined by fellow sophomores: MG1SP G2 Coventry S. winner Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never), Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Vatican City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and G3 Tattersalls S. hero and MG1Sp Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never), all from Ballydoyle. Aidan O’Brien also sends 4-year-olds MG1SW Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who won the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot and GSW Lancaster House (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Marcus Tregoning fields MGSW Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) who leads the entries with a Racing Post Rating of 123. San Donato (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire})), runner-up to Mohaather in the G2 Summer Mile S. at Ascot earlier this month, will also take part. The lightly raced Roger Varian trainee won a 1200-metre listed event at Doncaster in the fall of 2018 and emerged from a 197-day break to complete the trifecta behind MG1SW Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 French 2000 Guineas in May of 2019. The Summer Mile was his first appearance since and he appears poised to run well in this return to Group 1 company.

“Yes, absolutely,” said Varian, of San Donato on the idea of facing Mohaather again. “I think Goodwood will suit San Donato, and we’re looking forward to it. He’s come out of that Ascot Summer Mile bouncing, and I would anticipate in a nice bit of improvement–because that was his first run for 16 or 17 months. He’s an exciting horse for the rest of the year and beyond, I hope.”

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Nijinsky II Awarded QIPCO Diamonds and Pearls Award

British Triple Crown hero Nijinsky II (Northern Dancer) won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. 50 years ago this year, and was awarded the QIPCO Diamonds & Pearls award, Ascot Racecourse and QIPCO announced on Thursday. The award celebrates the winner of a vintage renewal of the King George. Owned by Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. and trained by Vincent O’Brien, the bay delivered as the only 3-year-old in the field, having already claimed victory in the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Irish Derby. After his King George triumph, he would add the St Leger and become the last British Triple Crown winner to date. At stud, he sired 155 black-type winners, including G1 Epsom Derby winner Shahrastani and GI Kentucky Derby hero Ferdinand in the same year, 1986.

“I am delighted to receive the QIPCO Diamonds and Pearls award,” said Nijinsky II’s former jockey Lester Piggott. Nijinsky was a wonderful horse and was unbeaten at the time. There was a lot of hype going into the King George–the opposition was decent, they were good horses, every one of them had a chance. You had all the best–obviously we thought he would win. He came to the other horses in the straight so easily, it was hard to believe really but he won in a canter. It was a wonderful win and was probably the best performance of his career.”

Click here to view the video of Lester Piggott reliving Nijinsky II’s King George.

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Darain Takes the Next Step at Newmarket

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 Insights features the return of pricey ‘TDN Rising Star’ Darain (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

2.50 Newmarket, Novice, £5,400, 3yo/up, 10fT
DARAIN (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bids to build on an impressive winning debut at Newbury earlier this month, where the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 Sale topper earned TDN Rising Star status. Qatar Racing and Watership Down Stud’s 3.5million gns son of the high-class Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and full-brother to Too Darn Hot (GB) represents the John Gosden stable and has a seven-pound penalty as he meets seven maidens.

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