Europe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Daughter Of Promising Lead Stars In Intriguing Kempton Affair

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 Observations features a daughter of Group 1 winner Promising Lead (GB) (Danehill).

6.15 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT
LAUREL (GB) (Kingman {GB}) held an entry in Friday's Listed Rosemary S. at Newmarket, but John and Thady Gosden have opted for this lighter task for the Juddmonte homebred. A daughter of the G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Promising Lead (GB) (Danehill), the bay who made a striking impression on debut at that Suffolk venue in July meets another blueblood in Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa and KHK Racing's fellow Newmarket debut winner Pure Dignity (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The Roger Varian-trained €2.5-million Arqana Deauville September Sale topper is a half-sister to Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}).

2.42 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT
KOVANOF (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a son of the G3 Prix Cleopatre winner and G1 Prix de Diane third Terrakova (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and therefore a grandson of the brilliant Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) who represents the Wertheimer-Carlos Laffon-Parias link. Among his peers is The Aga Khan's Beshtani (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a Francis-Henri Graffard-trained relative of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Behkabad (Fr) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

3.52 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 8fT
ROSIR (FR) (Style Vendome {Fr}) is a half-sister to last year's G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) who represents Haras de la Gousserie and Guy Pariente and the Francis-Henri Graffard stable in another intriguing contest on the card. Also in the line-up Is Al Shira'aa Farms' Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), a Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained half-sister to the G2 Lanwades Stud S. winner Creggs Pipes (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) who was a €650,000 purchase at Goffs Orby.

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Abbaye Date For The Platinum Queen

Group 1-placed filly The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) will start next in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye on Oct. 2, according to Middleham Park Racing's Tom Palin. The five-furlong specialist was not entered in the six-furlong Sept. 24 G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket on Tuesday morning.

“The Platinum Queen is a very useful filly,” said Palin. “We didn't confirm her for the Cheveley Park this morning [Tuesday], we want to keep her to five furlongs so she will head straight to the Abbaye now–all being well.”

A debut winner at Ripon in June, the daughter of Thrilled (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was unplaced in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot later that month, but returned to take both a York novice and a Goodwood conditions stakes, in July. Stepped up to Group 1 company, she found only three-time top-level heroine Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) too good in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. on Aug. 19. After leading for most of the G2 Flying Childers S., The Platinum Queen missed by only a short head to Trillium (GB) (No Nay Never) on Sept. 11. Fellow Middleham Park runner, the Sept. 16 Listed Rosebery S. hero Prince Of Pillo (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), was fourth in the Flying Childers.

“We felt they were two nice horses, The Platinum Queen and Trillium, I think that's been confirmed there with Prince Of Pillo's performance at Ayr that they are perhaps the two nicest fillies in Europe,” Palin added.

“She ran an absolute blinder in the Nunthorpe so it's a logical target. There is the G3 Cornwallis [S. on Oct. 7] that we could go for of course, but Prince Of Pillo is going to go there so that's his race.

“We were already in the Abbaye with her and she's shown she can cut it against these older sprinters–if you took Highfield Princess out of the Nunthorpe then The Platinum Queen wins the race by two or three lengths.

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McEvoy Gets Melbourne Cup Call Up For Deauville Legend

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride likely G1 Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the two-mile race at Flemington on Nov. 1, trainer James Ferguson announced.

“McEvoy has been confirmed,” said Ferguson, who has worked with McEvoy in years' past. “He's won the race three times and knows his way around Flemington. He's a very good friend of mine and we have worked together a lot in the past.”

The two-time group-winning gelding is due to enter quarantine shortly. Racing in the colours of K K Ho, Deauville Legend won the G2 Great Voltigeur S. in mid-August.

“He's in good nick and it is very exciting to have a horse that is favourite for the Melbourne Cup going over there,” added Ferguson. “We were right to give him a little bit of time off between now and then because he has had a long season and I think he will be going down there as fit as we can get him.

“He will probably be doing a racecourse gallop on Friday and we will then send him into quarantine on Monday.”

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Westover On Course For The Arc

Classic winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is pleasing connections ahead of a bid in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 2. The colt is headed to the ParisLongchamp showpiece after running a last out fifth in the G1 King George Vi And Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot in July. He follows in the hoofprints of another Juddmonte luminary, 2010 Arc hero Workforce (GB) (King's Best), who also did not win the King George, but bounced back in fine style in France.

Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said, “I think Ralph [Beckett] is happy with him, he worked well on Saturday morning and will probably work again tomorrow [Wednesday]. I haven't heard any negatives, so we're still on track at the minute anyway.

“Taking on Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) would have been very scary obviously, but I think the connections are doing the right thing with him–going a mile and a quarter makes more sense than turning up in France for a mile and a half on heavy ground for his last start.

“The Arc will still be a very tough race, as it always is. We've done it before with Workforce and we're hoping lightning can strike twice.”

Westover started his season with a narrow victory in the G3 Classic Trial S. at Sandown in April and then ran an encouraging third in the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 4, both under Rob Hornby. For his last two starts he has been ridden by Colin Keane–in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 25, and the King George.

“It's actually something we haven't even talked about,” Mahon added, of a rider decision for Westover. “We'll probably have to start discussing it next week and see what the family would like to do.”

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