Half To Fancy Blue Debuts At Naas

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. Today's Observations features a half-sister to 2020 Classic scorer Fancy Blue.

1.25 Naas, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT
CONTARELLI CHAPEL (IRE) (Caravaggio) is a half-sister to last year's G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. heroine Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who debuts for Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor and Smith and Team Ballydoyle. Taking on the January-foaled grey is Juddmonte's Juncture (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a Ger Lyons-trained homebred whose dam is an unraced half to the high-class Promising Lead (GB) (Danehill) and Visit (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).  

4.35 Naas, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo, f, 10fT
FLORA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the eighth foal out of the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), which makes her a full-sister to the G1 Epsom Derby runner-up US Army Ranger (Ire) and a half to the talented dual Group 3 winner Nelson (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Also starting out for the first time for Ballydoyle is Loyal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a daughter of the listed scorer and multiple group-placed Chartreuse (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) who races for Ballylinch Stud, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor.

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Ghaiyyath, Magical Remain On Course For Epic Battle In Oct. 17 Champion Stakes

A star-studded cast remains on course for the 10th running of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, Oct. 17 after the latest forfeit stage on Tuesday.

This includes a record number of acceptors at this stage for the headline race of the day and the most valuable race this year, the QIPCO Champion Stakes, with 29 standing their ground.

The most valuable raceday in Great Britain this year remains on the cards for a string of headline acts including the world's highest-rated racehorse, Ghaiyyath, who could take his place in the QIPCO Champion Stakes against Magical, bidding to become the first horse to win a race at three different QIPCO British Champions Days.

Also still engaged are other equine A-Listers including Palace Pier, Kameko, Mishriff and Fancy Blue together with the Arc-bound trio Enable, Love and Stradivarius.

QIPCO British Champions Day features four Group 1 races, a Group 2 and a competitive mile handicap.

In total, 38 Group 1 winners remain entered and, between them, they have accumulated 84 victories at the highest level.

David Egan is counting down the days to the biggest ride of his short career, when he is due to be reunited with ante-post favorite Mishriff in the QIPCO Champion Stakes.

It has been a difficult year for most of course, but being unable to partner Prince Faisal's hugely progressive colt in either the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly or the Prix Guillaume D'Ornano at Deauville has made it especially difficult from a professional point of view for former champion apprentice Egan – not that he is one to dwell on the negatives.

The 21-year-old, who missed the French Derby owing to coronavirus travel restrictions and then Deauville through an untimely suspension, said: “Everyone has been affected by coronavirus and there are much more important things to worry about than missing those rides. That kind of thing goes with the job, and I'm just delighted that Mishriff has gone on to prove himself a champion and that I'm lucky enough to be able to get back on him.”

It would be perfectly understandable if Egan watched Mishriff's French wins with mixed feelings, but he said: “Look, I'm retained by Prince Faisal and so I want his horses to do as well as they can, whether I'm the one riding them or not. I was over the moon watching Mishriff win the French Derby, thinking I'd be able to ride him next time, and then it was just unfortunate I couldn't get back on him at Deauville. But I've had some good days on him, and hopefully there will be many more.”

Egan grew up in a family steeped in racing, as a son of jockey John Egan and trainer Sandra Hughes, a nephew of three-time champion jockey Richard Hughes, and a grandson of the legendary Dessie Hughes, so he is unlikely to be troubled by big-race nerves at Ascot.

He has complete confidence in Mishriff and he is excited at the possibility of winning such a prestigious race on such a huge occasion.

He said: “I rode Mishriff for the first time when he won by ten lengths at Nottingham last year, and then I was on him again when he was a good second in the Saudi Derby, when he made up a lot of ground in the straight after being a bit slow out of the gates.

“When we went to Newmarket in June most people seemed to be expecting his stable-mate Waldkonig to win, but Mishriff showed he was still improving by winning really well. He's gone on improving since, and it's been great to see. It's a privilege to ride him.

“He's so straightforward and he really tries for you. He's got a very low head carriage and he just eats up the ground. He's gone on good going, he's gone on bottomless ground and he's gone on dirt, so he's very genuine and versatile.”

The QIPCO Champion Stakes has long been Mishriff's target and John Gosden is optimistic of a third win in the race following two wide-margin victories by Cracksman.

Mishriff sets a high standard and Egan is well up to the task.

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‘I Am Very Lucky’: Donnacha O’Brien Saddles Fancy Blue To Second Group 1 Win In Nassau

Fancy Blue was Donnacha O'Brien's first runner as a trainer in the UK and gave the Irish handler reason to celebrate as she became his first UK winner in the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday. It was a second success at the top level for the daughter of Deep Impact, following her win in the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) on 5 July.

It was favorite Magic Wand (Aidan O'Brien IRE/Frankie Dettori) who took the seven runners along. She continued to lead until facing a strong challenge from Fancy Blue two furlongs out. Fancy Blue took the lead entering the final furlong and then had to see off the strong late challenge of One Voice (Jessica Harrington/Tom Marquand). Fancy Blue held on by a neck, with Nazeef (John Gosden/Jim Crowley) staying on for third, another two and three-quarter lengths behind.

Donnacha O'Brien said: “That was a lovely performance from Fancy Blue.

“Fancy Blue is unbelievable, and it is massive. You never believe you will get one like her in your first year of training. When you have the pedigrees that Coolmore have, you always have a chance and I am very lucky.

“I was given Fancy Blue as a yearling and you don't really expect these kind of things, but when they come along, it is more unlikely that the majority will be up to this sort of Group One class, but you do right by them so that they will fulfill their full potential and thankfully she has reached that class.

“It is unbelievable that I get a filly like her in my first year. People go a lifetime without getting a filly like her. I am no under no illusions as to how lucky I am, and I just need to do the best I can with her.

“I was looking after her as a yearling and I was responsible for her but I didn't have my licence, so she was not under my name.

“Ryan is employed by Coolmore and that is why he rode Fancy Blue.

“I was hopeful of a good performance due to the weight she was getting, and this race fitted in well after her win in the French Oaks.

“Every race she has won she has had to battle for and work for it. Jessie's filly [One Voice] came at her today and if she had got into a proper battle with her, I think she would have found more. She is a very tough, high-class filly who has shown how good she is today.

“We came here today unsure as to what she would think of the ground. I was speaking to Dad during the race that she was swapping and changing her lead leg coming down the hill. She didn't look particularly comfortable and I think a little bit of juice in the ground won't be any harm for her in the future.

“We will give her a little break now. She has had a busy start to the year. We might look at Irish Champions Weekend to bring her back. That could be in the Matron which I know is back down in trip or in the Irish Champion Stakes. She will then go to Arc weekend where she has the option of the Prix de l'Opera or the Arc itself.

“After that, it will probably be the Breeders' Cup or a trip to Japan for the Queen Elizabeth where there is big money on offer over a mile and three, and there is a bonus for winning the Prix de Diane.

“We're not really sure what is going on with America at the minute, but they are the options at the minute.

“All the people in Japan are massive supporters of racing and I know myself from riding Saxon Warrior and him being by Deep Impact that we got a good following from the Japanese fans. It is always somewhere I have wanted to go and whilst it is not set in stone, she could go there.

“Arc weekend fits nicely so whether it is the Opera or the Arc, we will sit down and speak with the owners. Taking in the Vermeille could maybe be a possibility, but we will have to see. There are a lot of good races around and I think she would be competitive anywhere from a mile to a mile and a half. With a fillies' allowance in the Arc, I wouldn't be writing her off either so we'll have to see how strong the Opera is and Coolmore could have Love for the Arc too. Nothing is set in stone.

“Love has a higher rating at the minute, but my filly Fancy Blue showed in France that she is suited to that style of racing. She relaxes and can quicken and whether Love can do it in the same – she looks like she is suited to a more galloping track like Epsom or Newmarket off a fast pace. Although she might not have been as impressive as Love yet, I think she has shown attributes that maybe Love hasn't just yet – that's all thoughts at the minute.

“If you had told me with everything that is going on in the world that I would have a dual Group One winner I wouldn't have believed you. Everything is a bit strange and I certainly wasn't expecting this.”

Discussing the difference between riding and training Group One winners, O'Brien continued: “It's strange. They are different and I think you get a different kick out of it. When you are riding, you feel under pressure and want to do good for the horse and give the horse a fair chance.

“When you are training, I nearly feel pressure for the guys who are working with her every day and working in the yard – you want her to achieve her best for them. They are the ones putting the hard yards in.

“They are the ones you are thinking of when you are training whereas when you are riding, you kind of just nearly think of yourself.

“I liked her last year. When she was going to her maiden which she won at Naas, I thought she would run well but I didn't fancy her to win it. She quickened up really nicely and gave me a lovely feel. Every time we have stepped her up in class, she has pleasantly surprised us, and she just continues to do so – she is just a filly who wants to please and she is improving the whole time. Hopefully, she continues to do that.

“I train at David Wachman's yard [in County Tipperary] and this is great. Last year that was really a satellite yard and I was training her.”

Ryan Moore, enjoying a 19.6/1 day three double following the earlier success of Mogul and also recording his 50th career success at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, said: “I think there were some solid horses in there – Nazeef had done nothing wrong all year. I know very well how good Magic Wand is and she is proven in the best mile and a quarter races in America, Hong Kong and Australia, and obviously Deirdre (the 2019 Qatar Nassau Stakes winner) was in there. My filly [Fancy Blue] showed that she is very straightforward and has a very good attitude. She is tough.

“This filly has done nothing wrong. She ran a good race in the Irish Guineas and she has won a Diane, and a Diane is very hard to win, and now she has beaten the older fillies, and you have got to be pleased with what she has done so far. I am sure Donnacha [O'Brien, trainer] will get her home, see how she is and make a plan for the future.

“She was happy enough today on this ground, I would just say that she just wouldn't want extremes of either.”

Speaking about his success on Mogul in the G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes earlier in the afternoon, Moore said: “Mogul has improved from both of his races this year. On form it was a very solid race; everything in there had shown form this year. He traveled nicely, and I was happy with what he did in the last furlong and a half – he put his head down and really wanted it. I thought it was a good, even pace; we just sat a little bit back off them and my horse was comfortable. He is a mile and a half horse really – I think that's his trip. I think he could end up being a Grand Prix [de Paris] horse, which is a bit later this year.”

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Nassau “Strong Possibility” For Fancy Blue

G1 Prix de Diane winner Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) could surface next in the G1 Nassau S. at Glorious Goodwood on July 30, said trainer Donnacha O’Brien.

“Fancy Blue has come out of her race well,” said O’Brien of his first Classic winner. “We’re still not a hundred per cent sure where she will go next, but the Nassau at Goodwood is a strong possibility at the minute.”

The Coolmore partners’ Fancy Blue was winning for the third time from four starts in the Prix de Diane, her lone defeat having come when second to the Diane third Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas on June 13.

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