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Brother of Ajman Princess Set For Haydock Debut

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 half-brother to Group 1 winner Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

14.20 Haydock, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, 6fT
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred CAPTAIN WINTERS (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is kin to a band of stakes-winning brothers and also to G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). The Kevin Ryan incumbent encounters eight rivals in this debut, headed by Matt Batters's Novaportian (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is a Hugo Palmer-trained half to GI Matriarch S. victrix Off Limits (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).

18.00 Kempton, Nov, £7,500, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f 219y (AWT)
John and Thady Gosden trainee DIGNIFIED (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is a Denford Stud homebred daughter of MGSW G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac placegetter Jack Naylor (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}), who fetched 800,000gns at Tattersalls' 2016 December Mares sale. She is opposed by last month's Ripon maiden winner and William Haggas trainee Holocene (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), who is a Cheveley Park Stud homebred daughter of G1 Matron S. and dual G1 Falmouth S. placegetter Heaven Sent (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

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Havana Gold’s El Caballo On Top In The Sandy Lane

Karl Burke-trained 3-year-old colt El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}–Showstoppa {GB}, by Showcasing {GB}) backed up a first black-type triumph in Lingfield's Mar. 5 Listed Spring Cup with a fifth straight score in Newcastle's Apr. 15 £150,000 All-Weather 3-year-old Championship. He continued on a rapid upward trajectory with a career high–and an ideal rehearsal for Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup–in Saturday's G2 Cazoo Sandy Lane S. at Haydock. Positioned behind the leading wave through furious early fractions, the 7-2 chance responded to pressure inside the final quarter mile to gain a narrow edge approaching the furlong pole and was driven out to withstand the late rally of last term's Listed Doncaster S. winner Flaming Rib (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}) by a hard-fought neck.

“I wasn't concerned about the ground, but he's had to go and prove it in that class,” said Burke. “He's a very good horse and he's tough too. It'll probably be different ground at Ascot, but as long as it's not rattling [firm] I'd be happy. I said this morning that whatever wins this race today will certainly be one of the favourites for Ascot.” Winning rider Clifford Lee added, “I'm delighted to get my first Group-race winner and it feels brilliant. He is very talented and has got a lot of ability. He has won his last six races now, he tries so hard and goes again when another horse comes to him. He is quick and also stays seven furlongs, so the Commonwealth Cup and [G3] Jersey at Royal Ascot could both be on the cards. We will have to see how he comes out of this and what the boss and everyone else chooses.”

Reflecting on the performance of Flaming Rib, trainer Hugo Palmer said, “He's a really tough horse that goes on any ground and I'm delighted he's stepped forward. It's disappointing to finish second, but I think we feel that if we were able to eyeball the winner for the whole race we might have got by him. That's the luck of the draw and that's how it goes. We certainly feel that we're justified in going to Ascot now with a real chance in the big one. He's been narrowly beaten in the main trial so we'll give it a swing.”

El Caballo is the third of five foals and one of three winners produced by a multiple-winning half-sister to G2 Mill Reef S. victor Temple Meads (GB) (Avonbridge {GB}) and G3 Firth of Clyde S. runner-up Sneak Preview (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}). The March-foaled bay is kin to Listed Premio Vittorio Crespi victrix Avengers Queen (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) and a 2-year-old filly and a yearling filly by Havana Grey (GB). Descendants of his multiple-winning second dam Harryana (GB) (Efisio {GB}) also include G3 Hackwood S. and G3 Chipchase S. placegetter Diligent Harry (GB) (Due Diligence).

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
CAZOO SANDY LANE S.-G2, £115,000, Haydock, 5-21, 3yo, 6fT, 1:11.76, gd.
1–EL CABALLO (GB), 128, c, 3, by Havana Gold (Ire)
1st Dam: Showstoppa (GB), by Showcasing (GB)
2nd Dam: Harryana (GB), by Efisio (GB)
3rd Dam: Allyana (Ire), by Thatching (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. (17,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; £30,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-Grange Park Racing XVIII & OfO Partners; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Karl Burke; J-Clifford Lee. £65,217. Lifetime Record: 7-6-1-0, $242,426. *1/2 to Avengers Queen (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), SW-Ity. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Flaming Rib (Ire), 128, c, 3, Ribchester (Ire)–Suddenly (Ger), by Excelebration (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€40,000 RNA Wlg '19 GOFNOV; 35,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Dolan Dooley Owen; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-Hugo Palmer. £24,725.
3–Wings of War (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). (£140,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Clive Cox. £12,374.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 5.50, 12.00.
Also Ran: Go Bears Go (Ire), Caturra (Ire), Tippy Toes (GB), Edward Cornelius (Ire), Ever Given (Ire), Gis A Sub (Ire), Vertiginous (Ire). Scratched: Beauty Inspire (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Trail Leads Back To The Curragh

The emphasis is on speed on Saturday, with a quartet of Europe's six pattern races being sprints and only one taking place beyond a mile. Glinting in the midst of them is the jewel that is the first of the Curragh's 2022 Classics, the €500,000 G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. With a distinct form edge, it seems on paper to be simply be a case of going through the motions for Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) with Godolphin's Guineas treble hanging tantalisingly within reach. However, this is a tough race to dominate on that basis alone as the experience of the likes of Too Darn Hot (Dubawi {Ire}) and Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) testify in recent times. On the sacred Kidare turf you can be king for a day but then you have to go and prove it time and again as the opposition ramps up in response. Where there is a son of Galileo (Ire) from Ballydoyle there is always danger, regardless of the deficit that Ivy League (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has to overcome, and that is not mentioning the power of Jim Bolger with his still-unexposed 'TDN Rising Star' Wexford Native (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and the colt that blitzed him in the May 2 Listed Tetrarch S., Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

Backers Beware

Drawn in one, Native Trail appears to have a lot of boxes ticked but with his racing style it might be that he needs some luck in a tactical affair with no obvious pace provider. Unless William Buick sends him on from the outset and uses his advantage which is his huge stride, there is the chance that he could get pinned on the fence at a crucial stage. Is his form so superior that he can justifiably be long odds-on here? Joseph O'Brien has a line through the Appleby runner via Ultramarine (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), a maiden still after nine starts who was beaten just six lengths by the favourite in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. here in September. There is a fair chance that Buckaroo is much better than that and the way he operated in the Tetrarch over this course and distance means that Native Trail might need to have improved from his 2000 Guineas effort and his juvenile form.

Royal Clues At Haydock

Haydock stage a crucial pair of Group 2 sprints, the six-furlong Cazoo Sandy Lane S. and Temple S. over five, with last year's G1 Nunthorpe S. heroine Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) the star turn in the latter. King Power Racing's racing manager Alastair Donald said, “She's a very quick filly and it's almost about reining in the speed sometimes–a few times she's ran with the choke out a little bit. But I think in the slower ground it might just be able to keep her in a good rhythm early on, rather than going too quick. Tim [Easterby] is very pleased with her and says she's bigger and stronger now, so fingers crossed we can look forward to getting her back to her best.” At the Curragh, another top-level winner is in action in Gary Devlin's Prix de l'Abbaye and Al Quoz Sprint hero A Case of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}), who takes in the G2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands S.

From The Horse's Mouth

A fascinating Sandy Lane sees the improving El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) tackle some likely lads among the Commonwealth Cup hopefuls, none more so than the proven Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}). What makes El Caballo interesting is the fact that he is on a winning streak which shows no sign of arresting despite most of it coming on the all-weather. His defeat of Tiber Flow (Ire) (Caravaggio) in Newcastle's 3-Year-Old All-Weather Championships Conditions S. Apr. 15 was boosted by the subsequent Listed Carnarvon S. success of the runner-up and trainer Karl Burke is bullish. “I don't think we've got to the bottom of him yet,” he said. “It's a very strong race and it will be a very truly-run race as well, so we'll know how good he is after Saturday. He has a different action to [former Commonwealth Cup winner] Quiet Reflection and I'd say he probably has more scope than her too. She loved heavy ground, whereas I'm not so sure this fella would want it to be extremely slow–good, good-to-soft should be perfect for him.”

Tough Talk Poised For Marble Hill

Also at the Curragh, the 2-year-olds have their Royal Ascot credentials put to the test in the six-furlong G3 GAIN Marble Hill S., where Moyglare Stud Farm's Tough Talk (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) carries gravitas having beaten the subsequent winners Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Shartash (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) on debut over this course and distance Apr. 10. Ryan Moore has opted for Ballydoyle's unbeaten colt Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) over the stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Deneuve (Ire) (No Nay Never), who could make a leap forward from her narrow winning debut over this trip at Naas Apr. 25. At Goodwood, the 12-furlong Listed William Hill Tapster S. sees the return of last year's G1 Irish Derby runner-up Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Fourteen Set For Irish 1000 Guineas

Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh has attracted a final field for 14, with Godolphin's Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) the only withdrawal on Friday. Coolmore and Westerberg's May 1 G1 1000 Guineas third Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of four nominees from the Aidan O'Brien stable seeking a fourth-straight renewal and the lone contender representing Newmarket's Classic form. She has drawn stall three, with Ryan Moore set to ride her having chosen elsewhere in the Guineas. Ballydoyle also have strong claims with the May 8 G3 Cornelscourt S. winner History (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who will be partnered by Seamie Heffernan, and the Apr. 23 Listed Salsabil S. winner Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is ridden by Wayne Lordan with the Rosegreen trio drawn three, four and five respectively. Moyglare Stud's Apr. 2 G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial winner Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will depart from stall 11, while the G1 Criterium International third Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who was knocked down to Lael Stable for €2 million at Arqana's December sale, is set to make her first start for trainer William Haggas from stall seven.

Click here for the group fields.

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Frankel’s Nashwa Earns TDN Rising Star Tag With Daylight Romp

Imad Al Sagar's 3-year-old filly Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) ran third contesting a hot Newmarket novices' heat over seven furlongs in her only prior start last October and illuminated Haydock's Saturday fixture with an impressive 6 1/2-length romp to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status on seasonal return in the Pendleton EBF Fillies' Novice S., going just shy of one mile. The eventual winner was reined back to employ patient tactics behind the leaders in fifth after a sharp getaway. Looming large out wide on the bridle passing the quarter-mile marker, the G1 Epsom Oaks entry and 13-8 favourite cruised to the front soon after and bounded clear under minimal coxing inside the final furlong to easily outclass stablemate Wonderful Times (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) by daylight and justify her Rising Star embellishment.

“It was her first run of the season and she was a little fresh early, but Hollie [Doyle] got her into cover and, when she pulled her out and asked her the question, she quickened up nicely,” said trainer Thady Gosden. “The ground was probably a little too quick for her and I think we'd probably have to go for an Oaks trial after that performance. Owner Imad Al Sagar also bred the filly and any owner-breeder's target is the Oaks, so we'll pop her in a trial now and see where we go from there.”

Nashwa, half-sister to a yearling filly by Decorated Knight (GB), is the third of four foals and second scorer produced by stakes-winning G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Princess Loulou (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), herself a half-sister to Listed Pomfret S. third Easy Target (Fr) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Descendants of the May-foaled homebred bay's dual stakes-placed third dam Sweeping (GB) (Indian King), herself out of G3 Prix d'Arenberg winner Glancing (GB) (Grundy {Ire}), include G1 Middle Park S.-winning sire Awzaan (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}), G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. winner Ball Lightning (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) and GIII Will Rogers S. victor Media Mogul (GB) (First Trump {GB}).

4th-Haydock, £9,200, Nov, 4-23, 3yo, f, 7f 212yT, 1:40.22, g/f.
NASHWA (GB), f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Princess Loulou (Ire) (SW-Eng, G1SP-Fr & GSP-Ire, $175,317), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Aiming (GB), by Highest Honor (Fr)
3rd Dam: Sweeping (GB), by Indian King
Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $8,115. O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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