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. Saturday's Observations features the smartly bred Champagne Prince (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
16.40 Newcastle, Nov, £20,000, 2yo, 7f 14y (AWT)
Jane Chapple-Hyam trainee CHAMPAGNE PRINCE (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who took the eye with a 4 1/2-length debut success at Chelmsford last month, is out of a Group 3-winning half-sister to G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. runner-up and G2 Celebration Mile-winning sire Zacinto (GB) (Dansili {GB}). The 230,000gns Book 1 graduate's three rivals include James Wigan's hitherto unraced Kilt (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who is a homebred son of dual Grade I victrix heroine Dank (GB) (Dansili {GB}), from the William Haggas stable.
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. Sunday's Observations features a half-brother to crack miler Ribchester (Ire).
16.07 Deauville, Debutantes, €30,000, 2yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT) RIBBLE VIBE (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is a half-brother to the four-times Group 1-winning miler Ribchester (Ire) who debuts on the Polytrack in the Godolphin blue for the Andre Fabre stable. In the immediate family are the classy Matterhorn (Ire) (Raven's Pass) and Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who performed at their best either on dirt or the all-weather.
17.52 Deauville, Debutantes, €30,000, 2yo, f, 9 1/2f (AWT) PELLEGRIN (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is another notable newcomer for Andre Fabre on the card, being a daughter of Lady Bamford's brilliant G1 Oaks and Irish Oaks heroine Sariska (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). A full-sister to October's G3 Prix de Flore third Tygress (GB), she encounters the Wertheimers' Halfday (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a granddaughter of the high-class Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
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 Insights features a daughter of G1 Golden Slipper heroine Estijaab (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) set for her debut at Kempton.
16.55 Kempton, £6,800, Nov, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT)
Emirates Park's homebred EJAABIYAH (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a Roger Varian-conditioned daughter of G1 Golden Slipper heroine Estijaab (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), who encounters a baker's dozen in this unveiling. She was due to make her debut at Yarmouth last month, but was denied her opportunity with the abandonment of that meeting. Her opponents include Sean Woods newcomer Cherry Burton (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), who is a 110,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 daughter of stakes-winning G1 Oaks placegetter Shadow Dancing (GB) (Unfuwain), and Valmont's similarly unraced Seek And Destroy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a sale-topping 260,000gns Tattersalls December yearling and a full-sister to G1 Australian Cup-winning sire Fifty Stars (Ire), from the Ralph Beckett stable.
18.00 Kempton, £9,900, Nov, 2yo, 8f (AWT)
Rockcliffe Stud's MIDNIGHT GUN (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is out of MG1SW 1000 Guineas heroine Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}) and thus a homebred half-brother to G1 Falmouth S. victrix Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The Ed Walker trainee encounters a dozen in this debut, including Qatar Racing and David Howden's Sword (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who is a 500,000gns Book 1 son of G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Ame Bleue (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), representing John and Thady Gosden.
In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victories of Buffoon and Kick A Rhyme for trainer Mike Maker and Pura Vida Investments during the past week.
Lope De Vega Colt Strikes At Keeneland
Buffoon (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) put it all together at second asking at Keeneland for Pura Vida Investments and trainer Mike Maker on Saturday (video).
Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and Rifa Mustang Europe, Ltd., the €175,000 Arqana August yearling selection of Deuce Greathouse is out of After Dawn (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), herself a half-sister to sires and Group 1 winners Ectot (GB) and Most Improved (Ire). He is followed by a yearling filly by Sottsass (Fr) who brought €130,000 at the Arqana October yearling Sale from Oceanic Bloodstock. Under the stakes-winning Danehill third dam Mahalia (Ire) is GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) among others.
Ballylinch's Lope De Vega has one of the best records of any European sire with his progeny in North America, and Buffoon is his 40th winner from 74 runners there (54%). Besides a pair of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroines in Newspaperofrecord (Ire) and Aunt Pearl (Ire), the stallion has five additional stakes winners in America.
#15 Buffoon draws in off the AE list and breaks his maiden at second asking in R2 at Keeneland for trainer Mike Maker with @jrosariojockey in the saddle!
Kick A Rhyme (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was the second winner in less than a week for Pura Vida Investments and trainer Mike Maker when taking a Churchill Downs maiden on Nov. 1 (video). The filly was making her third start.
Bred by Irish National Stud Mare Syndicate II, the dark bay was picked up by BBA Ireland for €150,000 as a Goffs Orby yearling on the bid of Deuce Greathouse and Pura Vida. Out of the listed-placed Adhwaa (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the filly is a half-sister to multiple group winner Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and is her dam's final foal.
The seventh winner from 13 runners (54%) for her Darley sire, Kick A Rhyme has a quartet of paternal half-siblings that have found black-type in the U.S. Night Of Thunder's best get there are Grade III winners Sopran Basilea (Ire) and Pocket Square (GB).
#8 Kick a Rhyme breaks his maiden in R6 at Churchill Downs under @tyler_gaff for trainer Mike Maker!
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Yerwanthere (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}) rallied to win at Santa Anita for trainer Patrick Gallagher on Saturday (video).
Part of the Kilnamoragh Stud breeding programme, the 4-year-old filly won her first start in Ireland for owner/breeder Jim Browne and trainer Pat Foley. Eclipse purchased the filly after that start and moved her to Joseph O'Brien, and she took a Dundalk handicap in December of 2022. Sent to America after three more appearances, she debuted with a fourth at Del Mar in August prior to her win last weekend. A half-sister to the winning Listed Brigids Pastures S. third Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), Yerwanthere is also a half-sister to the unraced juvenile filly Over The Blues (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) and a yearling colt by Profitable (Ire). Second dam Slow Jazz (Chief's Crown) won two stakes, and she is also a half-sister to G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Blue Duster (Danzig).
Yerwanthere is one of two winners from three runners (66%) in the U.S. for Dark Angel's Markaz. On an international level, all three of his stakes winners have won at Group 3 level in Ireland (2) and France (1).
Repeat Winners
Klaravich Stables' Redistricting (GB) (Kingman {GB}) improved his record to two wins from three starts with a victory in New York on Saturday (video). The Chad Brown trainee was previously featured in Making Waves in June.
(@TwinSpires) 
