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 Observations features a full-brother to Irish Oaks heroine Savethelastdance.
14.30 Newcastle, £9,950, Mdn, 2yo, 10f 42y (AWT)
Amo Racing's hitherto unraced MR HAMPSTEAD (Galileo {Ire}) is a $575,000 Keeneland September full-brother to this term's G1 Irish Oaks heroine Savethelastdance (Ire) and encounters seven in this debut. Opposition to the Roger Varian trainee includes Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's fellow newcomer Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who is a son of G1 Pretty Polly S. victrix Nezwaah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), from the Simon and Ed Crisford stable.
16.15 Newcastle, £6,600, Nov, 2yo, 7f 14y (AWT)
Sultan Ali's INVOLVEMENT (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a son of G1 Oaks third Lady Of Dubai (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), made a winning debut at Redcar in September and is burdened with a seven-pound penalty for that initial success. The Simon and Ed Crisford trainee's eight rivals include Kirsten Rausing homebred Heat Of Passion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is a Sir Mark Prescott-trained half-sister to the Hong Kong Group 1-winning duo Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) and Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko).
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 full-sister to a Group 1 winner.
13.58 Deauville, €30,000, Mdn, unraced 2yo, f, 9 1/2f (AWT)
Gitte Poulsen-Allaire's AQUA AUGUSTA (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is a Yann Barberot-conditioned daughter of Listed Prix Dahlia victrix Alzubra (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and thus kin to a trio black-type winners, which includes her G1 Tancred S.-winning full-brother Arapaho (Fr). She was the highest-priced filly at last term's Arqana October sale when knocked down for €310,000 and the March-foaled chestnut encounters nine opponents in this debutantes' heat. They include Antonia Devin's homebred Sailors Delight (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}), who is out of a full-sister to the owner-breeder's G1 Prix de l'Opera and G1 Dubai Duty Free heroine Terre A Terre (Fr) (Kaldounevees {Fr}); and Pierre Groualle trainee Iberia (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), who is a €50,000 Arqana October half-sister to MGSW GI Rodeo Drive S. third Elysea's World (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}).
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.
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. Monday's Observations features a full sister to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Found (Ire) debuting at Galway.
12.30 Galway, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 8f 73yT RUBIES ARE RED (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the 10th foal out of the G1 Matron S.and G1 Lockinge S. heroine Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab) and a full-sister to the outstanding Arc winner Found (Ire) and to the dam of the stunning Oaks heroine Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). She is one of a trio from Ballydoyle, including her relative Iseult Of Ireland (American Pharoah), a Westerberg-bred fellow newcomer who is a granddaughter of Red Evie.
12.35 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €50,000, 2yo, c/g, 7 1/2fT ROADSHOW (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), who represents the Smith/Tabor/Magnier combination and the Andre Fabre stable, is a son of the brilliant G2 Queen Mary S. winner and G1 Nunthorpe S. runner-up Acapulco (Scat Daddy). Among his rivals is the Wertheimers' Yoox (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained grandson of their Arc heroine Solemia (Ire) (Poliglote {GB}).
1.05 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €50,000, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT NATIVE PEARL (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) debuts for Al Shira'aa Farms and the Carlos Laffon-Parias stable and is a €550,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate who is a half-sister to the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. and G1 Dewhurst S.-winning juvenile champion Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Also in the line-up is Miz Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a Nicolas Clement-trained daughter of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Mizdirection (Mizzen Mast), and George Strawbridge's With Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a Victoria Head-trained daughter of the G1 Prix Rothschild heroine With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
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