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 the debut of a half-sister to Group 1 winner Ribchester.
12.40 Ascot, Debutantes, £6,000, 2yo, 7fT
MEGALLAN (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is the second foal out of the Listed Lord Weinstock Memorial S. winner Eastern Belle (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) who was placed three times at graded-stakes level in the States including when second in the 2015 GII New York S. As a half-sister to Golden Horn (GB), Eastern Belle is a vital broodmare going forward for Anthony Oppenheimer and her April-foaled colt is unsurprisingly in training with John Gosden. Another with esteemed connections is Jeff Smith’s homebred colt Spirit Mixer (GB) (Frankel {GB}), an Andrew Balding-trained first foal out of Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who famously beat Golden Horn in the 2015 G1 Juddmonte International.
1.40 Newmarket, Debutantes, £5,400, 2yo, f, 7fT
LOOKTOTHERAINBOW (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a half-sister to the four-times Group 1-winning miler Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) who is introduced in the race Charlie Appleby also chose for his past Dubawi luminary Wuheida (GB). The March-foaled bay is one of two Godolphin runners alongside the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Late Morning (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), whose dam is a half to the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf-winning sire Outstrip (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}).
2.00 Cork, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, f, 8fT
LIGHT OF MY EYES (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the latest progeny out of the Niarchos Family’s five-times Group 1-winning dual Classic heroine Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) and therefore a half-sister to a trio of black-type winners. Jessie Harrington saddles the late May foal, who like Ballydoyle’s fellow newcomer La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) may need more time. That half-sister to this year’s G1 Irish Derby hero Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) was purchased for Coolmore by the Broadhurst Agency for 850,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 Sale.
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