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 relative of star Group 1 filly Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
19.30 Dundalk, Mdn, €13,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 10f 150y (AWT) MOTHER NATURE (IRE) (Justify) is an eyecatcher as the first foal out of the maiden winner Heaven On Earth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is in turn a full-sister to Ballydoyle's luminaries Minding (Ire), Tuesday (Ire) and Empress Josephine (Ire). Aidan O'Brien pitches the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas entry into the maiden he won last year with Justify's Red Riding Hood (Ire) and she meets Moyglare Stud's intriguing newcomer Step To Somewhere (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a Dermot Weld-trained 280,000gns Book 1 purchase who is a granddaughter of the dual Group 2 winner Best Terms (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).
The Tattersalls March sale catalogue, which takes place on Wednesday, Mar. 27 at Newmarket's Park Paddocks, is now available online. The sale comprises of both Flat and NH prospects with 85 lots total, highlighted by an eight horse draft from Godolphin led by 2021 G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy-placed Brilliant Light (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Also catalogued is Floral Melody (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), a 2-year-old half-sister to SW & GSP-Eng Kylian (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) as well as stakes-placed Remarkable Force (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and several winning or placed racing prospects.
The NH selection is led by Grade 3-winner Canelo (Ire) (Mahler {GB}) and SW & GSP-Eng Didtheyleaveuouttoo (Ire) (Presenting {GB}). Two juvenile filly offerings consigned by Michael Murphy's Hamilton Stables are both eligible for the Great British Bonus Scheme as well.
Live internet bidding will be available and prospective buyers are requested to register with Tattersalls at least 48 hours in advance of the sale's start. Wildcard entries will be accepted until Tuesday, Mar. 19.
Charlie Appleby, runaway leading trainer this season at Meydan by both earnings ($8,915,500) and percentage of wins (40%) amongst those conditioners with more than a handful of runners at the meet, got his third winner on the Super Saturday card with LEGEND OF TIME (GB) (c, 3, Sea The Stars {Ire}-Kissable {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the Listed Jumeirah Classic sponsored by Arabian Adventures. His earlier wins on the evening came with Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the G2 Dubai City of Gold and with Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) in the Listed Jumeirah Guineas. All three of the winners are Godolphin homebreds.
Perfect in his three starts at Meydan, Legend Of Time emerged from the early scrum in an eager third and had to be hard held by jockey William Buick. Quickly settling into a comfortable spot against the rail with cover just behind the leading duo of Athan (Arg) (Orpen) and Musical Act (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Buick bided his time with a clearly loaded mount until the straight loomed. With little visible effort, Legend Of Time tipped out and around Athan as Musical Act floated wide. Legend Of Time already found the front before Buick encouraged him with hands and heels and was a facile winner despite Musical Act finding more and briefly looking for a battle until Legend Of Time kicked clear by 4 3/4 lengths. Like the winner, Musical Act is a Godolphin homebred trained by Appleby. Athan held for third as none of the others factored at the finish. The final time for the 1800 metres was 1:49.83.
Legend Of Time has been steadily building his CV, having won his debut at Haydock last fall. Off the board when trying the G3 Tattersalls S. at Newmarket three weeks later, he was put away before reemerging in Dubai to win conditions events Jan. 5 and Feb. 2, going 1400 meters and 1600 meters, respectively.
“He's won the series now and probably 1800 metres is more to his liking,” said Buick. “He's an exciting horse for the rest of the season. The American Turf Derby series over there might suit him.”
Appleby's exacta in the Jumeirah Classic mirrored his success in the race in 2023, when he sent Naval Power (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), One Nation (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and Highbank (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) to fill out the trifecta. He only had the two entrants this year.
Legend Of Time is the 117th black-type winner worldwide for Gilltown Stud's all-conquering Sea The Stars (Ire). With the Jumeirah Classic winner, the remarkable sire of 70 group winners now has two stakes winners out of daughters of Danehill Dancer and an additional two out of daughters of that one's sire, Danehill. The late Danehill Dancer has 168 stakes winners as a broodmare sire.
Kissable (Ire), dam of Legend Of Time and herself a listed American stakes winner who also placed in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., is the dam of G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu winner Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and additional American stakes winner and Grade I stakes-placed Amandine (GB) (Shamardal). Her 2022 Pinatubo (Ire) colt died as a yearling and she produced a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly last year. Her granddam, high class English runner Eva Luna (Alleged), produced multiple Group 1 winner Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells), global multiple group winner and multiple top-level placer Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), and the unraced Soviet Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), dam of G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe/G1 Espom Derby winner Workforce (GB) (King's Best). Click for the ERA chart and video.
JUMEIRAH CLASSIC SPONSORED BY ARABIAN ADVENTURES-Listed, AED800,000, Meydan, 3-2, 3yo, 9fT, 1:49.83, gd.
1–LEGEND OF TIME (GB), 121, c, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire) 1st Dam: Kissable (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 2nd Dam: Kitty O'Shea (GB), by Sadler's Wells 3rd Dam: Eva Luna, by Alleged 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Godolphin (GB); B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. AED480,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, AED795,989.
2–Musical Act (Ire), 121, g, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Poetic Charm (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. AED160,000.
3–Athan (Arg), 131, c, 3, Orpen–Athania (Arg), by Pure Prize(GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Gulf Racing Club LLC; B-Carampangue (ARG); T-Fawzi Nass. AED80,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 2 1/4, 1.
Also Ran: Quartier (Uru), Whathappensinvegas (Ire), Tohoku, Acclaim To Royalty (Ire). Scratched: Drink Dry (Ire).
The 2021 Australasian Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) has passed away due to foaling complications, announced Chris Waller via X on Sunday evening.
The 11-time Group 1 winner tallied the 2021 G1 Melbourne Cup to a venerable career and had been sent to France to race for conditioner Francis-Henri Graffard. After four winless outings in the Northern Hemisphere in 2022, including appearances in the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet, G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu, and her final jump in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S., the four-time champion had been retired and bred to Sea The Stars (Ire).
“It is incredibly sad that we pass on the news on behalf of the ownership group that Verry Elleegant has passed away due to complications giving birth to her foal,” said Waller.
“The news is just filtering through to stable staff now and other close connections who are coming to terms with the tragic news. She was in fantastic hands on a farm who did all they could for her, and we would like to thank them for their efforts which we will be forever grateful for.”
