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Son of Quiet Reflection Debuts at The Curragh

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 son of MG1SW Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

1.25 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT
BLUEGRASS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal out of the G1 Commonwealth Cup and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to race for Coolmore, who paid 2.1million gns for her at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Representing the Smith/Magnier/Tabor/Westerberg partnership, the January-foaled colt debuts in the maiden in which Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) sprung to TDN Rising Stardom 12 months ago.

1.55 Curragh, Cond, €28,000, 2yo, f, 7fT
HISTORY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of two Ballydoyle runners in this Loder Irish EBF Fillies' Race and the one to make her debut, with Ryan Moore understandably opting for her winning stablemate Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the daughter of Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). History was the second highest-priced lot at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 at 2.8million gns, due to the fact that she is the first foal out of the multiple graded-stakes winner Prize Exhibit (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) who is a full-sister to the high-class G1 Sussex S. hero Mohaather (GB).

1.58 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 7 1/2fT
DREAMFLIGHT (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a significant Andre Fabre newcomer at Deauville August which is always such a breeding ground for future luminaries, being a son of the G2 Prix de la Nonette winner and dual GI Diana S. runner-up Dream Peace (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). Bought by Lady Bamford for 2.7million gns at the 2013 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, she has yet to produce a genuine star but her 3-year-old Guru (GB) (Kingman {GB}) has shown talent and there is time.

2.33 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT
RACLETTE (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a second Fabre project by the Juddmonte great, this time carrying the same silks as a daughter of the four-times Grade I heroine Emollient (Empire Maker). Among her peers is 3s Race Horse Management's Fall in Love (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), a Hiroo Shimizu-trained half-sister to last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who at €450,000 was the top-priced filly sold at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale. Jean-Claude Rouget saddles two Al Shaqab representatives headed by Taihah (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}), a daughter of the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Rothschild heroine Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), while Situveux (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) is a Wertheimer homebred trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias who combined with her half-brother, the Yeomanstown Stud resident Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal).

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Starman Heads Maurice de Gheest Cast

Deauville stages the G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest on Sunday, where David Ward's G1 July Cup hero Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) has to tackle testing ground as he bids to put his marker down on the sprinting division. Beaten only once when encountering soft going in Ascot's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S., the 4-year-old nevertheless carries significant stable confidence into the 6 1/2-furlong highlight.

“He's in cracking form and we're super excited, so fingers crossed,” trainer Ed Walker said. “Everything has gone very well since the July Cup. On his last piece of work, I think he's improving, dare I say it.”

Wesley Ward is already off the mark at the meeting with Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) and it is another Stonestreet Stables representative who offers stern opposition to the British talisman in Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who was awarded the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last time June 18.

“She's there and in good shape and Frankie (Dettori) is riding, so there are no worries,” said Ward. “I think there are a lot of showers around and that is going to suit Campanelle just fine.”

Marc Chan's 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) stays further than this and showed last time when winning Goodwood's G2 Lennox July 27 that he handles the soft. That is not so much the case with Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who was runner-up to Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) in the July 11 G1 Prix Jean Prat here.

“The better the ground, the better his chance,” trainer Joseph O'Brien commented. “We were thrilled to see Thunder Moon get back on track in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville last time, as his first two runs of the season had been very disappointing. The drop in trip seemed to help him and he was only just touched off by Laws of Indices. This even shorter trip should be fine for him and the less testing ground will definitely be in his favour, as we considered taking him out of the Prix Jean Prat on account of the softening ground.”

There are only three home-trained runners and the pick seems to be Jean-Claude Seroul's winning machine Marianafoot (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). Having won the seven-furlong G3 Prix du Palais-Royal and G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at ParisLongchamp May 30 and July 1, the homebred switches to a straight track but trainer Jerome Reynier is happy it will not hinder his chances.

“He has won seven in a row and was tried over a straight course back in April at Chantilly and handled it well,” he explained. “Six and a half furlongs is a bit of a long trip for the sprinters, but he has won over seven and I think he's got a good chance. This is the logical next step and we're looking forward to it. It's a pretty good race and it will be good to try him against this sort of opposition. If we can step up onto the podium, we will be delighted.”

At The Curragh, the G1 the Keeneland Phoenix S. sees the June 26 G2 Railway S. first, second and fourth Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) renew rivalry. The former, who was previously second in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot June 17, has to do it on softer ground this time but trainer David Loughnane is not overly concerned.

“With the weather forecast, the ground is probably going to be a bit softer than we would like it to be but he has won on soft ground previously so provided he turns up and gets out of bed on the right side, I think he should take all the beating,” he said. “On paper, we certainly look the one to beat but there's every chance something else in the race could have taken a big step forward since the Railway. We're going there confident, but we're well aware Group 1s are not easily won.”

Fozzy Stack is happy to re-engage with Craig Bernick and Antony Beck's May 22 G3 Marble Hill S. winner Castle Star and is hoping the predicted change in conditions might level the playing ground. “He obviously handled slower ground and it might upset one or two of the others, so I wouldn't mind a drop of rain,” he said. Peter Brant's 'TDN Rising Star' Dr Zempf was the most in need of the experience in the Railway and should have improved for the run, while Aidan O'Brien who has won this a record 16 times has the filly Prettiest (Dubawi {Ire}) as his main challenger but she needs to fare better than when fourth in the G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown July 22.

The third Group 1 of the day comes at Hoppegarten, with the Longines 131st Grosser Preis von Berlin attracting Kirsten Rausing's July 3 G2 Lancashire Oaks winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Godolphin's Mar. 6 G2 Dubai City of Gold scorer Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) as they encounter the July 4 G1 Deutsches Derby third Imi (Ger) (Tertullian). Back at Deauville, the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is the star act in the 12 1/2-furlong G3 OSAF Prix de Reux as he looks to get his 4-year-old campaign on track and extend Aidan O'Brien's stellar record in France in 2021.

Click here for the group fields.

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Nicola Currie Leads Ladies Team to Shergar Cup Win

A pair of wins for Nicola Currie saw the jockey win the Alistair Haggis “Silver Saddle” Trophy and assist the Ladies Team to Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup glory at Ascot.

Going into the finale, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash, the Ladies Team had a five-point advantage, but Team Ireland finished first and second with Joe Fanning and Tadhg O'Shea. Currie was third, giving the Shergar Cup to the Ladies Team by three points with 69 points. Ireland was second on 66 points, with Great Britain third with 64. Team Rest of the World was fourth with 53. Currie won the overall riding title with 47 points, 18 ahead of David Egan of Team Ireland. Veteran reinswoman Haley Turner was also presented with the original Shergar Cup in recognition of her amassing 304 points over her appearances in the unique competition.

Currie, who partnered with Turner and Mickaelle Michel for the Ladies Team victory, said, “What a team. In the end they were straightforward rides and straightforward winners. It's been a fantastic day and thanks to all the owners and trainers who have helped today.

“Ascot is my favourite racecourse. I love riding here. I've been lucky over the years here and it's great to have won the Silver Saddle. All the publicity is great, it's hard work being a jockey and any publicity is good publicity.”

Turner, Captain of the Ladies team, said, “Well done to Nicola she has rode out of her skin today. The Shergar Cup has helped me over the years by projecting my career and hopefully it will be the same for Nicola as she deserves more quality rides than she is getting. I love the Shergar Cup, it is so much fun.”

Michel added, “I've loved riding today. I was close on a second and it would have been lovely to win a race but riding at Ascot has been brilliant.”

Nick Smith, Ascot's Director of Racing & Public Affairs, commented, “It has been a good day and tremendous to be back after a year's absence. We are grateful to the sponsors for standing by us.

“Credit must go to James Willoughby who has done the algorithms and puts the teams together. He made it a level playing field and has done it for several years. However, this will be his crowning glory given three teams finished right up next to each other.

“It's lovely to see Nicola shine–that is what the event is about, to give people a profile, and I'm sure she will remember this for a long time. It's also nice to give Hayley the existing Shergar Cup, which is much deserved. It was not her day today, but seven points was enough to put her over the 300 threshold of Shergar Cup points. Credit to Mark Johnston who is the Leading Trainer and he went away with a £2,000 stable prize.”

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Minzaal Sustains Minor Setback

Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), winner of the G2 Gimcrack S. and third in the G1 Middle Park S., has suffered another setback and will miss an intended return in a conditions stakes at Nottingham. The Shadwell runner required surgery on a leg injury sustained in his box which ruled him out of the first half of this campaign, and, after a work on Wednesday, had another minor setback.

Trainer Owen Burrows is undeterred however and said, “Unfortunately Minzaal has had a bit of a setback, and we won't be declaring him at Nottingham. He worked on Wednesday–we were happy with that and we were happy with him on Thursday.

“I just didn't think he quite moved right yesterday, however. It is nothing bad, but enough to stop us from declaring him for Tuesday. It is a bit of a blow to get him this close, because everything until Friday had gone according to plan. We will know a bit more in a few days if it is going to be a hold-up for a week or so, or if it will be something that will keep him out for longer.”

He added, “We've had such a great run with him the whole way through, and he hadn't missed a day. The team at Shadwell had done a great job with him as well.

“We felt this race [at Nottingham] was perfect timing-wise, because it would have brought him on a ton before going to the Sprint Cup. We are not going to go straight back into a Group One with him on his first run back, so the Sprint Cup will be knocked on the head.

“There is a listed race at York on Sept. 5 [Garrowby S.], and if it is only a little hold-up that could be an option. As far as we know, we have got him next season.”

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