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Observations: Half to Mysterious Night and Althiqa Debut at Doncaster

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 insights features a salty Doncaster maiden consisting of some flashy pedigrees.

14.50 Doncaster, £6,800, Mdn, 2yo, f, 6f 111yT
James Doyle gets the booking for Godolphin's hitherto untried STAR OF MYSTERY (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who encounters 10 rivals in this debut for the Charlie Appleby stable. The March-foaled homebred bay is a daughter of Listed Boadicea Fillies' S. victrix Mistrusting (Ire) (Shamardal) and thus a half-sister to GI Just A Game S. and GI Diana S. heroine Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and last term's GI Pattison Summer S. victor Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

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Ghislaine Head Dies at 95

Ghislaine Head, owner-breeder and matriarch of France's famous training dynasty, died on Thursday, June 1 at the age of 95. The news was first reported by Jour de Galop.

The wife of Alec Head, who died a year ago, Ghislaine was represented on the racecourse by, among others, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Three Troikas (Fr) (Lyphard), who was trained by her daughter Christiane (Criquette) and ridden to victory by her son Freddy, who was later a successful trainer in his own right.

Alec and Ghislaine Head bought Haras du Quesnay just outside Deauville in 1958 and set about making it into one the country's most famous breeding and stallion operations, with its resident sires over the decades including Le Fabuleux (Fr), Anabaa, Highest Honor (Fr), and the homebred Bering (GB), who was another to race in Head's colours to win the 1986 Prix du Jockey Club.

Paying tribute to her mother in JDG, Criquette Head said, “Mum and Dad were an incredible pair. If Dad took care of the horses, Mum managed all the administrative aspects, in Chantilly as in Quesnay, which was not an easy task, and relations with customers.

“She was a woman of character, very active, undoubtedly ahead of her time. She was also the real pillar of the family…She has always supported us, her children. She has done more than raise us, I would say that she has elevated us.”

Christopher Head, grandson of Alec and Ghislaine, is the trainer of the favourite for Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club, Big Rock (Fr).

Ghislaine Head is survived by her children Freddy, Criquette, Martine, and Patricia, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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New Select NH Foal Sale to Be Held by Goffs UK in November

A select NH Foal Sale at Doncaster on Nov. 4 and 5 was announced by Goffs UK on Friday. The precise format of the sale will be announced over the coming weeks after further discussions with the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and leading NH breeders.

This new sale will also complement the existing NH Foal section of the January Sale.

“The recent renewal of the NH Foal sales presented many challenges for breeders, and we can't keep offering the same sales and expect a different result,” Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent said. “It is an extremely exciting time for NH Breeders in the UK now, with more young stallions than ever before including Group 1 winners, Classic winners and the one-two from the Epsom Derby all available to British NH mare owners.”

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Joint June Bank Holiday Initiative Encourages Drivers to ‘Pass Wide and Slow’ Around Horses

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), and An Garda Síochána (AGS) have teamed up with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) in an effort to inform motorists how to share the roads safely with horses. Drivers are being urged to pass horses “wide and slow” but also others who use the roads.

The initiative features a series of videos to help motorists familiarise themselves with best practice when they encounter horses on the road and in areas with high equine traffic, such as around riding schools and racing yards. Motorists should always slow down, pass wide and obey the hand signals of the rider and never use the horn, rev the engine or flash the lights.

“There is a shared responsibility for road safety from all road users so we are delighted to partner with the Road Safety Authority with their horse road safety appeal,” Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said. “The videos have lots of useful guidelines to explain to motorists how to share the roads safely with horses and their riders. I would encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with the guidelines, especially as the busy summer period approaches. We all have a part to play in sharing the road safely.”

Denis Duggan, CEO of Horse Sport Ireland, added, “We are delighted that this series of videos is now available and will help raise awareness of what to do when road users meet horse riders on the road. Horses are live animals and can be unpredictable, so it is important that all road users familiarise themselves with the rules of the road.”

To view the new video series, click here. The RSA guidelines for 'Horse Road Safety on Public Roads' are available here.

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