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Observations: Dual Group 1-Placed Ancient Rome Set for Chantilly Return

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. Tuesday's Observations feature a trio of Andre Fabre trainees, including a welcome return for Coolmore and Westerberg's dual Group 1-placed Ancient Rome.

14.25 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, c/g, 8f (AWT)
Godolphin's SWING VOTE (GB) (Shamardal) is an Andre Fabre-trained son of G1 Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the March-foaled homebred bay faces nine rivals in this debut. They include Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's Tonal (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who is kin to three black-type performers out of a half-sister to G1 Cheveley Park S. victrix Pas De Reponse (Danzig).

15.35 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, f, 8f (AWT)
Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's ALGOLIA (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), another Andre Fabre-conditioned newcomer of note, is a half-sister to Listed Prix Charles Laffitte victrix Babala (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) produced by G1 Grande Premio Diana (Brazilian Oaks) winner Viva Rafaela (Brz) (Know Heights {Ire}). Her 10 opponents include Ecurie Skymarc Farm's homebred Morgana (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), who is out of an untried half-sister to three-time GI Canadian International-winning sire Joshua Tree (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud second Arthur's Kingdom (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), from the Stephane Wattel stable; and Rashit Shaykhutdinov's Meteor Shower (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is a homebred daughter of stakes-winning G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) runner-up Megera (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), representing Fabrice Chappet.

16.45 Chantilly, Cond, €18,000, 4yo, 9f (AWT)
Coolmore and Westerberg's 4-year-old colt ANCIENT ROME (War Front) returns to action for Andre Fabre coming back off a nine-month break, having run ninth in June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club when last seen. The 2021 G3 Prix des Chenes victor, who also hit the board in that season's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International, encounters seven rivals in this low-key affair.

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Name Two Zoustar Fillies For Qatar Racing

Qatar Racing has launched a competition to name two juvenile fillies from the second European crop of Tweenhills resident Zoustar (Aus).

The horses in question are in training with John and Thady Gosden and Archie Watson, and are out of the mares Wind Fire and Out Of The Flames (GB) respectively. The latter is already the dam of a winner by Zoustar, Stars On Fire (Ire), trained by Wesley Ward.

The competition can be entered on social media by following @Qatar_Racing (Twitter) or @qatarracingltd (Instagram) and replying to the posts with a name suggestion of no more than 18 characters. The winners will be selected by Sheikh Fahad, chairman of Qatar Racing, and manager David Redvers, and the prize will include two tickets for the opening day of the QIPCO Guineas Festival on Friday, May 5.

“The Zoustar filly ex Out Of The Flames is with Archie Watson and looking very forward for a Zoustar filly,” said Redvers. “Being out of a mare who was third in the Queen Mary and who has already bred a two-year-old winner by Zoustar, we would be very hopeful that she might even turn into a Royal Ascot filly.”

He added, “The Zoustar filly out of Wind Fire has been in training with John and Thady Gosden for about three weeks. She is another extremely well bred, speedy filly. Her dam was also placed at Royal Ascot, this time in the Norfolk Stakes, and although I wouldn't expect her to be quite as forward and likely to be running by Ascot, I would expect her to be extremely fast.”

Zoustar's first European crop included the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner and Cartier European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Lezoo (GB), who is one of three entries by the stallion for the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas.

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Group 1 Winner Angel Bleu Returns at Wolverhampton

Saturday's card at Wolverhampton, which includes two Fast-Track Qualifiers for the All-Weather Championships, has attracted some classy entrants, including the dual Group 1 winner Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

The four-year-old looks set to start his 2023 campaign in the Listed Spreadex Sports Lady Wulfruna S., in which he could face the G2 Coventry S winner of 2021, Berkshire Shadow (Ire), who is also by Dark Angel.

“Angel Bleu has been in training all winter and the intention is to start him off at Wolverhampton on Saturday,” said trainer Ralph Beckett. “This is not a prep for the All-Weather Championships finals but it is a prep for the rest of the year.”

The Andrew Balding-trained Berkshire Shadow was fifth in last season's G1 2000 Guineas, just one place ahead of Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who is also entered for Saturday's race and was last seen running sixth in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint on the Saudi Cup card in Riyadh. HIs trainer Richard Hannon has won two of the last three editions of the Lady Wulfruna S, including in 2021 with Mums Tipple (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who is another of the 14 entries.

Hannon said, “I have given Lusail an entry and we will decide whether he runs once I have discussed it with [his owner] Al Shaqab Racing. He has come back from Saudi as good as gold. I thought he ran well out there but it showed he needs a bit further than that. He will go on the surface at Wolverhampton no problem and could well take his chance.

Last year's Lady Wulfruna winner Tinker Toy (GB) (War Front) is entered to defend his title for Roger Varian and owner/breeder Craig Bennett, while another notable potential runner is the Charlie Appleby-trained Noble Dynasty (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is rated 106 and has won three of his last four starts.

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Cottin Handed 12-Month Ban For Corticosteroid Misuse

French National Hunt trainer and former champion jump jockey David Cottin faces a 12-month suspension as both trainer and owner after failing to observe the correct withdrawal times in the use of corticosteroids on four horses in his stable.

A veterinary officer from France's National Federation of Horseracing carried out an inspection at Cottin's yard in Lamorlaye, near Chantilly, on December 3, which revealed “several violations”, according to a statement released by France Galop on Monday. Of particular concern was the evidence of intra-articular (joint) injections, as well as injections between the vertebrae on four horses. The substance used, the corticosteroid Dexamethasone, has a withdrawal period of 14 days before the treated horse is allowed to resume racing.

The four horses, identified as Matilda Du Berlais (Fr), Duke Chop (Fr), Para (Fr) and Madara (Fr), have all subsequently been disqualified from the contests in which they raced within that 14-day period.

A treble winner of the Cravache d'Or d'obstacle (French champion jump jockeys' title), Cottin retired from race-riding in 2017 at the age of 27. He made a notably successful start to his training career, and enjoyed victory at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020 with Easysland (Fr).

Cottin was one of 21 people arrested from a number of different French stables, along with one person in Spain and another in Italy, in March 2022 in connection with alleged doping offences. He was subsequently released without charge.

Cottin has 14 days in which to lodge an appeal against his suspension.

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