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. Wednesday's insights features the debut of Book 1 star Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in a salty maiden at The Curragh.
17.00 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT
DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the 11th foal out of the renowned Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who has provided Ballydoyle with the top-class Australia duo Broome (Ire) and Point Lonsdale (Ire), with the latter having won this on his debut two years ago. By the sire of the family's G1 Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich (Ire), the April-foaled bay was the second-highest-priced lot at the Book 1 Sale at 2.4million gns and Ryan Moore is in Kildare for the ride on what could easily be one of Aidan O'Brien's 2024 Classic prospects. In the maiden in which Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status in 2020 and in which Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}) beat a luckless Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) last year, another to add intrigue is the Niarchos Family's Huxley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a Donnacha O'Brien-trained half-brother to Cloth Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
17.30 Curragh, Cond, €23,000, 2yo, 6fT
ALABAMA (IRE) (No Nay Never) is back after a break, having finished third at Cork in April as Ballydoyle's first juvenile runner of 2023. A half-brother to the G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Norfolk S.-winning sire Sioux Nation by No Nay Never's sire Scat Daddy, the January-foaled bay is joined by the stable's The Liffey (Ire) (No Nay Never), a half-brother to the Listed Dee S. winner San Antonio (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) out of the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Pretty Polly S. runner-up Rain Goddess (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
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