There was top class action in both Germany and France yesterday and the Group 1 Preis Der Diana (German Oaks) at Dusseldorf was won by Epsom Oaks heroine Dancing Rain (IRE). Bred in Ireland by Swettenham Stud Dancing Rain made all the running under a canny ride by Kieran Fallon and she was far superior to her rivals winning by three lengths for trainer William Haggas. Dancing Rain is by Danehill Dancer out of Rain Flower and is a half sister to Sumora, the dam of Maybe; so it is a family that is certainly enjoying fantastic success.  Another Classic winning Goffs Orby graduate; she was bought by Liam Norris and William Huntingdon for €200,000 from consignors Camas Park Stud. She was bought on behalf of lawyer brothers Lee and Martin Taylor as a foundation broodmare and their racing manager Liam Norris was understandably delighted with the outcome commenting that ‘they could hardly have made a better start!” The catalogue for the upcoming Orby sale will be available online on the Goffs website from this Wednesday.

In France, Moonlight Cloud was the clear-cut winner of the Group 1 Prix Maurice De Gheest. The daughter of Invincible Spirit quickened right away from the Irish bred Society Rock to win by four lengths. Moonlight Cloud is the sixth Group 1 winner for the Irish National Stud stallion Invincible Spirit. Himself a Group 1 winning sprinter and former champion first season sire, Invincible Spirit has sired Group 1 winners in the UK, France, USA and Australia over trips ranging from six to ten furlongs.