In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Kertez in the Pan American S. in Florida.
Pan American Win For Kertez
Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey and West Point Thoroughbreds' Kertez (GB) (Intello {Ger}) put it all together for a victory in the GII Pan American S. at Gulfstream Park at the end of March (video). The Christophe Clement trainee was bred by Wertheimer et Frere.
Trained earlier in his career by Andre Fabre in France, he made 19 starts over four seasons in the storied light blue and white, winning five contests while placing in seven stakes. Nicolas Clement and EDC Agency snapped up the then-5-year-old for €150,000 out of the Arqana Arc Sale last September before he joined Clement's barn. A half-brother to GII City Of Hope Mile S. third Twist (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), Kertez is out of Distortion (GB) (Distorted Humor). Her latest are a fillies by Nathaniel (Ire)–named Contorsion–and War Front born in 2022 and 2023, respectively. His dam is a half-sister to G1 French 2000 Guineas winner and sire Falco (Pivotal {GB}).
Haras de Beaumont's Intello is responsible for six winners from nine runners (66%) in America. His two stakes winners in that locale are anchored by GI United Nations S. hero Adhamo (Ire).
Nadette Prevails In Wilshire
Outstrip (GB)'s Nadette (Fr) gained her first victory since May of 2022 in the GIII Wilshire S. for Team Valor International and Neil Drysdale last week (video).
A product of the Herve Dardenne breeding programme, the €50,000 Arqana October yearling sold for just €17,000 during the Arqana Summer Mixed June Sale as a juvenile to Zied Romdhane. After running second in July of her 2-year-old season at Deauville for trainer Romain Le Dren Doleuze and Marco Saviozzi, Team Valor joined the ownership and she would go on to win the Listed Prix Finlande in eight more French starts. Once she transferred to America, she raced solely for Team Valor, and was a $340,000 buy-back out of the Keeneland November Sale in 2023.
Far and away the best runner for her winning dam Ciboulette (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), Nadette counts three-time Classic winner and quintuple Group 1 winner User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}) as her fourth dam.
Nadette is one of two Grade III winners for Outstrip in the States, joining Outburst (GB). Three other runners have competed in that jurisdiction, and his overall record stands at five runners and four winners (80%) there.
Laulne Gains Her Wings
Laulne (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), a winner of the G3 Prix Six Perfections in France, earned her first American stakes rosette with a tally in the Listed Angels Flight S. at Santa Anita for trainer Phil D'Amato on Sunday (video). Racing for the ownership group of Madaket Stables, LLC, Panic Stable, LLC, Gerald Augustin-Normand, Robert LaPenta, and William Strauss, the bay filly was bred by Franklin Finance S. A.
Originally owned by Augustin-Normand and trained by Yann Barberot, she brought €750,000 out of the Arqana Arc Sale in 2023 after placing in two other French group races. Her dam, the Montjeu (Ire) mare Lady Francesca (GB), placed twice in European stakes and has also thrown Australian listed winner Bartholomeu Dias (GB) to the cover of Mount Nelson (GB). Dual Group 3 winner Purr Along (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) is Lady Francesca's half-sister.
Coolmore's Starspangledbanner now has seven stakes winners (30%) from 23 runners in the U.S., as well as 13 winners (56%). His best from that bunch are Grade I winners Rhea Moon (Ire) and multiple top-level winner State Of Rest (Ire), who is standing his second season at Rathbarry Stud for €20,000.
Fandom Makes Winning Return
Stonestreet Stables, LLC's Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) made a winning return in the Listed Palisades S. at Keeneland this past weekend, his first start since running unplaced in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. last June (video).
Bred by Chasemore Farm, the Wesley Ward-trained bay was plucked from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 by Ben McElroy on behalf of Barbara Banke's Stonestreet for 170,000gns in the autumn of 2022. Brogan (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), the dam of the Palisades hero, is a half-sister to G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). Since foaling Fandom, she has delivered a juvenile filly by Masar (Ire) and a yearling filly by Zoustar.
Whitsbury Manor stallion Showcasing has sired 13 winners (54%) and five stakes winners (21%) from just 24 American runners. Besides Fandom, his other U.S. stakes winners include Grade II winners Prize Exhibit (GB), Projected (GB), and Bodhicitta (GB).
By Royal Decree
Apple Tree Stud's Royal Charter (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), making her U.S. debut, won at Santa Anita for trainer Leonard Powell (video). A product of Biddestone Stud, the 85,000gns Tattersalls December yearling was a €240,000 Arqana May Breeze-Up juvenile and won twice from five European starts for Apple Tree and trainer William Haggas before being relocated.
Since foaling Royal Charter, Queen's Charter (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) has 2-year-old Al Hussar (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), a 30,000gns Tattersalls Somerville yearling pick up by Grant Tuer, and a yearling full-brother to that colt to come. Second dam Queen's Best (King's Best) also produced GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}), while Royal Charter's third dam was G3 Nell Gwyn S. and multiple Group 1-placed Cloud Castle (GB) (In The Wings {GB}).
Now a resident of South Africa, Expert Eye has had seven U.S. runners with four of them visiting the winner's circle (57%). Three of them have earned black type, among them Isabel Alexandra (Ire).
Gustav Klimt Filly Wins In California
Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's The Wild Grazer (Ire) (Gustav Klimt {Ire}) graduated at Santa Anita in late March (video). She started twice in Ireland for trainer Andrew Slattery and breeder Patrick McGree without a win before changing hands.
Placed in both the Lady of Shamrock S. and the GIII Senorita S. at Santa Anita, the 4-year-old now has three wins from nine starts. Her dam, Texas Katie (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}) who is a half-sister to multiple group winner Plainchant (Ire) (Gregorian {Ire}), has a yearling filly by Coulsty (Ire).
The Wild Grazer is the lone American runner to date for Haras d'Annebault's Gustav Klimt.
Prince Of Lir's Sky Graduates At Santa Anita
Sorrento Sky (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}) won at third asking in his U.S. unveiling at Santa Anita for conditioner Phil D'Amato this month (video). Racing in the colours of the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Marc Lantzman and Michael Nentwig, the dark bay was bred by Colleen Dwyer.
The first foal for the unraced Briarfield Lady (Ire) (Battle Of Marengo {Ire}), Sorrento Sky has a yearling half-sister by Elzaam (Aus). He ran second in a pair of Dundalk maidens for Matt Dwyer and trainer Gavin Cromwell in November and December of last year, before being purchased by these connections. G2 Temple S. winner and stallion Pearl Secret (GB) (Compton Place {GB}) is under the third dam.
Prince Of Lir has a 75% winners-to-runners ratio in the U.S., as three of his four starters have won. GII Franklin-Simpson S. hero The Lir Jet (Ire) is the best of them so far.
Repeat Winners
Grade I winner McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who races for Klaravich Stables, Inc., added the GIII Orchid S. to her resume earlier this spring (video). The Chad Brown charge has now won four stakes, including the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S.
Phil D'Amato trainee King Of Gosford (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) became his sire's 53rd stakes winner–first in North America–with a victory in the John Shear S. at Santa Anita earlier this month for the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff (video). He previously featured in the Mar. 22 edition of this column.
The post Making Waves: Intello’s Kertez Rocks Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
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