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Despite running over his fourth track in as many starts, No Nay Mets jumped as nearly a sure thing at 1-5 in the wagering and showed his customary early speed to set a pressured lead just ahead of King Kontie (Karakontie {Jpn}). Pushed through fractions of :21.45 and :44.06, he continued to find more and drew off readily when asked into the lane to sprint clear for the easy win.

Etoile, herself a group winner in Ireland, is a full-sister to last week's GIII Mint Millions S. winner Ancient Rome. This is also the extended family of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who RNA'd for $3.45-million at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale. No Nay Mets is his dam's first and only reported foal. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

NO NAY METS (IRE) ($2.60) is geared down across the wire after putting the field away in the $125,000 Rosie's Stakes at @ColonialDowns. Owned by Bregman Family Racing LLC and WWBD LLC (@ABREG_1), trained by George Weaver, and ridden by @jockeypacolopez. Congrats to all! pic.twitter.com/iJzjugFVqH

— TVG (@TVG) September 9, 2023

EXACTA SYSTEMS ROSIE'S S., $125,000, Colonial Downs, 9-9, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.03, fm.
1–NO NAY METS (IRE), 122, c, 2, by No Nay Never
                1st Dam: Etoile (GSW-Ire), by War Front
                2nd Dam: Gagnoa (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
                3rd Dam: Gwynn (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
(€180,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG; $335,000 RNA 2yo '23 OBSAPR;
£800,000 2yo '23 GOFLO). O-Bregman Family Racing LLC and
WWBD LLC; B-Coolmore (Ire); T-George Weaver; J-Paco Lopez.
$75,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $183,000.
2–Toupie, 117, f, 2, Uncle Mo–Amertume, by Tapit.
1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer Et Frere (KY); T-H. Graham
Motion. $25,000.
3–Air Recruit, 120, c, 2, Air Force Blue–Werewolf, by Arch.
($105,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mark B. Grier;
B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Arnaud Delacour. $13,750.
Margins: 3 1/4, 3 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.30, 6.60, 7.40.
Also Ran: Atmidnight, Ruddy Buddy, Sebastian Run, Woodcourt, A G Diamond, King Kontie, Mi Dinero, Gone Elvis.

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The scribbling started reasonably early on Sunday morning from a desk in the press room that boasts one of the best views in the racing world, looking out across the turf to the wooded mountains of the Black Forest. It was also the desk that was once occupied by British-born but German-based racing correspondent David Connolly-Smith, who died in July. David was 83 but he had still been a regular presence at the races, and I always enjoyed a chat with him on my annual trip to BBAG. He brought German racing to life for readers of various publications in Britain and Ireland and, more than that, he was always so helpful and welcoming. David is much missed and it was an honour to be granted temporary residence at the desk that still bears his name.

The last day of Baden-Baden's premier week of racing is not for the faint-hearted. By 11am, the runners were already leaving the parade ring just after 11am for the first of a 12-race card on a sweltering day at Iffezheim. Three of those races, much to the delight of Baden Galopp's effervescent Stefan Buchner, featured within the World Pool, an increase from just one race on the same card last year and following on from the inclusion of the Deutsches Derby and Grosser Preis von Berlin earlier this season. By the end of the day, World Pool reported turnover of HK$64.3million (€7.5m) on those three races.

It is hard not to be concerned about German racing, primarily because it is really important for it not just to survive, but to thrive. Any country that continues to make such an impact on thoroughbred breeding globally really must have a strong domestic racing scene in order for that reputation not to start waning. Germany is not alone in struggling with falling racecourse attendances and a reduction in the number of horses in training and mares in the paddocks, but the contraction, to around 850 broodmares and slightly less than 2,000 racehorses, is worrying nonetheless.

A day or two at the bustling Baden-Baden racecourse during this late summer week almost certainly gives a false sense of the health of German racing overall, but it also provides an encouraging glimpse of racing at its very best, where a significant portion of the crowd is fully engaged with the stars of the show: the horses. It is hard to think of another racecourse where the runners and riders are clapped as they pass the stands for the first time. This happens for every race of sufficient distance at Baden-Baden; not so much a Cheltenham roar, more a polite Iffezheim ripple of applause, but it is beguiling.

The huge hedge-lined parade ring is encircled by racegoers four or five deep for every race, even from such an early start. Each winner and the also-rans are cheered back in by those lining the route, including plenty of children, along each side of the walk of fame that has the names of every winner of the Grosser Preis von Baden embedded in a path back to the winner's enclosure.

I wonder how many bosses of British racecourses have visited Baden-Baden on a raceday to see what's possible with low-cost entry, very little division of enclosures, no dress code, plenty of seating and picnic areas, and better still no noisy sideshows to divert attention from the main event or to upset the horses. It can be done, as long as we promote a day at the races as just that, and not as a big boozy outdoor party with some horses galloping around in the background.

To Longchamp via Baden-Baden

The trophy for Germany's main race of the week, the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, hopped over the nearby border to France when Christophe Soumillon timed his run to perfection on the statuesque Zagrey (Fr) to give Zarak (Fr) his first Group 1 winner. The Aga Khan Studs stallion was also the sire of the third home, Straight (Ger), and in the States over the weekend he was represented by Parnac (Fr), winner of the GII Flower Bowl S. At Saratoga. 

It was a banner day for Zagrey's trainer Yann Barberot, who was in Germany to receive the prize for the second Group 1 win of his career despite having the smart Beauvatier (Fr) in action at Longchamp, where he remained unbeaten in the G3 Prix la Rochette. That son of Lope De Vega (Ire) looks a smart Classic prospect for Barberot's Deauville stable next season. Before that, however, the trainer has much to look forward to on the first weekend of October, with Zagrey bound for the Arc and Beauvatier likely to start next in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Zagrey was the sole foreign runner in the Grosser Preis, and his last-gasp win was a blow to fans of the second-placed Mr Hollywood (Ire), who has featured in this column before and almost made all, going down by just a neck at the line. It was encouraging to see the three-year-old in the flesh, as he is a strong, handsome individual, who will surely notch his top-level win before too long. 

Sean Cronin and Tom Frary, who are the racing writers entrusted with handing out TDN Rising Stars, guard this honour closely, and it was hard not to prick up one's ears when Tom decided to award one to a son of the little known (outside Germany anyway) Iquitos (Ger) back in early April. That was the day that Mr Hollywood made his debut at Mulheim and bolted in to win by 16 lengths. He won the G3 Bavarian Classic on his next start, and has been second in his ensuing three runs, including when second to Fantastic Moon in the Deutsches Derby. He is one of one five foals from the first crop of his sire, a son of Adleflug (Ger) standing at Gestut Graditz. Another of the quintet is the G3 Diana Trial runner-up Drawn To Dream (Ire). Both were bred by Dietrich von Boetticher of Gestut Ammerland, where the stallion stood for his first two seasons, and they are both out of mares by the owner-breeder's Arc winner Hurricane Run (Ire). 

We'll keep a close eye on Iquitos. I've a feeling there may well be plenty more to report on his offspring in the coming seasons. 

Breakthrough Win for Pearson 

Baden-Baden is likely to be remembered fondly by British jockey Laura Pearson, who had her first German ride there on Saturday. She won the Listed Wackenhut Mercedes Benz Fillies Cup with a cool-headed ride aboard the Ralph Beckett-trained Diamond Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

It was the first stakes-race victory for Pearson, 22, who only rode out her claim a month ago having had to sit out the second half of 2022 with a serious neck injury. She returned to the saddle in January and is already well on her way to surpassing last year's tally of winners, with 19 on the board, including a Ffos Las treble for Beckett on August 25.

“I had a really fun trip to Italy last February and was lucky enough to have a double at Pisa, so it's great to keep my overseas record at 100 per cent,” Pearson told TDN.

She is enjoying her association with Beckett's Kimpton Down stable, which currently has one of the best strike-rates in Britain after a hugely successful August.

“I ride out there four days a week and it's a pleasure to be in there with the team,” she added. “I recently had my first treble for the boss, and it's great to get this win for him. I can't thank him enough for the opportunities he's given me. It's brilliant.”

Along with Zagrey, various international raiders struck in the major races during the week at Baden-Baden. Charlie Johnston saddled the third group winner from the first crop of Too Darn Hot (GB) when Carolina Reaper took the 150th running of the G3 Renate und Albrecht Woeste Zukunfts Rennen last Wednesday, and Francis Graffard sent out the Aga Khan's Darkaniya (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) to win the G2 T von Zastrow Stutenpreis.

Stauffenbergs on Top

Philipp and Marion Stauffenberg may be best known to many on the sales circuit as the leading German consignors internationally, but they are also first-class breeders and currently occupy the top spot on the list of German breeders with significantly fewer runners than their nearest rivals in the table, Gestut Karlshof and Gestut Rottgen.

Of course, a large portion of the prize-money haul comes from the Deutsches Derby victory of Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who disappointingly was a late withdrawal for the G1 Grosser Preis on Sunday owing to ground worries. But they were also represented at the course on Saturday by a homebred debutante, Lady Mary (Ger) (Lawman {Ire}), winner of the strong maiden, the Gestut Etzean Winterkonigin Trial, for Andreas Suborics. The juvenile is out of La Reine Noir (Ger) (Rainbow Quest), a half-sister to G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Lady Marian (Ger) (Nayef), who, like Fantastic Moon, had been sold by Stauffenberg Bloodstock for €49,000 at the BBAG September Yearling Sale.

None of the five yearlings in the Stauffenberg draft sold for that magic number this year, but the vendor was among the leaders with a €220,000 filly by Sea The Stars (Ire). The other Sea The Stars yearling in the consignment, a colt from the Lordship Stud family of Classic winners Love Divine (GB) and Sixties Icon (GB), sold for considerably less than one might have expected, and was knocked down at €80,000 to Tina Rau for the Ullmann family of Gestut Schlenderhan. 

The good-looking colt will be well worth following when he heads into training with Joseph O'Brien, however. As we see time and again, there is often little correlation between sales prices and racecourse performances, and the most notable Lordship Stud graduate of recent years was another by Sea The Stars who was sold for just 60,000gns as a yearling. Later named Emily Upjohn (GB), she turned out to be rather good.

King of Paris

Kingman (GB) was represented by a notable double at Longchamp on Sunday when his daughter Sauterne reeled in the front-running Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) to land the G1 Prix du Moulin and Narnaco (GB) made all in the G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte.

For Sauterne, who delivered her trainer Patrice Cottier a first Group 1 win, this was truly reward for effort and consistency. Bred by her owner Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois, she won the Listed Prix Pont du Neuf in April and since then has been placed three times at Group 1 level, in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Prix Jean Prat and Prix Rothschild.

On the same weekend two years ago, Spain's champion trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta sent out Rodaballo (Ire) and Kitty Marion (GB) to win the G2 Oettingen Rennen and G3 Goldene Peitsche in Baden-Baden, and this year he turned his attention on Longchamp with Naranco. 

It was a truly international result. The colt was bred in Britain by the Hong Kong-based Eric Chen and was bought at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale by the former head of the Spanish Jockey Club, Jose Hormaeche, for owner Yeguada Rocio. Trained in Madrid by Arizkorreta, he was ridden to glory by Czech jockey Vaclav Janacek. Naranco also owns a pretty smart pedigree that is spreading its wings. His dam Patsy Boyne (Ire) is a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to High Chaparral (Ire) and she has been exported to Australia by Chen.

Hays Making Merry

One should never say never, but it seems highly unlikely that any other owner will be able to repeat having a treble spreads across Kincsem Park and Kentucky Downs, as enjoyed by Jim and Fitri Hay on Saturday.

This unique feat was pulled off by Splendent (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) and Silent Film (GB) (New Approach {GB}), both of whom won at Hungary's big meeting with Frankie Dettori in the saddle. This was followed later in the day by victory in the valuable GIII Mint Millions S. for Ancient Rome (War Front). Trained by Charles Hill and ridden by Jamie Spencer, the 110-rated four-year-old won almost £1 million in prize-money and was following up on his win in the Chesterfield Cup at Goodwood last month. 

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Yet, by just about any measure, it was not a good meet. Saratoga came into 2023 with the wind at its back. Every year the racing seemed to get bigger, the handle would grow and more and more fans would pile into the historic racecourse. Taking out the covid year, handle had risen at Saratoga for five straight years.

Would Saratoga ever lose its momentum or would it keep growing exponentially?

It turned this year. The 12 fatalities, including two particularly gruesome ones that occurred in full view of packed grandstand and before a national TV audience, were as bad as it gets. How many racing fans were turned into ex-racing fans on those days? NYRA has always taken the safety of the horses and jockeys very seriously and will no doubt continue to put in place measures to keep both safe.

They have some control over horse safety, but none over the weather, which was a huge problem at the meet. During the 2022 meet, only 15 races came off the grass. Through Sunday of the 2023 meet, 65 races had come off the grass. There had been 189 grass races run in 2022 versus 129 this year. That always leads to the same problems. When races come off the turf there are always a number of scratches, typically creating off-the-turf races with four or five-horse fields. On Aug. 10, an off-the-turf race actually turned into a match race. This is stuff no one wants to bet on.

NYRA is ready to do what it can to address that problem. NYRA President and CEO Dave O'Rourke has said that there is serious interest in installing a synthetic track at Saratoga by the 2025 meet. It wouldn't replace either the dirt main track or the two turf courses but would give NYRA a third option when it comes to racing surfaces and the synthetic track would largely be put to use when the rains washed races off of the turf.

The weather has been a problem, but if you dig a bit further you can find some signs that Saratoga handle was affected by more than the rain. On GI Travers Day 2023, when two races came off the turf, the handle was $50,183,71. In 2022, the handle was $55,559,315 when one race came off the grass. This past Saturday, on GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Day, they bet $27,400,509 on a day not impacted by weather. The year before the handle was $32,505,600.

“I think what happened is with all the earlier rain we lost some momentum and when that happened it's hard to get it back,” O'Rourke said.

Field size fell by 2.5 percent, from 7.75 to 7.56. A more telling number was the average handle per betting interest. It was $255,773 this year and $272,599 last year, for a drop of 6.2%.

What's done is done and there's nothing to do now but turn the page and hope Saratoga 2024 is one of the safest meets in history and the weather is gorgeous from opening day to closing day. The place is still magical and popular, but everything peaks at some point. Maybe that's happened to Saratoga.

European Dominance On The Turf

This is getting a bit ridiculous. U.S. racing is used to second-flight European horses coming over and winning some of our biggest grass race, but the year European shippers are having this year shows that our grass horses are vastly inferior. Take Saturday's GIII $2 million Mint Millions at Kentucky Downs. There was only one European shipper in the field, Ancient Rome (War Front), who is trained by Charlie Hills and was ridden by Jamie Spencer. Facing the likes of GI winner Annapolis (War Front), he came into it off a win in a handicap race. Before that you had to go all the way back to 2021 for his last graded win, a victory in the GIII Prix des Chenes in France. He won that by a half-length. He won the Mint Millions by a half-length.

A week earlier, it was Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). He came into the GI Sword Dancer after losing by 21 1/2 lengths in the GI King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I Stakes, where he went off at 125-1. Yet, that was good enough to win the Sword Dancer by 4 1/2 lengths. The win broke a nine-race losing streak, going back to the 2021 GI Belmont Derby where he also took advantage of a weak group of U.S. turf horses.

Then there's Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify). She was sent off at 50-1 in the GI Irish 1,000 Guineas and finished last beaten 14 1/2 lengths. But that was good enough for her to take home first prize of $500,000 in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational in her next outing.

Good luck to our horses in the Breeders' Cup turf races.

Surprise, Surprise, Still No News Out Of Saudi Arabia

Back in 2020, Maximum Security (New Year's Day) crossed the line in front in the 2020 $20 million Saudi Cup. Just a few days later, his trainer, Jason Servis, was arrested and charged with using performance-enhancing drugs on most of the horses in his barn. When that news broke, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia said it was withholding the purses until it could investigate the situation

It's been 29 months since Servis was indicted, he has pled guilty and in November will begin a four-year prison sentence. The case is over, but the Saudis still haven't paid out the purse. Presumably, the winner's share of $10 million will eventually go to Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute). But no one has been paid as the Saudis, who should have all the evidence they'll ever need, do nothing and don't seem to be in any hurry to write a check. We tried to get an update on the situation this week, but the answer we got didn't really answer anything.

“Due to the extended nature of the judicial process in the USA, the JCSA has been unable to fully conduct its own investigation into the awarding of the winner's prize for The Saudi Cup 2020,” wrote the JCSA's Sarah Tregoning in response to an email sent by the TDN. “Now that the legal process in the USA has finished, the JCSA expects to swiftly conclude its own investigation and make an announcement in the coming weeks.”

I wouldn't hold your breath.

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Shipped in specifically for this race, the 6-1 shot came away in the front flight but began to take back under jockey Jamie Spencer as Stiched (Mizzen Mast) and Smokin' T (War Front) traded blows up front. Caught wide up the sweeping run into the far turn, Ancient Rome had clear aim on the leaders into the stretch and rallied outside of the pair to nab the win. Race favorite Annapolis (War Front) made a move to come through a hole inside of Ancient Rome inside the final sixteenth but had to check back as the eventual winner closed the gap.

“I think he's pretty adaptable on all types of ground,” said Spencer. “He's been running on Polytrack also. I went to ride him at home once, and he was pretty lively on his feet. I was pretty expecting that was how he'd be in the paddock. He went to the post a bit lively. I kept him on the move. He was good once he got in the gates. For an English horse, he broke really fast. But he's always done that in France.”

Pedigree Note:

Ancient Rome is another feather in the cap for prolific global sire War Front. His full-sister Etoile, herself a group winner in Ireland, is the dam of successful American juvenile runner No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) who sold for £800,000 in the Goffs London Sale just before a start at Royal Ascot in June. Dam Gagnoa is a half to several group winners and to the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) who RNA'd for $3.45m at last year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. She is responsible for eight winners from as many to race and foaled back-to-back fillies by Justify in 2021 and 2022 respectively. She returned to the Triple Crown champion for 2024.

#6 Ancient Rome comes to Kentucky Downs from Europe and takes the G3 Mint Millions S. for trainer Charlie Hills with Jamie Spencer in the saddle!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/RN0DmRbWgV

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 2, 2023

Saturday, Kentucky Downs
MINT MILLIONS S.-GIII, $1,994,285, Kentucky Downs, 9-2, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:33.37, fm.
1–ANCIENT ROME, 122, c, 4, by War Front
1st Dam: Gagnoa (Ire) (MGSW & MG1SP-Fr, G1SP-Ire, $597,492), by Sadler's Wells
                2nd Dam: Gwynn (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
                3rd Dam: Victoress, by Conquistador Cielo
O-Mrs. Fitriani Hay; B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY);
T-Charlie Hills; J-Jamie P. Spencer. $1,176,600. Lifetime
Record: GSW & MG1SP-Fr, 16-6-3-2, $1,528,247. *Full to
Etoile, GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: B+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Stitched, 126, c, 4, Mizzen Mast–Walking Miracle, by Into
Mischief. ($50,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Nathan McCauley,
Michael Olszewski and William Minton; B-Nathan McCauley
(KY); T-Gregory D. Foley. $386,000.
3–Smokin' T, 126, c, 4, War Front–Wine Princess, by
Ghostzapper. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($295,000 RNA Ylg
'20 KEESEP). O/B-Dattt Farm LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey
III. $193,000.
Margins: HF, HD, HF. Odds: 6.66, 24.55, 6.46.
Also Ran: Atone, Annapolis, Dhabab (Ire), Max K. O., Hozier, Gray's Fable, Get Her Number, Cabo Spirit, Churchtown.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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6th-Chantilly, €18,000, Cond, 3-7, 4yo, 9f (AWT), 1:50.78, st.
ANCIENT ROME (c, 4, War Front–Gagnoa {Ire} {MGSW & MG1SP-Fr, G1SP-Ire, $597,492}, by Sadler's Wells) snagged the G3 Prix des Chenes and placed in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International as a juvenile, but had not been seen since running ninth in last June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club on the turf here. Under a tight grip in fourth for the most part, the 1-2 favourite loomed large out wide with 350 metres remaining and coasted home in second gear once cruising to the front approaching the final furlong. At the line, he was value for much more than the half-length margin back to Marvanco (Fr) (George Vancouver). Ancient Rome is the seventh of 10 foals and one of seven scorers from as many runners produced by MGSW G1 Prix Saint-Alary, G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Irish Oaks placegetter Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). He is a full-brother to G3 Naas Juvenile Fillies Sprint victrix Etoile and kin to Listed Prix Amandine third Galateia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and a 2-year-old filly and yearling filly by Justify. The January-foaled dark bay's dam, who was bred to Gun Runner last year, is kin to three black-type winners, namely G1 Derby-winning sire Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), GSW G1 Irish Derby third Dawn Patrol (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Listed Salsabil S. victrix Kissed (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Gagnoa's siblings also include the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Lifetime Record: GSW & MG1SP-Fr, 10-4-2-1, €222,030. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Andre Fabre.

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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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WELWAL (GB), Shalaa (Ire)–Cheriearch (Arch)
Owner: Al Shaqab Racing
Breeders: Oceanic, A Gravereaux and OTI Management
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Sales history: €80,000 at Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale (Mandore International Agency).
Pedigree insight: A half-brother to the stakes-placed duo of Epistrophy (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and Chic Cherie (Fr) (Muhaarar {Ire}) out of a listed-winning miler.

SCHERZO (FR), Wootton Bassett (GB)–Persian Belle (GB) (Machiavellian)
Owner: Al Wasmiyah Farm
Breeders: T de la Heronniere, Mme D and A de la Heronniere
Trainer: Elias Mikhailides
Sales history: €70,000 at Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale (private sale), €420,000 Arqana Arc Sale (Charles Gordon-Watson Bloodstock).
Pedigree insight: Group 2 winner Volta (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Group 1-placed Calvados Blues (Fr) (Lando {Ger}) are among his seven winning half-siblings. Their unraced dam is sister to American Grade II winner Beautyandthebeast (GB) and half to German Group 1 winner and sire Neatico (Ger) (Medicean {GB}).

TEXAS (FR), Wootton Bassett (GB)–Texalova (GB) (Dream Ahead)
Owner: Ecurie Jeffroy
Breeders: SCEA Prairies, T Jeffroy, B Jeffroy
Trainer: Henri Devin
Sales history: not sold at €110,000, Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale.
Pedigree insight: A third generation homebred for the Jeffroy family, he is the second foal of an unraced half-sister to Meydan Group 2 winner Frankyfourfingers (Fr) (Sunday Break {Jpn}).

NIRLIIT (FR), Iffraaj (GB)–Llanita (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})
Owner: Ecurie La Vallee Martigny EARL, Guy Pariente, Ecurie de Pradel, Bernard Giraudon
Breeders: Ecurie La Vallee Martigny EARL
Trainer: Christophe Escuder
Sales history: N/A
Pedigree insight: Half-sister Almeida Girl (GB) (Temple City) was a multiple winner and listed-placed, giving Llanita two black-type performers from her first two foals. The mare was herself stakes-placed, both in France and America.

MAKING MOVIES (IRE), Dabirsim (Fr)–Grace Lady (Fr) (Muhtathir {Fr})
Owner: Ecurie Hugo and Pierre Pilarski and Jean-Philippe Dubois
Breeders: Jean-Philippe Dubois
Trainer: Didier GuilleminSales history:  €125,000 at Arqana Deauville Select Yearling Sale (private sale).
Pedigree insight: A half-brother to the Group 2-placed duo of Epic Hero (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Alhadab (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), his dam won the G2 Prix Corrida and is herself out of a winning hurdler.

NESR SHALGHODA (GB), Due Diligence–Lady Macduff (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB})
Owner: Elbashir Salem AB Elhari
Breeder: Whitsbury Manor Stud
Trainer: Romain Le Dren Doleuze
Sales history: 9,000gns Tattersalls December Foal Sale, £16,000 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, 45,000gns Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale.
Pedigree insight: A family synonymous with Hampshire's Whitsbury Manor Stud; granddam Tamora (GB) (Dr Fong) is a half-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Gilt Edge Girl (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}) and G2 Flying Childers winner Godfrey Street (GB) (Compton Place {GB}).

MODERN GAMES (IRE), Dubawi (Ire)–Modern Ideals (GB) (New Approach {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Pedigree insight: The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner is a half-brother to recent listed winner Modern News (GB) (Shamardal) and Saturday's 'TDN Rising Star' Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), while their dam is a half-sister to the French-based stallion and former champion juvenile Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}).

TRIBALIST (GB), Farhh (GB)–Fair Daughter (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire})
Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Car Colston Hall Stud
Trainer: Andre Fabre
Sales history: 130,000gns at Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 3 (Stroud Coleman Bloodstock).
Pedigree insight: Tribalist is the first foal of an unraced half-sister to G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House (GB) (Rainbow Quest) and to the dam of Group/Grade 1 winners Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}).

THE ACROPOLIS (IRE), Churchill (Ire)–Hairy Rocket (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
Owner: Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg
Breeder: Frank Dunne
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Sales history: €140,000 at Goffs November Foal Sale (Camas Park Stud).
Pedigree insight: The dam won twice and was third in the G2 Queen Mary S. She is a half-sister to Rockliffe Stud's listed-placed Marsh Hawk (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who is in turn the dam of the stakes-placed Mohawk King (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}).

LASSAUT (FR), Almanzor (Fr)–Lady Family (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner/Breeder: Riviera Equine SARL and Haras d'Etreham
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Sales history: Bought back by his breeder at €67,000 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.
Pedigree insight: His dam is a half-sister to Group 2-winning sprinter Family One (Fr) (Dubai Destination), while his granddam's half-sister has produced the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner G Force (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and Group 3 winner Louvain (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), who is herself the dam of Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast).

CLAYMORE (FR), New Bay (GB)–Brit Wit (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire})
Owner: Mary Slack
Breeder: Günther Schmidt
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Sales history: €5,000 at the Arqana October Yearling Sale (Ardglas Stables), £10,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale (Mutlaq Menahi Almutairi).
Pedigree insight: His dam is an unraced daughter of Listed Harvest S. winner Brisk Breeze (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).

CALIF (GER), Arion (Ger)–Cherry Danon (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})
Owner: Stall Hanse
Breeder: Gestut Brummerhof
Trainer: Dominik Moser
Sales history: Not sold at €95,000, BBAG September Yearling Sale.
Pedigree insight: His dam was a Group 3-winning miler and runner-up in the German 1000 Guineas before going on to produce four black-type horses. Granddam Sherifa (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) is a full-sister to the dam of multiple Group 2 winner and sire Sommerabend (GB) (Shamardal).

ANCIENT ROME, War Front–Gagnoa (Sadler's Wells)
Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Westerberg
Breeder: Orpendale, Chelston and Wyatt
Trainer: Andre Fabre
Sales history: N/A
Pedigree insight: His full-sister Etoile is a Group 3 winner over six furlongs, but there is also stamina in the family. His dam, who was runner-up to Zarkava (Fr) in the Prix de Diane, is a three-parts-sister to Derby winner Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).

ROCK BOY (Fr), Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)–Frasque (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB})
Owner: Team Calas
Breeder: Legendary Rent Club
Trainer: Richard Chotard
Sales history: Bought for €16,000 at the Arqana October Yearling Sale (Guy Petit).
Pedigree insight: He is one of two black-type performers for his dam, along with the G2 Derby Italiano placegetter Alastor (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) from her first three foals. Frasque, a minor winner over a mile, is a half-sister to G3 Prix Thomas Bryon winner Makaan (Swain).

BAYSIDE BOY (IRE), New Bay (GB)–Alava (Ire) (Anabaa)
Owner: Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud
Breeder: Ballylinch Stud
Trainer: Roger Varian
Sales history: 200,000gns graduate from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Richard Ryan).
Pedigree insight: His half-brother Forest Ranger (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) was a dual G2 Huxley S. winner. They are out of a French listed winner over 9 1/2 furlongs who now has three black-type performers to her credit.

TUMBLER (FR), Kingman (GB)–Distorion (GB) (Distorted Humor)
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner/Breeder: Wertheimer & Frere
Trainer: Carlos Laffon-Parias
Pedigree insight: Tumbler has two listed-placed half-siblings and his dam is a half-sister to Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Falco (Pivotal {GB}), who is now standing as a jumps stallion in Britain.

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Aidan O'Brien is already responsible for nine winners of this and could equal the record of the late Sir Henry Cecil. “He was a very green baby when he won first time, but he looked very nice and he's had a little bit of time,” he said. “He's a big, rangy horse who travels very easily usually through his races. He finds things very easy, he's very easy to train and very natural really. The Doncaster race is a very prestigious race, it's a flat mile so they have to have quick feet and they have to stay as well. It's not a slog, you have to travel, it's a flat track and you would learn a lot about a horse. This year's race is no different, it's a very strong, competitive race. There are horses with plenty of form in it, horses with plenty of experience really.”

If the Westerberg colour-bearer fails to live up to the great expectations, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will be there to expose him and at this point there is no reason for the large discrepancy between their predicted starting prices. Excelling this term for Mark Johnston, the strong-galloping bay had Imperial Fighter (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}), Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) behind when dominating York's G3 Acomb S. Aug. 18 before upstaging Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket Sept. 25. “Any time you chuck your hat into the Group 1 ring, you know you're going to have to run like the wind but he deserves to be there,” Highclere's managing director Harry Herbert said. “He's improved with every run and I'm sure he's not stopped improving, so we're very excited and we hope he can be very competitive.”

Another setting an elevated standard is Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who beat the G3 Solario S. winner Reach For the Moon (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G2 Champagne S. over seven furlongs at Doncaster Sept. 11 before finishing a respectable third in the G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket Oct. 9. Trainer Roger Varian has been convinced by his demeanour in the interim period to go again and commented, “He ran very well in the Dewhurst and he looks like he's going to be suited by stepping up a furlong. He should be okay with a cut in the ground–it was good-to-soft when he won the Champagne S.–and he brings a high level of form to the race, so we're looking forward to running him. He's a top-level juvenile and he looks like he might improve for going the mile.”

Michael Blencowe's Imperial Fighter, who followed his second to Royal Patronage in the Acomb with a second to Coroebus in the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket Oct. 9, is already proven at this mile and trainer Andrew Balding is keen to have another crack at the Johnston runner. “I hadn't been happy with him after the Acomb for a while. I think he was just going through a growing spurt–I think he'd grown about an inch between York and Newmarket. I thought the Newmarket run was excellent–I think Coroebus is probably as good a 2-year-old as there is out there. He beat us fair and square, but we were clear second-best and I'd hope he'll be very competitive.”

There are a brace of Group 1 races for this generation at Saint-Cloud, with the Criterium International over a mile seeing Marc Chan's Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) looking to uphold the form of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp Oct. 3. Beating the aforementioned Noble Truth and the re-opposing Ancient Rome (War Front) in that seven-furlong contest, he is bred to stay this trip being out of a full-sister to Highland Reel (Ire) but Ancient Rome already has winning form at the distance having captured ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix des Chenes Sept. 9 and he was finishing to real effect when third in the Lagardere. Aidan O'Brien has won this five times and saddles a duo headed by Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who is having his third run on consecutive Saturdays having finished sixth in Newmarket's G1 Dewhurst S. and won Leopardstown's G3 Killavullan S.

In the other Group 1 contest, the Criterium de Saint-Cloud staged over 10 furlongs, the Oct. 9 G3 Zetland S. one-two Goldspur (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Unconquerable (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) re-oppose, with Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' a head in front of the Donnacha O'Brien trainee in that Newmarket contest over this trip. Trainer Charlie Appleby said, “We were pleased with how Goldspur won his race at Newmarket, when his stamina came to the fore. He broke his maiden on soft ground, so conditions in France shouldn't be an issue. This is another step up, but looks the right race for him and he brings a nice profile into it.”

Lady Bamford's Dreamflight (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who took this venue's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon over a mile at the start of the month, and the Wertheimers' Sept. 15 Compiegne maiden and Oct. 7 course conditions scorer Martel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) make up a two-pronged assault from the Andre Fabre stable, while James Ferguson sends across the Sept. 29 G3 Prix de Conde winner El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who showed that he had the stamina for nine furlongs in that Chantilly contest.

At Newbury, the G3 Virgin Bet Horris Hill S. over seven furlongs sees the Lagardere runner-up Noble Truth bid to make his experience tell and trainer Charlie Appleby said, “We were obviously delighted with Noble Truth's performance in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, when he showed that he can cope with heavy ground. He looks the one to beat if he can bring that level of form to the table again.” He faces the Never Say Die Partnership's impressive Sept. 14 Yarmouth six-furlong novice scorer Light Infantry (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) from the David Simcock stable armed with some smart juveniles this season, and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Dubai Poet (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who was third behind Coroebus and Imperial Fighter in the Autumn S. “He didn't quite see out the stiff mile at Newmarket and the return to seven furlongs on testing ground should be right up his street,” trainer Roger Varian, who is also represented on the card by Staghawk Stables' Sept. 25 Newmarket maiden winner Miss Carol Ann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the Listed Radley S. for 2-year-old fillies over the same trip.

Leopardstown's Classic pointer is the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S., where a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' clash in Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Gillian Khosla's Caroline Herschel (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). While the former has disappointed since his impressive Aug. 21 Curragh maiden win when sixth of seven over the same track and seven-furlong trip in the Sept. 12 G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., Caroline Herschel is set to be tested for the first time following her 3 1/2-length debut success over a mile at Killarney Oct. 2. Jim Bolger's Boundless Ocean (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) appears for the third time in nine days and looks to gain recompense for his luckless fourth in Saturday's G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown, while two other maiden winners who look to have more to give are the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Flaxman Stables Ireland homebred Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) and J P McManus's Good Heavens (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) from Joseph O'Brien's yard.

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