In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Antifona at Santa Anita Park.
Recoletos Filly Lands Sweet Life Stakes
The runners by G1 Prix du Moulin/G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner and French-based stallion Recoletos (Fr) in the U.S. are extremely rare, and it was his 3-year-old filly Antifona (Fr) who became his first stakes winner there with a score in the Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita for Hronis Racing, LLC and trainer John Sadler (video).
Bred by SARL Darpat France, the filly was an €18,000 Arqana October Yearling Sale buy-back and won her debut at Le Mans for her breeder and trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. Also fifth to Ramatuelle (Justify) in the G3 Prix du Bois at Chantilly, she ended her French career with a win at Le Lion d'Angers that September several starts later. Purchased by these connections, the filly was making her third start in the U.S. The fifth foal out of the stakes-placed Survived (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), Antifona's latest sibling is a full-brother born in 2023. Third dam Dazzle (GB) (Gone West), a winner of the G2 Cherry Hinton S., was third in the G1 1000 Guineas.
Recoletos stands at Haras du Petit Tellier. Of his three American starters, Antifona is his first winner, but his Revalita (Fr) was second in the GII Edgewood S. and third in the GII Wonder Again S.
French-Bred Antifona (FR) Prevails By Two Lengths In $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes pic.twitter.com/r1A6QvHaU1
Klaravich Stables' Going Concern (GB) (Kingman {GB}) rallied to a debut victory at Tampa Bay Downs on Valentine's Day for Chad Brown (video).
The grey gelding was bred by Monceaux/Lordship/Mc Alpin/Langlais and brought €120,000 as an Arqana October yearling. His dam, the winning Newton's Night (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is a full-sister to GIII Orchid S. winner Dress Rehearsal (Ire) and a half to stakes winner Fairy Of the Night (Ire) (Danehill). Both of those mares are multiple stakes producers, with dual Group 2 winner Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and G3 Weld Park S. heroine My Titania (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) out of the latter.
Progeny of Juddmonte's son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) thrive under American turf conditions, and Kingman has 37 winners from 62 runners (59%) so far. Eight of that cohort (13%) have won stakes, anchored by GI Manhattan S., GI Turf Classic S., and GI Hollywood Derby winner Domestic Spending (GB).
#4 GOING CONCERN (GB) ($4.60) and @jockeygallardo overcome a tough first start and get the victory in Race 7 at Tampa Bay Downs for the Chad Brown barn and owner Klaravich Stables. pic.twitter.com/PmmLrLDzUP
Spirit And Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), who won the Listed Miss Liberty S. at Monmouth last May, added the Listed Albert M. Stall Memorial S. at the Fair Grounds on Saturday (video). She races in the colours of Michael Nentwig, Michael Dubb, Beast Mode Racing, LLC, John Rochfort and part-owner/trainer Robert Falcone, Jr.
Havana Grey (GB) was the most profitable British- and Irish-based yearling sire of 2023 according to the newly-published Weatherbys Bloodstock Sales Review.
Havana Grey topped the standings with a profitability index of 10.75, comfortably ahead of the next best stallion, Sioux Nation, on 6.61. Those figures were calculated by dividing each sire's 2023 yearling average by their covering fee of 2021, when the offspring in question were conceived.
It was another hugely successful year on the racecourse for the progeny of Havana Grey, with the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner Vandeek (GB) emerging as the star of his second crop of two-year-olds. The sire's burgeoning reputation was later reflected at the sales where his 65 yearlings sold for an average of 90,951gns/€107,914, a significant return on their investment for any breeders who sent mares to him in 2021 when his fee was just £6,000. His fee has been increased to £55,000 (from £18,500 in 2023) for his sixth season at Whitsbury Manor Stud in 2024.
Sioux Nation has also been given a fee increase by Coolmore (from €17,500 to €27,500) having built on the success of his juveniles in 2022 when he was second only to Havana Grey among that year's first-season sires. Several members of that crop became Group winners in 2023, headed by G2 Challenge S. heroine Matilda Picotte (Ire), and those who invested in one of his 30 yearlings to sell last year will be hoping for more of the same. They made an average of 55,676gns/€66,060 having been conceived at a fee of just €10,000.
Cotai Glory (GB) and Twilight Son (GB) both operated at basement fees in 2021–€5,000 and £5,000 respectively–and there was certainly value to be had for those breeders who took advantage. Tally Ho Stud resident Cotai Glory had a 2023 yearling average of 25,914gns/€30,747 from 54 lots, giving him a profitability index of 6.15, while Cheveley Park Stud's Twilight Son wasn't far behind on 6.00 having seen his 25 yearlings make an average of 28,595gns/€33,928.
The top five was completed by Sergei Prokofiev (Can), who joined Havana Grey at Whitsbury Manor at a fee of £6,500 in 2021 and will be represented by his first runners in 2024. Those two-year-olds shouldn't be underestimated if the way they performed at the sales last year is anything to go by, making an average of 34,624gns/€41,081 from 84 lots sold.
With a profitability index of 5.59, Sergei Prokofiev was one of only two first-season sires to make the top ten along with Ghaiyyath (Ire) on 4.68, the multiple Group 1 winner who stood at the much higher fee of €30,000 when covering his first mares at Kildangan Stud in 2021. Big things are expected from his first runners in 2024 after his 65 lots caught the eye in a big way at the yearling sales, fetching an average of 118,457gns/€140,549.
Ado McGuinness trainee Tiger Belle (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}–Dark Acclamation {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) made a stakes breakthrough in July's Listed Marwell S. at Naas and followed up with a career high in Thursday's G3 Prix d'Arenberg to punch her ticket to the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye back over ParisLongchamp's five-furlong strip on Arc weekend.
Sharply into stride to claim an immediate lead racing along the fence, the generously priced 9-1 chance poached a decisive edge with 300 metres remaining and kept on relentlessly under mild urging inside the final furlong to hold the late bid of Dawn Charger (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}) by an ultimately snug neck. Graceful Thunder (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was the same margin back in third as foreign raiders filled the first four slots home.
“The gate was a huge factor, we wanted to take advantage of that and she's toughed it out really well,” said assistant trainer Stephen Thorne. “Cristian [Demuro] is a prolific rider here in France, he came highly recommended and he's done exactly what we've asked him to do. She's a straightforward ride, she's got a lot of gate speed and we used that to her advantage. She did the job over a stiff five [furlongs] on soft ground in Naas the last day, she's added another string to her bow and it opens up more doors for her now. We have a huge bunch of owners supporting the filly here today and we're delighted. It was a big team effort to get her here in good shape, we have to work up the grades and we have her entered for the [G1 Prix de l'] Abbaye. She's not overly big, but she's got a big heart and we might be back here on Arc weekend.”
Pedigree Notes
Tiger Belle is the second of four foals and lone performer produced by a daughter of Listed Woodcote S. third On The Dark Side (Ire) (Kheleyf), herself a half-sister to G3 Select S. victor Red Badge (Ire) (Captain Rio {GB}). The April-foaled bay is half to a yearling colt by Inns Of Court (Ire) and a weanling colt by Galileo Gold (GB). She hails from the family of G1 Fillies' Mile victrix Red Bloom (GB) (Selkirk), MG1SW sire Ibn Bey (GB) (Mill Reef) and G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Roseate Tern (GB) (Blakeney {GB}).
Thursday, ParisLongchamp, France PRIX D'ARENBERG-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 8-31, 2yo, 5fT, :55.61, g/s.
1–TIGER BELLE (IRE), 122, f, 2, by Cotai Glory (GB) 1st Dam: Dark Acclamation (Ire), by Acclamation (GB) 2nd Dam: On The Dark Side (Ire), by Kheleyf 3rd Dam: Red Fuschia (GB), by Polish Precedent 1ST GROUP WIN. (€18,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; £70,000 2yo '23 GOUKB; £100,000 RNA 2yo '23 GOFLON). O-Shamrock Thoroughbreds; B-Paul Giles (IRE); T-Adrian McGuinness; J-Cristian Demuro. €40,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Ire, 5-3-1-0, €90,600. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dawn Charger (Ire), 122, f, 2, Soldier's Call (GB)–Dushlan (Ire), by New Approach (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€40,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY). O-Saif Mohammad Alketbi & Elaine Burke; B-Jim Bolger (IRE); T-Karl Burke. €16,000.
3–Graceful Thunder (GB), 122, f, 2, Havana Grey (GB)–Glace (Ire), by Verglas (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€14,000 Ylg '22 GOFFEB; €68,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; £90,000 2yo '23 GOUKB). O-Amo Racing Ltd; B-David Richard Tucker (GB); T-George Boughey. €12,000.
Margins: NK, NK, 4HF. Odds: 9.00, 8.60, 2.70.
Also Ran: Gaenari (Ire), Daiquiberry (Ire), Zorken (Fr), Grade Maker (Fr), Rare Jewel (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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 Set Piece in the GIII Arlington S. at Churchill Downs in June.
Another Graded Victory For Juddmonte Veteran
Decorated 7-year-old Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) won the Arlington S. at Churchill Downs earlier this month for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms and trainer Brad Cox (video).
The newly minted millionaire, who was runner-up in the 2021 GI Fourstardave H., was taking his fourth graded event. A half-brother to dual stakes winner and two-time Group 3 runner-up Alocasia (GB) (Kingman {GB}), the gelding's latest half-sibling is a yearling Kingman filly. From the extended family of Group 1 winners Elmaamul (Diesis {GB}) and Reams Of Verse (Nureyev), Set Piece is also kin to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
Juddmonte's late Dansili has sired 19 stakes winners from 88 runners (21%) in the U.S. His 45 American winners (51%) also include 14 graded winners (16%), and eight Grade I scorers (9%). His best progeny in this region are headed by four-time Grade I winner Proviso (GB).
#7 Set Piece and @flothejock score in the Arlington S. at Churchill Downs!
Juncture (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won the Listed Cooley Fillies S. at Dundalk in her final European start, ran out a handy winner of the Ouija Board Distaff S. at Lone Star Park to give owner-breeder Juddmonte and trainer Brad Cox an end-of-the-month present.
Placed three times at group level in Ireland, the 4-year-old is the first foal out of her dam, Occurrence (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and is followed by the unraced 3-year-old filly Singularity (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and a yearling filly by Oasis Dream (GB). Her second dam is a full-sister to blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), and has G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Promising Lead (GB) (Danehill) to her credit.
One of 24 winners from 42 runners in the U.S. (57%) for Yeomanstown Stud's Dark Angel, Juncture is one of six stakes winners (14%) which includes Grade I winners Raging Bull (Fr), Althiqa (GB) and Hunt (Ire).
Free Spirit At Monmouth
Spirit And Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), who races for Michael Nentwig, Michael Dubb, Beast Mode Racing LLC, John Rochfort and trainer Robert N. Falcone, Jr., is now a two-time U.S. stakes winner after taking the Miss Liberty S. at Monmouth on May 28 (video).
The Dr. Noel Cogan and Patrick Williams-bred carried the colours of the Get Up And Go Again Syndicate for her four Irish starts under the care of Michael Mulvany, and joined the Falcone barn prior to July of 2022. Her three-time winning dam left Spirit And Glory and three other winners, as well as a yearling filly by Kuroshio (Aus).
Cotai Glory, best known as the sire of the Group 1-winning sprinter The Platinum Queen (Ire), has two winners from six runners in the U.S. (33%) and Spirit And Glory is his first stakes winner in that jurisdiction.
Jockey @NikJuarez stalks the pace with #3 SPIRIT AND GLORY (IRE) ($8.60) and they fire up the rail to win the Miss Liberty Stakes at @Monmouthpark. Congratulations to trainer @FalconeJr and all the connections.
Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown teamed up to win a Belmont maiden special weight with Utilization Rate (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) recently (video).
Bred by Neustrian Associates and Christopher Hirst, the filly is a half-sister to Ride The Skies (Fr) (City Light {Fr}). A €95,000 Arqana October yearling, the dark bay is a granddaughter of G3 Prix Eclipse victress Iron Lips (GB) (Iron Mask) who is a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero and sire Falco (Pivotal {GB}).
The much-missed Le Havre has sired nine winners from 19 runners (47%) in the U.S. All three of his American stakes winners won graded stakes (16%), anchored by GI Turf Mile S. hero Suedois (Fr), while multiple graded winner Rymska (Fr) was second in both the GI Gamely S. and GI Jenny Wiley S.
Wonderfull Second Up Beneath The Twin Spires
Runnymede Farm and A.I.S's Wonderfull Lady (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) collected her first American win over the Churchill Downs turf for trainer Brendan Walsh in May (video).
Bred by former trainer Jean-Philippe Dubois, the bay made one start for Ecurie Victoria Dreams and Dubois last July, before racing for Maurice Lagasse and Catesby Clay in her next three French appearances including a fourth in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs for trainer Yann Barberot. The last foal of her dam, the Elusive Quality mare Tender Night, her great granddam is multiple group winner Smolensk (Danzig), who was second in the G1 Coronation S. and is a daughter of outstanding producer and Classic winner Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom {Fr}).
From five U.S. runners, Almanzor has sired four winners (80%), and one stakes winner, the 2022 Listed Woodhaven S. hero Unanimous Consent (GB).
#3 Wonderful Lady goes inside and comes up the rail to take R3 at Churchill Downs under Vincent Cheminaud for trainer @brenpwalsh!
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) made a winning Stateside debut at Santa Anita for trainer Leonard Powell (video).
A winner in three starts for breeder Morera Partnership and trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy, the 3-year-old filly was a 26,000gns Tattersalls Somerville yearling purchase by Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock and was acquired privately by these connections. Out of a Teofilo (Ire) half-sister to G1 Nassau S. heroine Sultanina (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), Anisette is followed by juvenile colt Eton Mes (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) and a yearling filly by Make Believe (GB).
Awtaad's American sire record stands at two winners from four runners (50%). Ebeko (Ire) won the Listed Zuma Beach S. and was fourth in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S.
Check It Twice
During a purple patch of form for Klaravich runners after Ultilization Rate's victory in late May, 4-year-old filly Customer List (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won a Monmouth allowance for Chad Brown on Derby day last Saturday (video) less than half an hour before Redistricting (GB) (Kingman {GB}) became the latest winner to wear the red-and-white silks when breaking his maiden at Belmont (video).
Bred by S.C.E.A. De La Fontaine & Ecurie Skymarc Farm, the €250,000 Arqana Deauville September yearling is the first foal of her winning dam. A 2-year-old by Sea The Moon (Ger) and a weanling colt by New Bay (GB) are still to come from Equivocal (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), herself a half-sister to multiple graded winner and GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. second Criticism (GB) (Machiavellian).
Coolmore's Wootton Bassett has 14 winners from 20 runners (70%) in the U.S., and his six stakes winners (30%) are led by Audarya (Fr), who won the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
In Redistricting's case, the Farm Cove Thoroughbreds Ltd.-bred was a 140,000gns selection out of the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale. The final foal out of the deceased Cascata (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), the gelding is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Pacharana (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Misericordia (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was third in the GII Presque Isle Downs Masters S. Multiple Group 1 winner St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) is under his second dam.
Kingman has accounted for 27 winners from 52 runners (52%) in the U.S., with eight of those (15%) being stakes winners. His best to date has been three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB), who also raced in the Klaravich silks.
REDISTRICTING hijo del campeón KINGMAN, asombra en su debut en 8½F en Belmont Park.
Montó Irad Ortiz para Chad Brown y Klaravich.
Su madre es hermana completa de ST NICHOLAS ABBEY múltiple ganador de G1.
— Luis E. Caraballo G. (@luis_ernestocg) June 3, 2023
Honourable Mentions
A repeat winner among the Making Waves brigade is Big Everest (GB) (The Gurkha {Ire}), who added the Cliff Hanger S. at Monmouth Park to his resume near the end of May (video). The Christophe Clement trainee, who is raced by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and William Branch, won the Listed Danger's Hour S. at Aqueduct in April.
Another Making Waves veteran is Cheyenne Stable LLC's Mondego (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Previously a maiden winner at Belmont in May, he stepped up to win an allowance contest there for trainer Christophe Clement on June 2 (video).
(@TwinSpires) 
hijo del campeón KINGMAN, asombra en su debut en 8½F en Belmont Park.
múltiple ganador de G1.