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 Activist Investing in a Saratoga race last weekend.
The Klaravich Stables/Chad Brown axis combined with Saratoga winner Activist Investing (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on Sunday (video). Already a winner during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet third out last October, the son of Astronomy's Choice (GB) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) was bred by Robin Geffen.
Joining the Klaravich fold for 220,000gns out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, the February foal is the second foal and winner for the stakes-placed granddaughter of Platonic (GB) (Zafonic). Since foaling the winner, the relative of the high class Prudenzia (Ire), Magic Wand (Ire), Chicquita (Ire) et al., has delivered a trio of foals by Darley's Too Darn Hot (GB)–the juvenile filly Wolf Alice (GB), and colts in each of the past two years.
One of 30 winners from 55 to race in the U.S. (55%) for Juddmonte's Kingman, Activist Investing's brethren have chalked up 20 stakes wins in that jurisdiction by eight individual stakes winners (18%).
#1a Activist Investing wins his first race back off a layoff in R5 at Saratoga for trainer Chad Brown with @iradortiz in the irons!
Qatar Racing's Gentle (GB) (No Nay Never), making her U.S. debut, graduated in her third start for trainer George Papaprodromou at Del Mar this past weekend (video).
Bred by Ammerland Verwaltung GmbH & Co., she is a one of two winners for her dam, the G3 Prix de Psyche third Light The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Sold for €200,000 out of the Arqana August Yearling Sale to her owner, Gentle's first two starts were fourth-place efforts over the British all-weather circuit last December and this May. She is a half-sister to 2-year-old filly Light The Moon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), a yearling filly by Waldgeist (GB), and a weanling filly by Zarak (Fr). Her second dam is the group winner Lady Vettori (GB) (Vettori {Ire}), best known as the dam of G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner-turned star sire Lope De Vega (Ire) (Shamardal).
Coolmore's No Nay Never has sired 38 winners from 74 runners Stateside (51%). A total of nine of those (12%) are stakes winners, with GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Meditate (Ire) the best of the bunch to date.
Honourable Mentions
Tracy Farmer's Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) earned a new career best with a 3 1/2-length victory in Saturday's GI Beverly D. S. at Colonial Downs (video). The Mark Casse trainee is the first top-level winner for her sire.
Another horse already featured in Making Waves is Juddmonte homebred Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}). One race after Fev Rover starred at Colonial, it was time for the 7-year-old to earn his first Grade I rosette in the Arlington Million for trainer Brad Cox (video).
The 7-year-old #3 Set Piece powers down the stretch to take the G1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs with his regular pilot @flothejock aboard for trainer @bradcoxracing and owner @JuddmonteFarms!
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).
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. Thursday's Observations features 'TDN Rising Star' Beylerbeyi (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
1.25 Salisbury, Novice, £9,500, 2yo, 8fT BLUESTOCKING (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is the fifth foal out of Juddmonte's G1 Matron S. heroine Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and another in the silks to start her career with Ralph Beckett. Heading the opposition is another unraced peer in Amo Racing's Tony Montana (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a John and Thady Gosden-trained grandson of the GI E. P. Taylor S. winner Fraulein (GB) (Acatenango {Ger}) who was a 425,000gns Book 1 purchase.
1.59 Salisbury, Novice, £9,500, 2yo, 8fT REBEL RED (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is another Ralph Beckett newcomer to catch the eye, being John and Tanya Gunther's homebred full-brother to their G1 St James's Palace S. hero Without Parole (GB) and half to the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile scorer Tamarkuz (Speightstown). Out of a half to Stay Thirsty, the February-foaled chestnut faces nine.
2.25 Chantilly, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, 6fT PARTLY CLOUDY (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is the latest progeny out of the six-times Group 1 winner Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who represents the soon-to-be-retired Freddy Head stable. George Strawbridge's homebred filly meets Ecurie Ama.zingteam's Huggy Wuggy (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a Francis-Henri Graffard-trained half-brother to another former Head luminary in Naaqoos (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
3.00 Chantilly, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 5 1/2fT BEYLERBEYI (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status on debut over a furlong further at Deauville last month and is asked to give weight away by Jean-Claude Rouget due to a subsequent penalty. Al Shaqab Racing's homebred faces seven including the Wertheimers' Zoom (Fr) (No Nay Never), an Andre Fabre-trained grandson of the G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Pas De Reponse (Danzig) in yet another Head family connection.
Lot 179, the 9-year-old Dansili (GB) mare Rihaam (Ire), took the lead midway through the first session of the Tattersalls July Sale on Wednesday, selling for 540,000gns to Blandford Bloodstock. Consigned by Shadwell, the half-sister to three stakes winners is carrying to Dark Angel (Ire). This is the same family as G1 Jebel Hatta winner Alfareeq (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ckoqYashNE
(@TwinSpires) August 13, 2023
pic.twitter.com/7d4bgH9XL4
hijo del campeón KINGMAN, asombra en su debut en 8½F en Belmont Park.
múltiple ganador de G1.