One person who managed to stay awake past 2am to watch the highly impressive last-to-first romp of Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G3 N E Manion Cup was his breeder Henrietta Egan, who is based at Corduff Stud with her husband David. 

Now five, Post Impressionist is the first foal of Island Remede (GB) (Medicean {GB}), who was bought by Egan from the Tattersalls December Mares Sale for 43,000gns. Already a winner for Ed Dunlop, she was put back into training with Henry de Bromhead the following season as a five-year-old and went on to be placed twice in Listed races at Leopardstown and Cork as well as winning over hurdles at Limerick. That National Hunt form didn't deter Shadwell from giving 260,000gns for her Teofilo colt at the yearling sales. 

“I was a gibbering wreck when he sold as a yearling to Shadwell and this horse has taken me on the most extraordinary journey,” Egan told TDN on Saturday morning. 

“We had dreams of winning the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham, which was a bit crackers. David is great mates with Henry and we had big dreams of having fun with her, and we did. She ran at Leopardstown first time out and finished third in a Listed race and I think that was the first black type on the Flat for Henry.”

Egan's association with Island Remede stretches back further than the sale ring at Tattersalls, however, to before she was even born.

“I was riding out for Ed Dunlop when she was in training with him, and weirdly I worked for her breeder Ian Quy, who had two mares, and I did the nomination for her, so we have a very long story,” she says. 

“I'm slightly gobsmacked really. David had a foal last night. I was out to a birthday party and David had to stay behind to watch the mare. I came back to find David fast asleep and it was about one o'clock so I thought I'd pour myself a gin and tonic and try to stay awake for the race. I was screaming downstairs watching this horse and I ran upstairs and couldn't wake my husband who was out for the count. The foaling season is so exhausting, but this is why we do it. It's what dreams are made of.”

Later in the day, Island Remede's three-year-old filly Cabrera (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) ran a promising fourth on debut at Newcastle for Egan and Hot To Trot Racing. The mare is in foal to Cracksman (GB), carrying another filly, and will be sent to Native Trail (GB) this season.

There is likely to be more early-morning screaming in the Egan household this spring as Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who was bred by Corduff Stud and Tim Rooney, will be seeking his seventh Group 1 win when he lines up for the FWD QEII Cup on Sha Tin's Champions Day. As well as his wins in Hong Kong, the six-year-old also won last year's Cox Plate, and there could be more Group 1 success on the cards in Australia for Corduff Stud with Post Impressionist, now owned by Lloyd Williams, likely to head next for the Sydney Cup.

“With Romantic Warrior being such a success for the farm as well, it's just such a cool year,” Egan said. “I'm thrilled for David. He works so hard. Good stuff like this just makes it worthwhile.”

She added that Romantic Warrior's dam Folk Melody (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}) has a New Bay (GB) yearling colt but no foal this year. She is booked to Havana Grey (GB).

Haggas Gives Waller a Lead

Australian trainers must dread seeing the name William Haggas among the nominations for runners for Sydney's Autumn Carnival. His raids down under have shown him to be the ultimate target trainer and Post Impressionist gave Haggas his third win in the N E Manion Cup in the last five years after Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) in 2020 and Favorite Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) 12 months later. 

In 2020, while all of European racing was shuttered by Covid, Haggas sent out Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) to give us all something to cheer about when he won the G1 Ranvet and G1 Queen Elizabeth S., and that lovely old warrior returned the following year to tussle with Chris Waller's super mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), finishing second to her in the Ranvet before winning his second Queen Elizabeth. 

Last year, Haggas pulled off that same Group 1 double with Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), while Protagonist (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) pitched in to take the G3 Sky High S. Frustratingly for all involved with Dubai Honour, a setback ruled him out of a return to Sydney, but that news will doubtless have come as a relief to Waller. He told Sky Racing World last week that he had taken a leaf out of the Haggas playbook in his training of Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who joined his team after being sold for 2.7 million gns last December at Tattersalls, having won the G1 Pretty Polly S. for George Boughey and owner Rebecca Hillen. “We prepared her in Newmarket, I kept a close eye on what Mr Haggas has done with a few of his horses which have beaten Verry Elleegant a number of times,” Waller said. “He just gets it right every year.”

Waller is not exactly a novice himself when it comes to winning Group 1 races. Born in New Zealand, he has been champion trainer in Sydney every year since the 2010/11 season. But it is a mark of his professionalism that he continues to look and learn, and his approach paid off handsomely when Via Sistina landed the Ranvet on her Australian debut. 

The five-year-old now races in the colours of Yulong Investments, who also own the Ranvet runner-up Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), another expensive December purchase, bought for €4.025 million at Arqana. The European-bred trifecta was brought up by another Waller trainee, Buckaroo (GB), who was bred by The Roheryn Partnership at Tweenhills on that same productive Fastnet Rock-Galileo cross as Via Sistina.

It was a banner day at Rosehill for the Yulong team, whose stallions Written Tycoon (Aus) and Pierata (Aus) were responsible for the first two home in the G1 Golden Slipper, Lady Of Camelot (Aus) and Coleman (Aus). Another of the team's stallions, Grunt (NZ), sired the G1 George Ryder S. winner Veight (Aus), who was bred and sold by Yulong as a yearling. 

A Different Egan

Let's return closer to home where another David Egan, this one the jockey, was in the spotlight on Saturday as turf racing commenced at Doncaster. Egan's major breakthrough came when, as retained rider to Prince AA Faisal, he rode the Prince's homebred Mishriff (Ire) to victory in the Saudi Cup, Dubai Sheema Classic and Juddmonte International. Signed by Amo Racing in December, Egan has grabbed that new opportunity with both hands. 

He won the first Irish two-year-old race of the season last Monday aboard Arizona Blaze (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev) on the Curragh, where he grew up, and then delivered Mr Professor (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) to win the Lincoln at 33/1. He will be itching to hop aboard the Amo Racing star King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was seen on Newmarket Heath in Saturday morning's sunshine looking a picture of health amid Roger Varian's string under Raul da Silva. 

Varian himself got off to a perfect start by saddling the first winner of the British turf season, Charyn (Ire), who bowled home in the Listed Doncaster Mile. He certainly should have won as he did as the son of Dark Angel (Ire), who was bred by Guy O'Callaghan at Grangemore Stud, is a classy individual and looks to have improved again physically over the winter. A Group 2 winner at two for Nurlan Bizakov, Charyn was fourth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and third in both the St James's Palace and Sussex S. last year. If he continues to run as well as he looked on Saturday, he could well rival King Of Steel for the title of the best grey at Carlburg Stables and edge his way onto Bizakov's burgeoning roster of Sumbe stallions for next year, alongside the aforementioned Mishriff. 

Less than 24 hours later, Charyn's sire Dark Angel was in the spotlight with a rare winner in Japan, and this one at the highest level. Mad Cool (Ire), bred by Moyglare Stud and sold to Katsumi Yoshida as a foal at Goffs for €225,000, landed the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo for Sunday Racing Co and trainer Manabu Ikezoe.

The five-year-old, who became the 16th Group/Grade 1 winner for Dark Angel, was beaten by a nose in the G1 The Sprinters S. last October and is from one of the families which has underpinned the success of Moyglare Stud over a number of generations. His dam Mad About You (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) won the G3 Gladness S. and was runner-up in the both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and G1 Pretty Polly S. in the hands of Pat Smullen, and she is a half-sister to the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Princess Highway (Street Cry {Ire}) and G1 Irish St Leger winner Royal Diamond (Ire) (King's Best).

Keep An Eye On Cunha

Profitable, who is now at stud in Turkey, was represented on Saturday by the Lincoln winner Mr Professor, while another son of Invincible Spirit (Ire), Territories (Ire), provided South African trainer Dylan Cunha with his first win in the Brocklesby. Cunha, a former airline pilot and also a Grade 1-winning trainer in his homeland, set up in Newmarket two years ago. His string has grown significantly for this season and, since William Jarvis ceased training, he is now occupying Phantom House Stables, having started out in the bottom yard there with a handful of horses. 

Cunha, who spent some of his early years working in Newmarket for Robert Armstrong, certainly knows how to get one ready, and the game Zminiature (GB) battled his way home in heavy ground at Doncaster to take the first British two-year-old race of the season for owner-breeder Jonathan Sarkar and family, who have supported the trainer since his return. 

There is an abundance of early races in an expanded spring programme for two-year-olds in Britain. The William Hill EBF Brocklesby S. kicked off the series of High-Value Development races and was worth £40,000, as is the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden at Chelmsford on Good Friday. They are two of 16 juvenile races that will be run in the UK before we even get to the Craven meeting on April 16. 

No Escaping Scat Daddy

The vaunted Storm Boy (Aus) may have had to settle for third in the Golden Slipper, but we are guaranteed to be hearing plenty about his sire Justify this season as the likes of City Of Troy, Ramatuelle and Opera Singer swing back into action. 

In the meantime two other sons of Scat Daddy are off the mark with their first winners in these very early days of the European juvenile programme. Sergei Prokofiev supplied Arizona Blaze to win at the Curragh's opening day, as mentioned above, while on Saturday at La Teste de Buch, Sweet Chop became the first winner for his sire, the G2 Railway S. winner Van Beethoven, who stands at Karwin Farm.

The only other freshman to have sired a winner in Europe is New Approach's son Hey Gaman (GB), who was beaten a neck when second to Olmedo (Fr) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and now stands at Haras du Taillis. His son Eagle Gate (Fr) won in Marseille on Wednesday.

Vive Les Turistes

France has led the way on the Flat front in the last few weeks and the country's racing administrators are celebrating the fact that 2023 saw a 17% increase in attendance figures across French racecourses, including trotting tracks. This certainly bucks the trend being seen in other countries. 

There has been an early TDN Rising Star among the French ranks in the three-year-old Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who remains unbeaten in four starts for Jean-Claude Rouget after landing the Prix Torrestrella at Toulouse on Wednesday. While he is on course for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, his fellow Rising Star of the same day, Clipper Logistics' Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is on course for the 2,000 Guineas after keeping a clean sheet with an emphatic win at Southwell for Karl Burke. 

Also at Toulouse, Dancing Queen (Fr), from the penultimate crop of Le Havre (Ire), enhanced the Classic dream of her trainer Fabrice Vermeulen when winning the mile maiden on Saturday. She carries the colours of Haras du Logis Saint Germain, which won the Poule d'Essai des Poucliches of 2020 with Dream And Do (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Unlike that filly, Dancing Queen is not a homebred as she was bred by Peter Savill, for the former BHB chairman who has recently returned to the forefront of British racing politics, if not in an official capacity.

Another who had gone into the notebook last October when winning the Prix de Saint-Desir on debut was the Wertheimers' Bright Picture (Fr) (Intello {Ger}). He has done nothing but confirm that good impression with two further wins, the latest in the Listed Prix Francois Mathet on March 16. As a gelding, he cannot be aimed at the Classics but he is clearly highly regarded, and our colleagues at Jour de Galop dubbed him 'the next Junko' after his stakes victory at Saint-Cloud. 

That is high praise indeed, and we will see the G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Junko (GB), another son of Intello, at Meydan in Saturday's tantalising G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. While Junko was bred by Wertheimer et Frere, Bright Picture is a rare sales purchase, bought from his breeder John Carrington for €72,000 at the Arqana October Yearling Sale. The brothers' support of their stallion Intello also led to the purchase of Pao Alto (Fr), who went on to win the G3 Prix La Force among his five victories. 

Thinking of Stefano Cherchi

We end this column with a heavy heart while, at the time of writing, Stefano Cherchi remains in a serious condition in hospital in Canberra, Australia. The 23-year-old jockey sustained serious head and internal injuries when his mount Hasime (Aus) fell, bringing down two other horses, at Canberra's meeting last Wednesday.

An enormously popular figure in Newmarket, where he served his apprenticeship with Marco Botti, Cherchi is originally from Sardinia. He remains in the thoughts of his many friends throughout the racing world. 

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Arizona Blaze (Sergei Prokofiev) follows in the hootprints of Bucanero Fuerte with victory in the Irish Flat turf season opener for Adrian Murray and @amoracingltd at @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/sqWXjTopte

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 18, 2024

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At just 24, Egan has already scaled some of racing's peaks. He won the Saudi Cup, the world's richest race, aboard Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in 2021 and more recently enjoyed great success with trainer Roger Varian, for whom he has partnered Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}}) to St Leger successes in Britain and Ireland. 

Joorabchian said, “I'm very pleased to announce David as our first jockey. We have had a brilliant ongoing relationship over the years and used David consistently on our horses, going back to Mojo Star's brilliant second in the [2021] Derby. We now feel it's the perfect time to consolidate our team and having David on board will be a valuable addition. 

“David is a talented, ambitious jockey with experience at the top of the sport having won races of the highest calibre all over the world, and growing up as Roger Varian's stable jockey has given him invaluable experience and maturity. Aware of the size of our organisation, we must implement systems to ensure longevity and I have tremendous confidence in this decision.”

He added, “Having David on board for the next two years will help us develop long-term stability as a team. I would also like to thank Roger for his tremendous support, confidence and blessing in this decision.” 

Egan was crowned champion apprentice in 2017 and has also ridden as the retained jockey to Prince AA Faisal. He takes over as Amo Racing's new number one rider one a two-year deal from Kevin Stott, who was removed from his post in September just one season after taking over from Rossa Ryan.

Egan commented, “I'm delighted to have signed a two-year contract with Amo Racing. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Roger and Hanako Varian, and all the Varian Stable team. 

“They have been like family to me since I first started in racing, and I'd just like to thank them for their friendship and support over the last seven years.”

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His latest winner, however, is perhaps the most special to Kirsten Rausing, the owner of Lanwades Stud where the son of Deep Impact (Jpn) stands. On Saturday at Newmarket, the newcomer Sons And Lovers (GB) got up on the line to win the seven-furlong juvenile maiden. Rausing, who bred the colt from the Smart Strike mare So In Love (GB), races him in partnership with her close friends Hugo and Maya Morriss, two immensely popular members of the Newmarket racing fraternity and the former owners of Banstead Manor Stud. Hugo was also a long-serving steward at both Newmarket racecourses. 

He and his wife Maya, who has been on long-term dialysis treatment, were able to be at the Rowley Mile thanks to the forethought of Jane Chapple-Hyam, who trains Sons And Lovers and gained special permission for the Morrises to be brought near to the winning line on the far side of the track in a mobility vehicle, which allowed Maya to watch from her wheelchair in the company of her trainer and her friend Wendy Milbank.

Chapple-Hyam explained how she gave the owners an impromptu race-call as their colt made his debut. “I'm not a very good commentator,” she said. “It went something along the lines of 'sat last, now joint-second last, he has pulled out and is third' and then, 'he is coming through', then, 'oh, he's won!'”

The trainer added, “I was expecting him to finish in the first three. He is a lovely horse. He is still a bit raw and he has got bit of maturing to do. He is a lovely mover but I was worried the ground might be too quick. I think we will put him away now and look forward to next season.”

Parading in front of the stands is usually the preserve of Group 1 winners but, before returning to the winner's enclosure, jockey David Egan brought Sons And Lovers partially back down the track to greet the Morrisses. It was a touching move that wouldn't have been witnessed by many on course on Saturday, but meant the world to Hugo and Maya Morriss.

Just over an hour earlier, the brilliant Inspiral (GB) and Frankie Dettori had stolen the show with a dazzling performance in the Sun Chariot, but far and away the most moving moment of the day was seeing that two-year-old, brimming with promise, head over to the far rail to be greeted by his delighted owners. In tough times, these Thoroughbreds have a way of lifting us up. Of helping us dream of better days to come. 

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With the 4-6 favourite Kyprios in pursuit, the Roger Varian-trained G1 St Leger hero had to keep it up but he kept answering David Egan to beat the Ballydoyle star by 3 1/2 lengths, with Dawn Rising (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 2 3/4 lengths away in third. The field had been cut to four following the withdrawal of Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), but what this renewal lost in numbers it made up for in terms of quality with the market confidence in Kyprios notable.

For Egan, the win was especially important given his connection to the area. “I had my first Classic winner last year, but to do it where I grew up at Osborne Lodge, which is at the five-furlong pole, means a lot,” he said. “It's what dreams are made of and for all the team connected with the horse. My first main job was riding out for Willie McCreery, who I saw today, and he was a great man to learn from and gave me a lot of experience and taught me a lot. He has a tendency to miss the break, but the race went so smooth, he was a race-fit horse today and was as tough as nails.”

Eldar Eldarov, who had earned TDN Rising Star status on his debut at Nottingham in October 2021, also won the G2 Queen's Vase last June but with three of his four outings after the St Leger seeing him finish out of the frame there were the beginnings of doubts as to whether he was going the wrong way. Varian was relieved, but unwilling to accept that he had been disappointing this year. “He's run some great races in defeat this year and it's nice to win two Legers,” he said. “He's entered up in France on Arc weekend and there is the two-mile race at Ascot. He seems to be really best at a mile and six furlongs, but there aren't too many of those races around. He deserves to run one more time this year and it's most likely Ascot.”

Aidan O'Brien said of Kyprios, “A lot of people have done a lot of work to get him to here–all of the vets have done incredible work to get him back. We didn't think we would ever see this day, so to have him back and be happy and for Ryan to be happy is something. He's going to come on a lot and Ascot looks lovely for him. He will have a nice bit of time before now and then and will love going round there. It would be great to see him come back to what he was and this was a great comeback run.”

Proper performance!

Eldar Eldarov, expertly trained by @varianstable, secures a memorable St Leger double @curraghrace .

Last season's Doncaster hero puts Kyprios, who had been off the track for 344 days, firmly to the sword under @DavidEgan99 pic.twitter.com/7GOJyLhSLv

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 10, 2023

Pedigree Notes

Putting the icing on the cake for Dubawi on the afternoon, Eldar Eldarov hails from a family of Kirsten Rausing's finest performers. Out of the Listed Prix de Liancourt winner All At Sea, whose first foal was the listed-placed A La Voile (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and fourth is this year's G3 Gallinule S. third Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion). The second dam is the three-times group 1-winning Albanova (GB) (Alzao), responsible for the G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup winner Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), the Listed Stand Cup S. scorer Alignak (GB) by the Sea The Stars's son Sea The Moon (Ger) and the listed winner Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}).

Alwilda has made her name by producing the six-times group 1-winning Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), while the listed-winning third dam Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}) also produced Albanova's dual G1 Champion S.-winning full-sister Alborada (GB) whose descendants include the G2 City of York S. winner Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).

All At Sea is also connected to the G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Alzao's G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) who is in turn the dam of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulians-winning sire Aussie Rules, as well as the pair of Sadler's Wells group 1 winners Yesterday (Ire) and Quarter Moon (Ire). Her unraced 2-year-old filly by Study of Man (Ire) is named A La Belle Etoile (Ire), she has a yearling colt by Lope De Vega (Ire) bought as a foal for 300,000gns by Brooklyn Bloodstock at Tatts December who is due to sell at next month's Tatts Book 1 Sale, and a filly foal again by Study Of Man.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
COMER GROUP INTERNATIONAL IRISH ST LEGER-G1, €600,000, Curragh, 9-10, 3yo/up, 14fT, 3:01.72, g/y.
1–ELDAR ELDAROV (GB), 137, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
     1st Dam: All At Sea (GB) (MSW-Fr, $133,622), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
     3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
TDN Rising Star. (£110,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR; £480,000 2yo '21 ARQDEA). O-KHK Racing Ltd; B-Miss K Rausing (GB); T-Roger Varian; J-David Egan. €348,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 10-5-1-0, $1,202,836. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Kyprios (Ire), 137, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Polished Gem (Ire), by Danehill. O-Moyglare/Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Westerberg; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €120,000.
3–Dawn Rising (Ire), 137, g, 6, Galileo (Ire)–Devoted To You (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-J P McManus; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €60,000.
Margins: 3HF, 2 3/4, 5. Odds: 3.20, 0.67, 3.50.
Also Ran: Yashin (Ire). Scratched: Emily Dickinson (Ire).

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A touch fresh tracking the leading pair throughout the early stages, the 240,000gns Tatts December Foal Sale graduate ranged alongside Lion Tamer (GB) (Roaring Lion) a furlong out and was soon in total command. Surging clear for David Egan, he had an impressive six lengths to spare over that Gosden representative at the line to become the sire's 13th TDN Rising Star. Among them are some big names such as Newspaperofrecord (Ire), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) and Aunt Pearl (Ire).

The dam, a full-sister to the GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo Drive S. heroine Photo Call (Ire), is also a half to the G2 Richmond S.-winning sire Land Force (Ire) (No Nay Never). They are out of the G3 Summer S. winner Theann (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), one of three group winners produced by the electric G2 King's Stand S. and G2 Temple S.-winning sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) including the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. winner Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).

Halfway To Heaven was in turn responsible for the seven-times group-1 winning Magical (Ire) and triple group 1-winning Rhododendron (Ire) from matings with Tesoro's sire Galileo, with the latter responsible for last year's G1 Futurity hero and possible imminent Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Cassandra Go's other pattern-race scorer is Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), whose career highs came in the G3 Abernant S. and G3 Sandown Sprint S. and who is now the dam of last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). Tesoro's 2-year-old full-brother to Enfijaar named Nahy (Fr) caused a stir at the Book 1 Sale when going to Nawara Stud for 525,000gns, while her yearling colt by Almanzor (Fr) was a 72,000gns purchase by GHS Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

4th-Chelmsford City, £11,000, Novice, 5-25, 3yo/up, 8f (AWT), 1:35.79, st.
ENFJAAR (IRE), c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)
     1st Dam: Tesoro (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Theann (GB), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
(240,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $13,376. O-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; B-James Wigan (IRE); T-Roger Varian. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Second impressive three-year-old victory of the day!

ENFJAAR defies a penalty and makes it 2 from 2 at Chelmsford under David Egan for @varianstable

pic.twitter.com/zTfQ4SD6kA

— Shadwell Stud (@ShadwellStud) May 25, 2023

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Hearts Concerto (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) could offer value relative to what he's accomplished in his two racetrack appearances to date. The bay dismantled a group of newcomers by eight resounding lengths as the 9-10 chalk going this trip at Chukyo Sept. 18 and was the hot favourite for the nine-furlong G2 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. at headquarters Nov. 19. It all went wrong when he walked out of the stalls, spotting his rivals several lengths, but he closed off in a race-best :33.8 to finish a good third to the re-opposing Gastrique (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}). He was trading at better than 10-1 on the JRA tote as of this writing.

“He missed the break [last time] and was left behind, and that really hurt,” said trainer Ryo Takei. “His preparation after that race has all gone smoothly. I think the extra distance is a plus and the conditions are better for him here.”

Mikki Cappuccino (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) is perfect in his two starts, each over 10 furlongs. A narrow debut winner, with future Group 3 winner Gruner Green (Jpn) (Lovely Day {Jpn}) third, at Tokyo Oct. 9, he jumped out of the ground in the final furlong and shot away to take a course-and-distance allowance by a widening 3 1/2 lengths when last seen Dec. 3. Keita Tosaki will have to work out a trip from barrier 18.

Since finishing third in an 1800-metre heat at Hakodate in July, King's Reign (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) has won back-to-back races, including a 1 1/2-length tally in a one-win class allowance over the 2000 metres at Tokyo in early November. Christophe Lemaire retains the ride.

J Palms (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) is a son of the American-bred mare Killer Graces (Congaree), making him a half-brother to last year's Hopeful hero Killer Ability (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). He got his career off on a popular and winning note in his lone career start, carrying Lemaire to a three-length victory at odds of 2-5 in a Tokyo newcomers' event Nov. 5. David Egan, who has ridden nine winners from 52 rides on his current short-term contract in Japan, takes the call for Noriyuki Hori.

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“I've not had many horses gallop out past the line the way he did there,” jockey David Egan said. “He is a raw horse that wouldn't have been 100 per-cent tuned up for this today, as it was an educational experience.” The dam, who proved a smart performer in Scandinavia, is also responsible for a yearling filly by Le Havre (Ire) who sold to Mike Ryan for 290,000gns at the recent Book 1 Sale, and a 2022 colt also by Lope De Vega. She is a full-sister to Wekeela (Fr) who captured the G3 Prix Chloe and GIII Matchmaker S. and was second in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, GI Jenny Wiley S. and GI Gamely S. The family features the outstanding Monsun (Ger) and the G1 Prix du Cadran heroine Molly Malone (Fr) (Lomitas {GB}).

6th-Kempton, £14,000, Novice, 11-28, 2yo, 7f (AWT), 1:27.54, st/sl.
DRAGON ICON (IRE) (c, 2, Lope De Vega {Ire}–Matauri Pearl {Ire} {Champion 3-y-o Filly-Sca, MSP-Nor, SP-Swe, $128,209}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) Sales history: 360,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $9,124. O-Yoshiro Kubota; B-Ecurie des Charmes & Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian.

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Tackling testing ground having operated with style on good-to-soft on his impressive debut at Yarmouth Sept. 25, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained full-brother to the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and G3 Prix Imprudence winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and G1 Prix de la Foret runner-up Malavath (Ire) found cover behind the front-running Grey's Monument (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and when asked to take on that rival by David Egan inside the final two furlongs responded generously.

Asserting from the furlong pole, the 10-1 shot had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over the long-time leader at the line, with a further length back to Ancestral Land (GB) (Sioux Nation) in third.

“That was very impressive,” Egan said. “I rode him at home before his debut and he's really physically improved since then in a short space of time. He was a different horse today–he raced very economically throughout and showed greenness but really picked up his knees and grabbed the ground. He's very exciting for next year–if a 2-year-old can gallop out on those deep conditions over seven you'd be very confident that he'd get a mile. He's got to be respected now he's won a Horris Hill.”

Ed Crisford added, “It was hard to guess what he achieved on his first start, but he'd trained well after it. His sister gets through this ground with a high knee action and we were hopeful he would. He's an exciting colt and probably a Guineas horse who will go for a trial–the Craven or the Greenham. The owners are having a great year, winning the Leger and the Mill Reef and they have a few with us.”

Pedigree Notes

Knight, who cost 210,000gns at the Book 2 Sale, is the second foal out of the Shadwell cast-off Fidaaha after the aforementioned Malavath, who showed her appreciation of this kind of ground when two-lengths second to Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the Foret three weeks ago. She is a full-sister to the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial S. winner Ceisteach (Ire) and a half to Steip Amach (Ire) (Vocalised) who annexed the G3 Killavullan S. and G3 Amethyst S. before finishing third in the G1 Prix Rothschild and G1 Prix Jean Romanet.

The third dam Sharafanya (Ire) (Zafonic) is kin to the G2 Goldene Peitsche winner Giant Sandman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and to the listed-placed dam of the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Shalanaya (Ire) (Lomitas {GB}). This is the family of the great Shergar (GB). Fidaaha, who cost Tally Ho Stud a mere €15,000 at the 2017 Goffs November Mares Sale, is also responsible for the filly by Cotai Glory (GB) who sold to Ken Condon for €200,000 at last month's Goffs Orby. Her 2022 foal is a full-brother to the winner and Malavath.

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
VIRGIN BET HORRIS HILL S.-G3, £50,000, Newbury, 10-22, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:29.79, hy.
1–KNIGHT (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Mehmas (Ire)
                1st Dam: Fidaaha (Ire), by New Approach (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Ceist Eile (Ire), by Noverre
                3rd Dam: Sharafanya (Ire), by Zafonic
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. TDN Rising Star.
(210,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-KHK Racing; B-Tally Ho Stud
(IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-David Egan. £28,355. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $37,309. *Full to Malavath (Ire), MGSW &
G1SP-Fr, GISP-US, $466,261. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
   Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click
   for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Grey's Monument (GB), 128, c, 2, Territories (Ire)–Matron Of
Honour (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP
   BLACK TYPE. (20,000gns RNA Wlg '20 TATFOA; €65,000 Ylg
'21 GOFOR). O-Tracey Ashbee; B-Mr W A Tinkler (GB); T-Ralph
Beckett. £10,750.
3–Ancestral Land (GB), 128, c, 2, Sioux Nation–Swing Out Sister
(Ire), by Kodiac (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK
   TYPE. (140,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Isa Salman Al Khalifa;
B-Aston Mullins Stud & S Barrow Esq (GB); T-Clive Cox. £5,380.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1, 4. Odds: 10.00, 4.50, 18.00.
Also Ran: Caragio (Ire), Promoter (GB), Lord Of Biscay (Ire), Defence Of Fort (Ire), Oviedo (Ire), Striking Star (GB). VIDEO.

The Group 3 @VirginBet Horris Hill Stakes goes to the promising Knight, with the Mehmas colt remaining unbeaten following a stylish victory in the hands of @DavidEgan99 for @gainsboroughHQ pic.twitter.com/uTsGlebLTO

— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) October 22, 2022

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“His work has always been very good at home and we thought he would win first time, but he ran into a smart filly at Windsor [Magical Sunset],” said Varian. “He then won well at Haydock and he looks good. How good, I don't know, but he is possibly the best of my 2-year-olds. He has size and scope, he's very exciting and I think he'll stay seven furlongs or a mile. You can never really expect things to go as well for us as it has today, but everything is clicking. He is in the [G1] Middle Park, but it's next week. It's very soon, so we'll have to see.”

Sakheer, who was the highest-priced lot when knocked down for €550,000 at this year's Arqana Breeze-Up sale, is the fifth of seven foals and one of three scorers produced by a half-sister to G3 Prix de Meautry winner Indian Maiden (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), herself the dam of G3 World Trophy victrix Maid In India (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) and the dual stakes-winning G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis second Love Spirit (GB) (Elusive City). The February-foaled bay, who hails from the family of Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}) and Chief's Crown (Danzig), is a half-brother to multiple Group-winning GI Beverly D. S. third Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass), a yearling colt by Exceed And Excel (Aus) and a weanling filly by Sea The Stars (Ire).

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
DUBAI DUTY FREE MILL REEF S.-G2, £84,250, Newbury, 9-17, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.53, gd.
1–SAKHEER (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Zoffany (Ire)
1st Dam: Shortmile Lady (Ire), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Jinsiyah, by Housebuster
3rd Dam: Minifah, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (80,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; $65,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; €550,000 2yo '22 ARQMAY). O-KHK Racing; B-Drumlin Bloodstock (IRE); T-Roger Varian; J-David Egan. £47,778. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $63,902. *1/2 to Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass), MGSW-Ire, GSW & GISP-USA, $386,350. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rousing Encore (Ire), 129, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Jolie Chanson (Fr), by Mount Nelson (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (57,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 32,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Paul K Spencer; B-Hunting Hill Stud (IRE); T-Richard Fahey. £18,114.
3–Charyn (Ire), 129, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £9,065.
Margins: 3HF, 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.80, 20.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Shouldvebeenaring (GB), Wallop (Ire), Mustajaab (GB), Heroism (Ire).

Impressive!

Sakheer is a decisive winner of the Group 2 @DDFRacing Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, cruising clear to complete a four-timer on the card for jockey @DavidEgan99 on what is turning into a remarkable afternoon for trainer @varianstable pic.twitter.com/t9huXswU6R

— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) September 17, 2022

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