Sea the Stars Colt a New Rising Star At Newmarket

Friday's Betfair Novice S. at Newmarket looked a strong heat on paper, but Juddmonte's Derab (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) turned the mile contest into a procession as he registered a 6 1/2-length success in the style almost demanded of a half-brother to Clarehaven's stellar Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Just over an hour after the filly that beat him at Newbury last time, Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}), had proven such a disappointment at York the John and Thady Gosden-trained homebred was intent only on moving forward at a rate of knots. Always happy racing towards the front up the centre of the track under Martin Harley, the 10-11 favourite was left in control of affairs well before the two-furlong pole and hardly had to come out of second gear to set his seal on the race. Shaken up to put the result beyond doubt heading down into the “dip”, the bay was amply generous as he inflicted the heavy defeat on the well-regarded William Haggas-trained Fireworks (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), in turn a head in front of the newcomer Injazati (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). Derab does hold an entry in the G1 Epsom Derby June 5, but John Gosden is not entertaining that great leap. “We will either keep him at a mile or go a mile and a quarter and look at options over those trips,” he said. “He has made big bounds, as he has always wanted to be in a hurry about life but he is doing things in the correct rhythm now.”

Second on debut over seven furlongs behind TDN Rising Star and subsequent G3 Tattersalls S. winner and G3 Craven S. runner-up La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) at Ascot on his sole juvenile start in September, Derab was 1 3/4 lengths behind Snow Lantern upped to this more suitable trip at Newbury Apr. 18 but was a different proposition this time. Ultra-professional throughout, the stoutly-bred blueblood has the world at his feet with all the indications that he will progress markedly when upped in trip. “He ran very well at Ascot first time out, then we ran into a problem in the autumn,” Gosden explained. “He came back and he was a bit fresh. We were very keen to settle him at Newbury and we were more interested in settling him than anything else. He was much more sensible today and he has run a lovely race. He has grown up a lot.”

Derab's half-sibling Enable needs little introduction, with her brilliant haul including a record-setting three G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. and two renewals of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, as well as the G1 Epsom and Irish Oaks, a G1 Eclipse S. and a GI Breeders' Cup Turf. The dam Concentric (GB) (Sadler's Wells), who was successful in the Listed Prix Charles Laffitte and runner-up in the G3 Prix de Flore at or around 10 furlongs, has also produced the useful Contribution (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) who was third in the G2 Prix de Pomone and G3 Prix Allez France, and Entitle (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who was second in the G3 Musidora S. Her 2-year-old full-brother to Enable is named Lenient (GB), while she also has a 2021 full-sister to Derab.

The second dam Apogee (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) was successful in the G3 Prix de Royaumont before producing the G3 Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon winner Apsis (GB) (Barathea {Ire}) and Dance Routine (GB) (Sadler's Wells) who took the G2 Prix de Royallieu and also the Royaumont and was runner-up in the G1 Prix de Diane. She in turn produced Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}), whose exploits included two victories in the GI Sword Dancer S. and wins in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and GI Manhattan S. as well as two second placings in the Arc. The third dam is the Epsom Oaks runner-up Bourbon Girl (GB) (Ile de Bourbon) whose best performer was the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly winner and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud runner-up Daring Miss (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and who is the ancestress of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero Spanish Moon (El Prado {Ire}) and his G2 Ribblesdale S.-winning full-sister Spanish Sun.

5th-Newmarket, £8,050, Novice, 5-14, 3yo, 8fT, 1:38.85, g/s.
DERAB (GB), c, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
     1st Dam: Concentric (GB) (SW & GSP-Fr, $117,776), by Sadler's Wells
     2nd Dam: Apogee (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
     3rd Dam: Bourbon Girl (GB), by Ile de Bourbon
Lifetime Record: 3-1-2-0, $14,216. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Great Fillies at Stud

There is no question that world racing will be all the poorer in 2021 without those marvelous mares, Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). For all of us with a keen interest in breeding, their future careers will be watched with great interest, Enable starting off with a visit to Kingman (GB) and Magical going to Dubawi (Ire).

But how have brilliant racemares fared in their second career down through the years? They are certainly a select bunch with only 42 having attained a Timeform mark of 130 or higher since the 1970s. Predictably, many–just like Enable–have earned their high ranking by winning or going close in Europe's premier middle-distance race, the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. No fewer than 15 among our 42 have won or finished runner up in the Longchamp feature. Dual winners Enable and Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) take pride of place, but they are not the best Arc-winning females in the past 50 years according to Timeform.

The great Allez France (Sea-Bird {Fr})–one of five fillies on our list that raced for Daniel Wildenstein–achieved a rating of 136, two pounds above the 134 of Enable, Treve and All Along (Fr) (Targowice). In fact, only four from the group of 42 have risen higher than 134, the brilliant sprinter Habibti (Ire) (Habitat) matching Allez France's 136, while dual King George heroine Dahlia (Vaguely Noble {Ire}) and brilliant Pebbles (GB) (Sharpen Up {GB}) peaked at 135.

Several fillies, such as Balanchine (Storm Bird), Salsabil (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Triptych (Riverman), were talented enough to beat their male counterparts in traditionally male-only Classics such as the Irish Derby and Irish 2000 Guineas. There have also been top milers like triple Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) and even a few 2-year-olds have made the list, with Phoenix S. winner Cloonlara (Sir Ivor), Prix Morny heroine Broadway Dancer (Northern Dancer), plus Cawston's Pride (GB) (Con Brio II {GB}) making it to the exalted 130 mark.

In assessing this group of brilliant fillies as broodmares, along with Enable, we can also discount speedster Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) another yet to have runners, while a few more, including Treve and even Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), are only at the dawn of their broodmare careers. We are also obliged to leave out two more on account that they never produced any foals. The outstanding Habitat filly, Flying Water (Fr), rated 132 by Timeform after a career that included victories in the 1000 Guineas, Prix Jacques le Marois and Champion S., died in an accident at Belmont Park as a 5-year-old, while Triptych, a sometimes brilliant but always tough daughter of Riverman, lost her life in a paddock accident while carrying her first foal by Mr. Prospector.

That leaves 36–all foaled more than 15 years ago–whose stud records can be examined. This group had a combined 260 runners, an average of 6.5 per mare. This low number is a clue in itself as to how they have fared in their second careers. Some struggled with their fertility while others simply couldn't produce the goods. Given that these were all top-class fillies, their owners might have expected at least a group winner from their prized broodmare prospects. In the event, 20 of the 36 produced at least one group winner. Moreover, the sum total of 38 group winners produced by the 36 mares made up 14.6% of the 260 runners, a pleasing return no doubt.

Less impressive is the fact that only 14 produced a Group 1 winner and only three had more than one Group 1 winner. But the most disappointing aspect of all is that only a single Timeform 130-plus female in the past 50 years of European racing has produced a runner good enough to join the Timeform 130-plus club. That mare was Cawston's Pride, the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly of 1970 and dam of the brilliant Vincent O'Brien-trained sprinter Solinus (GB) (Comedy Star), who set the summer of 1978 alight with consecutive victories in the King's Stand S., July Cup and Nunthorpe S., or William Hill Sprint Championship as it was known then.

Of all the group's produce records, Dahlia's is easily the best. Though none of her foals approached anywhere near her own ability, four won at the highest level with three requiring American turf races to secure their Group 1 status. The brilliant miler Miesque (Nureyev) produced influential sire Kingmambo (Mr. Prospector), a 125-rated three-time Group 1 winner, plus Classic winner East of the Moon (Private Account), who won the French Guineas and Oaks, plus the Jacques le Marois during a rich vein of form as a 3-year-old in 1994.

The only other dam of two or more Group 1 winners in the group was the brilliant sprinter Marwell (Ire) (Timeform 133), one of four 130-plus Habitat fillies on our list. She was responsible for Lomond's daughter Marling (Ire), who scored in the Cheveley Park S., Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation S. and Sussex S. Meanwhile, Marling's Caerleon half-brother Caerwent (Ire) secured a Group 1 victory in the National S. at The Curragh.

The fact that the 36 top-class European racemares since 1970 collectively managed but a single horse in their own class may seem disappointing, but it's perhaps better to hang on to the 14.6% group winner figure. All the more so when we learn that fillies and mares rated between 125 and 129 by Timeform typically produce 7.2% group winners to runners–an excellent return, but only half the rate of their more-talented peers.

There are numerous examples of brilliant racemares that failed completely at stud. The first five foals produced by Pebbles never even saw a racecourse despite being by the best sires of the day. She ended up with only two minor winners from 11 foals. Indian Skimmer (Storm Bird) was another who failed to fire a shot, her first six foals being unraced, before her last foal won six sprint races over a period of eight years. The brilliant Habibti had only two winners from 12 foals with no sign of class whatsoever. Arc heroines, Ivanjica (Sir Ivor) and Akiyda (GB) (Labus {Fr}) were also bereft of stakes horses, as were Oaks and St Leger winner Dunfermline (GB) (Royal Palace {GB}), King George heroine Pawneese (Ire) (Carvin II {Fr}), April Run (Ire) (Run the Gauntlet), Milligram (GB) (Mill Reef) and Luth Enchantee (Fr) (Be My Guest). Even the great Allez France struggled, her best offspring being Group 3 scorer Action Francaise (Nureyev).

Of course, some made amends for their lackluster produce records and went on to establish good legacies. Pawneese is ancestress of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) while Lianga (Dancer's Image)–dam of a single stakes winner–is in the direct female line of important sires Danehill Dancer (Ire) (Danehill) and Street Sense (Street Cry {Ire}), while Milligram has her own vibrant dynasty at Meon Valley Stud with Oaks winner Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Speedy Boarding (GB) (Shamardal) listed among her best descendants.

Of course, this study by design excludes many fine fillies and mares than went on to have great careers at stud. Perhaps the two most worthy of mention are the 126-rated pair Urban Sea (Miswaki) and Detroit (Fr) (Riverman), Arc winners who produced Arc winners. And there is none with a more profound influence on the modern-day breed than Urban Sea.

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Champion Enable Scanned In Foal to Kingman

Champion and dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was scanned in foal to Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Juddmonte announced via Twitter on Monday. The 7-year-old was retired in October last year after ending her career with a sixth in the Arc earlier that month. She was covered by the fellow Juddmonte homebred just over two weeks ago.

“Fifteen days after cover, champion Enable was this morning successfully scanned in foal to Kingman,” Juddmonte tweeted. “Hopefully an exciting new chapter in this remarkable mare's story.”

One of the greatest racehorses owned and bred by the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, Enable graced the racecourse for five seasons with 11 Group 1 wins from 19 starts including the Oaks, Irish Oaks, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe twice and three victories in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. Her earnings stand at £10.7 million.

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MGSW Headman to Stand in France

Juddmonte homebred Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}-Deliberate {GB}, by King’s Best) will stand at Figerro Breeding Farm in France for €2,800 this term. The news was reported by the Racing Post on Sunday. A winner of four of his nine starts including the G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano for Prince Khalid Abdullah and trainer Roger Charlton, the bay earned $430,789.

The sixth foal out of the winning Deliberate, Headman is a half-brother to Grade II winner Projected (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and G3 Prix Chloe runner-up Delivery (GB) (Rail Link {GB}). This is the extended family of Eclipse Champion Grass Horse Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}), as well as the Juddmonte wunderkind and dual Arc heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) among many others.

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