Craig Bernick and John Camilleri's 3-year-old filly Sounds Of Heaven (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Ring The Bell {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) did not have the benefit of an early-season outing heading into Friday's Listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' S. at York, but that was of little consequence as she found plentiful reserves at the business end of a thrilling renewal to emerge with a career high.
The Jessica Harrington trainee shaped with promise when posting a debut fourth at Gowran Park in September and shed maiden status going one mile at Leopardstown the following month when last seen. Sounds Of Heaven was swiftly into stride and found a smooth rhythm in second through halfway. Racing on the bridle for much of the long straight, the 14-1 chance was nudged to the fore approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the latter stages to deny 'TDN Rising Star' Queen For You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) by a short-head in a three-way photograph. Godolphin's Silver Lady (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) played her part in a pulsating finale and finished a neck further adrift in third.
Sounds Of Heaven is the leading performer produced by a daughter of G2 Prix du Gros-Chene victrix Beauty Is Truth (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), herself the dam of four pattern-race winners headed by G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Matron S. victrix Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Ranvet S. winner The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The February-foaled bay is a half-sister to Listed Cairn Rouge S. placegetter Voice Of Angels (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and a 2-year-old colt by Dubawi (Ire).
Ascot's Naas Racecourse Royal Ascot Trials Day British EBF Fillies' S. offers the G1 Coronation S. hopefuls a chance to get acquainted with the track and Normandie Stud's Queen For You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}–Fallen For You {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) could be one for that contest after earning TDN Rising Star status on Wednesday. Debuting in the mile encounter, the John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of the 2012 Coronation heroine whose half-siblings include the multiple group winner Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and who is a full-sister to the listed scorer Love Is You (Ire) recovered from a tardy start to find cover behind the leaders in fifth after the initial stages.
Looming large on the stands' side at the quarter-mile marker, the 4-1 chance quickened smartly to lead approaching the final furlong and was ridden out by Robert Havlin in the closing stages to account for Copy Artist (GB) (No Nay Never) by two lengths. “This filly is still raw, but she has talent,” the rider said. “She quickened up well, she'll have learnt plenty and she can only come forward for the run.” Thady Gosden added, “She'd been going nicely at home and her mother won the Coronation Stakes, while Kingman was a champion miler. So yes, we would take a look at the Coronation Stakes. It's five weeks away, but another run would benefit her.”
Queen For You, amazingly the 31st TDN Rising Star for her sire, whose best in that category so far are Persian King (Ire) and Palace Pier (GB), is the sixth of eight foals and fourth scorer produced by Fallen For You, whose progeny include the multiple group winner Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Kingman's Listed Radley S. scorer and G3 Nell Gwyn S. third Love Is You (Ire). A daughter of the Listed Silver Trophy scorer and multiple group-placed Fallen Star (GB) (Brief Truce), she is kin to the Listed Heron S. winner Fallen Idol (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and to the G2 Lancashire Oaks runner-up Fallen In Love (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).
Fallen In Love was in turn responsible for Kingman's Serve The King (GB), who took the GII Red Smith S. and was second in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, and also for the G3 Prix de Flore scorer Loving Things (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who was third in the Lancashire Oaks. Also connected to the G1 Lockinge S.-winning sire Fly To The Stars (GB) (Bluebird) and the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen winner Peace At Last (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Fallen For You's 2-year-old filly Fight For You (Ire) is by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) while she also has a yearling colt by Lope De Vega (Ire).
3rd-Ascot, £40,000, Cond, 5-3, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:46.04, gd. QUEEN FOR YOU (IRE), f, 3, by Kingman (GB) 1st Dam: Fallen For You (GB) (G1SW-Eng, $286,833), by Dansili (GB) 2nd Dam: Fallen Star (GB), by Brief Truce 3rd Dam: Rise And Fall (GB), by Mill Reef
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $25,703. O/B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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. Wednesday's Observations features a daughter of Group 1 winner Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
2.40 Ascot, Novice, £40,000, 3yo, f, 8fT QUEEN FOR YOU (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is the fifth foal out of the G1 Coronation S. heroine Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who faces a stiff task on debut in this Naas Racecourse Royal Ascot Trials Day British EBF Fillies' S. for aspirants of the 2023 renewal of that Royal test. Normandie Stud's March-foaled bay, whose half-siblings include the multiple group winner Glorious Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and who is a full-sister to the listed scorer Love Is You (Ire), is pitched against experienced rivals by John and Thady Gosden but receives upwards of nine pounds as a result.
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 Belouni (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) in the Woodhaven S. at Aqueduct.
Belouni Finds His Haven at Aqueduct
Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Michael Kisber and William Rucker's Belouni ran out a 1 1/2-length winner of Aqueduct's Woodhaven S. last Saturday (video). The son of Vienna View (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) was making his second U.S. start.
Bred by Le Thenney and offered by Arcadia Elevage, the colt brought €20,000 as an Arqana October yearling from future trainer Christophe Escuder. He would subsequently win two of his four starts for Scuderia Il Fino culminating with a second in the Listed Criterium de Lyon last September. Sent back through the Arqana ring, he attracted a bid of €180,000 during the Arc Sale from Hubert Guy before joining the Chad Brown barn.
One of four winners for his placed dam, Belouni is followed by a 2-year-old colt by Sommerabend (GB). He is kin to numerous top-level winners including Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {GB}), Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}), and the In Clover (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) foals–Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}), With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), and We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}).
Deceased in 2020, the Danehill Dancer (Ire)-line stallion Fast Company now has two stakes winners to his name in the U.S. (14%), with the Woodhaven scorer joining 2018 GI Arlington Million hero Robert Bruce (Chi). Altogether, the former Darley stallion has eight winners out of 14 runners (57%).
Wide West (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) led gate-to-wire to take a Gulfstream Park all-weather allowance optional claimer by a neck last Saturday and put a second notch in her win column in the process (video). The Tom Proctor trainee is bred and raced by Craig Bernick's Glen Hill Farm.
Wide West was shipped Stateside before ever racing, and got off the mark sprinting over the Gulfstream Park all-weather in August of 2022. One start later, she was a good fourth in the Hollywood Beach S. there, and Saturday's tally was her sixth start.
A half-sister to GI Santa Anita Oaks winner Crisp (El Corredor), Deer Valley was picked up by Glen Hill Farm for $340,000 out of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2015. She would go on to win a Monmouth Park stakes in the orange, black and white Glen Hill colours back in 2017, and Wide West is her first foal. Her juvenile Kingman (GB) colt is named King Julien, and she was covered by both Candy Ride (Arg) and Quality Road last spring. GI Futurity S. hero Whywhywhy (Mr. Greeley) and multiple graded winner Spellbinder (Tale Of The Cat), both sires, are under the third dam.
Few stallions are more sought after on an international stage than Juddmonte's Frankel, and Wide West is one of 25 winners from 43 runners (58%) in America. Of his nine stakes winners (21%) in the U.S., five are graded winners led by GI Belmont Oaks heroine McKulick (GB).
Wesley Ward unveiled favoured Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) at Keeneland on Thursday, and the Stonestreet Stables silksbearer did not disappoint, reporting home 6 3/4 lengths to the good of his nearest rival (video).
Part of the Chasemore Farm breeding programme, the March foal sold for 170,000gns during Book 2 of the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale to Barbara Banke's agent Ben McElroy. His year-younger half-sister is by Masar (Ire), while their dam, the Chasemore homebred Brogan (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), won over 1400 metres at Haydock as a juvenile. Brogan is a half-sister to none other than 2022 Cartier Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus), one of the leading fancies for the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas in one week's time.
Twenty-two progeny of Whitsbury Manor Stud's Showcasing have competed in the U.S., with an even 50% winning at least once. His quartet of stakes winners in that jurisdiction stands at four (18%), with Prize Exhibit (GB), Projected (GB), and Bodhicitta (GB) all striking at Grade II level.
King For A Day
Already featured in Making Waves this February, Turf King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) maintained his perfect record with a narrow score in a one-mile Keeneland grass allowance for trainer Chad Brown and Wise Racing (video) on Friday.
The relative of Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) is one of 26 winners from 49 runners (53%) for his Juddmonte sire in the U.S. Seven of Kingman's get (13%) have won stakes, among them multiple Group 1 winner Domestic Spending (GB), who is also trained by Brown.
From an international standpoint since the turn of the year, five of Kingman's progeny have take black-type races led by Group 1 winner Schnell Meister (Ger) in the G2 Yomiuri Milers Cup in Japan. Remarquee (GB) claimed the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury, and 'TDN Rising Star' Epictetus (Ire) and Laurel (GB) both won listed races in England. In France, Sauterne (Fr) landed the Listed Prix du Pont Neuf earlier this past week.
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