The 'TDN Rising Star', a winner of three of his four starts including the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S., the bay could be joined by 'Rising Star' and G1 Phoenix S. victor Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never).

“Little Big Bear and Auguste Rodin are good, everything has been good so far anyhow,” said O'Brien. “We're not sure if either will run in a trial, they are going to go to the Curragh on Saturday maybe for a canter around, and we'll see about them after that.”

The Coolmore partners also have several fillies that could be heard from on the Classic trail, and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) and 'Rising Star' and G2 Airlie Stud S. victress Statuette (Justify) are also possible for the racecourse gallop.

Added O'Brien, “It's probably the same for the fillies, Meditate and Statuette.”

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The John and Thady Gosden-trained Slipofthepen (GB), a son of Night Of Thunder (Ire) who was bred by the late Queen, has been given an entry for the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. Out of the 95-rated Free Verse (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), the colt is a fifth-generation homebred and won his sole start with ease at Kempton in November and also holds an entry for the Derby.

Furthering her links to the turf, The Queen Consort is due to visit the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket on Mar. 9.

The first two British Classics of the season, the QIPCO-sponsored 2000 and 1000 Guineas on May 6 and 7, have attracted 62 and 64 entries, respectively.

The quintet of Group/Grade 1 winners Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Al Riffa (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Chaldean (GB), Little Big Bear (Ire) and Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) heads a strong cast for the colts' Classic. Little Big Bear, a son of No Nay Never, was beaten only once in a five-start juvenile campaign culmination in his victory in the G1 Keeenland Phoenix S., and he is currently holding favouritism to give his trainer Aidan O'Brien a potential 11th victory in the race. Of the British-trained entries, Chaldean is currently third favourite to emulate his sire Frankel (GB) by winning the 2000 Guineas.

Those with an interest in sporting art will be pleased to see an entry for the equine Alfred Munnings (Ire), a Dubawi (Ire) half-brother to the Oaks winner Snowfall (Jpn). The great painter Munnings was himself a regular visitor to Newmarket Heath and spent much time down at the start observing and sketching horses as they were called in to line up. The old rubbing house he used as a makeshift studio is still in existence on the gallops behind the Rowley Mile.

The retirement of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Commissioning (GB) (Kingman {GB}) means that there is one notable omission from the entries for the 1000 Guineas, with the betting market currently co-headed by Coolmore's Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) and the Aga Khan's Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}). Another from the O'Brien stable, Statuette, is third in the list to give her young sire Justify a first Classic winner.

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COMMISSIONING (GB) (f, Kingman {GB}–Sovereign Parade {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire})

While Kingman enjoys a swathe of TDN Rising Stars, due to his progeny's tendency to instantly wow as he did when handed the tag himself on the July Course at Newmarket 10 years ago, Isa Salman and Abdulla Al Khalifa's homebred was left out of the reckoning after her imposing win there in the summer. John and Thady Gosden's G1 Fillies' Mile and G2 Rockfel S. heroine is a class act and a glaring omission from the ranks. We hold our hands up.

MEDITATE (IRE) (f, No Nay Never–Pembina {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire})

Oh, Meditate! How could we? Or how could we not is our question after her emphatic Curragh debut win, also in April. Our only alibi is that the Ballydoyle juveniles at this time of year come thick and fast and it is hard to select the real deals among them. Although she was brushed aside by TDN Rising Star Tahiyra  (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., her GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf romp suggests she is going to be reminding us of our misdemeanour for some time to come.

TRILLIUM (GB) (f, No Nay Never–Marsh Hawk {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire})

Another filly who looks destined for the top, Rockcliffe Stud's homebred looked highly promising at Newbury in July and was as close as it gets to getting on our TDN Rising Star radar without making it. We were left flinching after her G3 Molecomb S. win and defeat of the Abbaye winner The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) in the G2 Flying Childers S., and she is readily forgiven her G1 Cheveley Park S. flop which was probably one run too many. Whether the Richard Hannon stable would forgive us for not bestowing on her the TDN's chief monicker is another question. Expect big things in 2023 from this talent.

MIDNIGHT MILE (IRE) (f, No Nay Never–Ruby Tuesday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire})

Another daughter of No Nay Never who deserved more of the spotlight when impressing with her finishing surge on her Doncaster debut in July and who made that clear with another strong closing effort to win the G3 Oh So Sharp S. It has been a while since Roisin Henry's colours have been prominent and the way that Richard Fahey's intriguing stable figurehead went through the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf behind Meditate suggests they can be so again.

DRAGON ICON (IRE) (c, Lope De Vega {Ire}–Matauri Pearl {Ire}, by Hurricane Run {Ire})

Maidens and novices at Kempton in November aren't always the strongest, but there was a lot to like about the way Yoshiro Kubota's full-brother to Aunt Pearl (Ire) went through his seven-furlong introduction and jockey David Egan was notably impressed. While the make-up of the race made it a touch difficult to grant a TDN Rising Star tag, it would be no surprise if the Roger Varian trainee, whose dam is a full-sister to another smart Stateside performer in Wekeela (Fr), comes to the fore in 2023.

CIRCLE OF FIRE (GB) (c, Almanzor {Fr}–Fiery Sunset {GB}, by Galileo {Ire})

What would a list of promising Classic prospects be without a member of Sir Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge? One of the last of The Queen's winners, the half-brother to the GIII San Francisco Mile scorer Evening Sun (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) looks all over a Derby type and while his novice win over a mile at Salisbury in September was not quite enough to clinch TDN Rising Star status he has all the materials to be a leading light for The King.

RAJAPOUR (IRE) (c, Almanzor {Fr}–Raydara {Ire}, by Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})

Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) proved last year what Jean-Claude Rouget can do with an Aga Khan homebred and Rajapour went slightly under the Rising Star radar on his debut at Deauville August. Two wins later, the son of the G2 Debutante S. scorer Raydara (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) was back there taking the Listed Prix Isonomy which Montjeu (Ire) captured in 1998, and he is one of the most exciting among France's Classic crop.

SOUL SISTER (IRE) (f, Frankel {GB}–Dream Peace {Ire}, by Dansili {GB})

It would be remiss not to include a Frankel here, albeit one that prevailed only narrowly on her sole start when getting the better of the experienced Doom (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) over a mile on testing ground at Doncaster on her sole start in October. Bred to be a smart middle-distance performer, Lady Bamford's daughter of the G2 Prix de la Nonette winner and multiple Grade I-placed Dream Peace is a half-sister to past TDN Rising Star Guru (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who ultimately proved to be disappointing. From the family of Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) et al, the John and Thady Gosden-trained homebred performed to a high standard on her debut and has every chance of being a top-class performer at three.

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No Nay Never has had an exceptional year. Older filly Alcohol Free (Ire) landed the G1 July Cup at Newmarket, but it has been his Coolmore-owned and Aidan O'Brien-trained juveniles that have set tongues wagging this term. 

Like his father, Blackbeard landed the G1 Prix Morny in Deauville before doubling his tally at the highest level in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket. 

While he was prematurely retired due to a training injury, Group 1 scorers Little Big Bear (Ire) and Meditate (Ire) sit at the head of the ante-post markets for the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas respectively. 

Coolmore's director of sales, David O'Loughlin said, “No Nay Never has had an unbelievable year. The quality of the mares he got off the back of his success has really been shining through and, to have three individual Group 1-winning two-year-olds in the one year, he has caught the attention of a lot of people. 

“It has been another big week for him with Meditate winning the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and she is now a leading fancy for the 1,000 Guineas. Little Big Bear is favourite for the 2,000 Guineas, so No Nay Never has a big chance for the first two Classics of the season. That means a lot for us because we are trying to win the Classics.”

Sioux Nation hails from the same sire line being a son of Scat Daddy, and enjoyed a terrific debut season at stud at Coolmore with 43 winners. He will have his fee increased from €10,000 to 17,500 next year. Blackbeard is being backed to make a similar splash in his debut season by O'Loughlin. 

He said, “To get a horse like Blackbeard on the roster is hugely exciting as well. Breeders love fast horses and he proved himself of the highest quality this season and was reminiscent of his father when winning the G1 Prix Morny is some style before following up in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket. That was the icing on the cake of another big season. 

“Blackbeard is very like his father-the same colour, shape and he has the movement. Everything a breeder wants, he has. He's also out of a very fast mare who Eddie Lynam trained [Muirin (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire})] so I think a lot of people will be keen to use him.”

O'Loughlin added, “Commercially, what is driving the market is international appeal. When the international market zones in on a particular sire line, it puts a lot of value on that, much more than the domestic market can. No Nay Never is a good example of that as he has international appeal.

“Take Justify as another example, he has had two Group winners in Europe and three stakes winners in America. It's obvious that he is working both sides of the Atlantic-he has the dirt horses and horses who can do it in Europe as well. For breeders, it will help when they use Arizona, Blackbeard and Sioux Nation because they all hail from that exceptional Scat Daddy line. It's all the one line.”

Like Sioux Nation, Coolmore's Saxon Warrior (Jpn) made a big impression with his first crop of runners. As well as having the highly-touted Auguste Rodin (Ire) to look forward to this season, Saxon Warrior came up trumps with Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road (Ire), one of 21 international winners in his first season. 

O'Loughlin said, “Saxon Warrior had an exceptional year. Again, he's a horse with international appeal being a son of Deep Impact (Jpn), who was the best horse to stand in Japan. Auguste Rodin is a very special horse and Victoria Road crowned a remarkable year with his victory in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. 

“It's remarkable because Saxon Warrior wasn't the most precocious of horses and, for him to be getting all of these top-class two-year-olds is a big statement. He has some very good two-year-olds and who's to say that Greenland (Ire) won't be the best of them all. I know that a lot of people think he is a high-class horse to look forward to next year. Some big breeders have latched on to him after his debut season and I even sold a nomination to him out here in Keeneland the other day. They think the horse is great value at €35,000.”

Wootton Bassett will stand for €150,000, St Mark's Basilica's 2023 fee is €65,000, and Camelot (GB) is at €60,000. Churchill (Ire), the sire of dual Group 1 winner Vadeni (Fr), has had his fee increased to €30,000, Starspangledbanner (Aus) will stand for €50,000, Australia (GB) and Sottsass (Fr) for €25,000 and Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Gleneagles (Ire) for €17,500. 

Footstepsinthesand, Circus Maximus, Calyx and US Navy Flag are set at €10,000, Arizona (Ire) is €5,000 and Gustav Klimt (Ire) will be available at €4,000. 

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Moore, who also won the Shoemaker Award in 2015, won Saturday's GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Tuesday (Ire), and Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Victoria Road (Ire) in addition to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Meditate (Ire). He also finished three seconds with Stone Age (Ire) in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, Emaraaty Ana (GB) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and Dramatised (Ire) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Irad Ortiz Jr., winner of the past four Shoemaker Awards, also rode three winners, including a pair of winners Saturday, but only had one runner-up finish.

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From O'Brien working his magic to No Nay Never silencing his doubters and William Buick and Ryan Moore once again confirming themselves top of the international riding tree, we pick the bones out of a pulsating Friday at Keeneland.

Buick And Moore Confirm World-Class Status

One of the main topics of conversation at breakfast in the TDN house on Friday morning was the different approach trainers take to booking jockeys for the Breeders' Cup.

Some housemates felt it a no-brainer to utilise a local rider's extensive knowledge of Keeneland. Others believe it to be more important for the jockey to know his or her charge and, if that meant employing someone with no previous experience around the track, so be it.

There are many top-class riders in Europe who have been made to look ordinary at the Breeders' Cup down through the years. The same is true of American-based jockeys enduring forgettable days at the office in Europe, with Irad Ortiz, Jr.'s dismal Royal Ascot back in June the most recent example of such.

In short, there are few who can ride the straight course at Royal Ascot as well as the tight and turning track of Keeneland, but William Buick and Ryan Moore went some way to proving themselves masters of their craft with their respective displays on Friday.

Take Buick's winning ride aboard Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}). Trapped for room and three lengths down with just over 100 yards left in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, Buick held his nerve in driving through a gap between horses 40 yards from the winning line to win by a length and going away at the post.

Buick was on the receiving end of a magical display from Moore when suffering an agonising defeat to Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) aboard heavy-favourite Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

It's hard to argue that Buick did much wrong aboard Silver Knott as he waited for the gaps to appear on the inner and actually took the lead with just over 50 yards left to race. He was just beaten by one better on the day, who was galvanised by Moore to plonk his head narrowly in front at the line.

Buick has been a joy to watch all season in Britain and his championship victory was richly deserved. Moore has been similarly excellent to watch and many people would say that this is the best form he has been riding in for the past five or six seasons. Both men are operating at the peak of their powers and Friday confirmed their status as world-class riders.

Don't Doubt Genius Of O'Brien

In the build-up to the Breeders' Cup, Victoria Road's breeder  Trevor Stewart told TDN Europe readers how Aidan O'Brien convinced him to return to Saxon Warrior with the colt's dam Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) on the strength of what he had been seeing on the gallops at Ballydoyle.

Stewart must have thought O'Brien was confusing Victoria Road for one of his stablemates for the majority of the season. Here was a horse who was beaten at Roscommon on debut, only managed to finish fourth in the Ballyhane S. at Naas and took five starts to shed his maiden tag. Not exactly the profile of a world-beater.

However, all Victoria Road has done since that maiden success at Gowran Park in August is improve, confirming O'Brien's early evaluation of his ability to be bang on the money.

Not only that, but the victory of Victoria Road cemented a Grade I double for O'Brien following Meditate's impressive GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf display.

Considering some people were questioning the strength of O'Brien's juvenile brigade earlier in the campaign, that he could bag a Grade I double with two of his youngsters would have proved sweet for everyone at Ballydoyle.

Sweeter still is the fact that Meditate would have gone some way in silencing the No Nay Never doubters who feel the stallion will not produce Classic contenders. Meditate looked to be adept over the mile and hardened her Guineas credential in the process.

Bloody But Unbowed

Take nothing away from The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), who can be forgiven for running no sort of a race in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. The combination of a wide draw and racing around the bend proved too much for her as she trailed home a disappointing 11th, but there's no doubt that she will be back and seen in a better light at more conventional tracks in Europe next season.

On the contrary, the Karl Burke-trained Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) enhanced her reputation in defeat. She was only collared late on by Mischief Magic and looks a smart sprinter for Steve Parkin to look forward to next season.

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It has been a season to remember for No Nay Never with Little Big Bear (Ire) and Blackbeard (Ire) winning three Group 1 juvenile races in Europe over six furlongs between them.

However, in pulling over two lengths clear of her rivals to win the Keeneland Group I in stylish fashion, the Ryan Moore-ridden Meditate did her bit to alleviate any concerns about No Nay Never producing horses who will stay the Guineas trip and beyond.

O'Brien said, “She is by No Nay Never, who is a big speed influence. This is the first year where we have had such high quality 2-year-olds by him. We were a little bit worried if they were all going to be big sprinters or if they would stay further than five, six and seven furlongs.”

There are countless examples of high-class runners by Galileo (Ire) who hailed from speedy mares and O'Brien suggested that crossing No Nay Never with stamina-influenced dams can achieve similarly high-class results on the track with the progeny.

He explained, “She is out of a Dalakhani (Ire) mare who has an Aga Khan pedigree so this was about finding out if No Nay Nevers out of stamina mares stay. Obviously, looking at the filly there, we found out if she is going to get a mile next year as a 3-year-old.”

“She's a very good mover, has a very good mind and she's relaxing very well. I think Ryan would have always thought that she was a lovely uncomplicated filly.”

Moore, who would go on to double his Group I tally aboard the fellow Ballydoyle-trained Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) in the concluding GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, added, “Very straightforward, does everything you want her to do. I think she's got an awful lot of class and I felt that she was a level above these.”

Meditate was trimmed into a general 6-1 chance for next year's 1000 Guineas and O'Brien is convinced that her Breeders' Cup victory makes 2023 even more exciting for the progeny of her sire.

He concluded, “Blackbeard, the horse we were going to run in the Juvenile Sprint, he was coming here but obviously he got injured. He had an awful lot of speed, a great mind and a big personality. They're very exciting horses, really. For this filly to be able to do what she did over a mile makes him [No Nay Never] even more exciting.”

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Favored at 2-1, Meditate bounded away from the stalls to establish position, settling in the three path near the back of the pack as 18-1 shot Spirit Gal (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) carved out an opening quarter in :23.19 and a half in :47.60. Meditate crept up a bit on the outside to sit mid-pack while turning for home four wide. Kicking into high gear at the top of the stretch, the bay unleashed a powerful turn of foot, rolling clear with ease to win by 2 1/2 lengths. The Shug McGaughey-trained Pleasant Passage (More Than Ready) was the runner-up with Cairo Consort (Cairo Prince) in third.

“We had a reason (she didn't win) at the Curragh and a reason for her last race and weren't sure about the mile,” said O'Brien, who teamed up with Moore and Coolmore to take the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf two races later. “Ryan (Moore) gave her a brilliant ride. Michael (Tabor) was very confident that this was the race for her. It's incredible. We came to here to see if she would be a filly for the Guineas. And I heard Michael telling Ryan before the race, if she wasn't going to get the trip here, we might not train her for the Guineas. Obviously, the result was great. Ryan was very patient. He didn't have an easy draw and said he had to take his time the first half. Delighted for everyone.”

“It's obviously always very hard coming here,” Moore said. “Everything needs to go right. No one comes here to get beat. The filly did it very easy and has lots of talent. She hasn't run a bad race all year and gets better with every race. She started well, went hard for a little bit, I was going to be wide and the pace got steady. I followed a horse down the backside and she picked up really well down the stretch. She had them covered with a furlong out and in front pricking her ears. She was much the best.”

As for the runner-up, McGaughey said, “I thought she ran great. She missed the break just a tad, but I loved her position back there. When the winner moved, we sort of had to wait a little bit. When she got clear in the stretch I thought she finished really well.”

A good-looking debut winner at the Curragh in April, Meditate reeled off three more wins after that, taking the G3 Naas Fillies Sprint S. May 15, Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S. June 17 and the Curragh's G2 Debutante S. Aug. 20. Her hot streak came to an end Sept. 11 when she finished second in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and she completed the exacta again last time in Newmarket's G1 Cheveley Park S. Sept. 24

Pedigree Notes:

No Nay Never came up just a half-length short when second as the favorite in the 2014 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, but the Coolmore stallion had a win on the 2022 championship card with his daughter Meditate. The filly is one of 26 group/graded winners for her sire, whose monster results this year include multiple Group 1-winning juvenile Blackbeard and Group 1-winning 2-year-old Little Big Bear.

Pembina is a half-sister to the dam of Group and Grade I winner Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}). Meditate is her most recent foal. —Jessica Martini

Friday, Keeneland
BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF-GI, $920,000, Keeneland, 11-4, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:35.38, fm.
1–MEDITATE (IRE), 122, f, 2, by No Nay Never
                1st Dam: Pembina (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Mahalia (Ire), by Danehill
                3rd Dam: Maresca (Ire), by Mill Reef
1ST GRADE I WIN. (€360,000 Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Mrs. John
Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg;
B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan P.
O'Brien; J-Ryan L. Moore. $520,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW &
GISP-Ire, GSW & GISP-Eng, 7-5-2-0, $862,341. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pleasant Passage, 122, f, 2, by More Than Ready
                1st Dam: Peaceful Passage, by War Front
                2nd Dam: Flying Passage, by A.P. Indy
                3rd Dam: Chic Shirine, by Mr. Prospector
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Emory A. Hamilton (KY); T-Claude R.
McGaughey III. $170,000.
3–Cairo Consort, 122, f, 2, by Cairo Prince
                1st Dam: Absolutely Awesome, by Street Cry (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Discreetly Awesome, by Awesome Again
                3rd Dam: Pretty Discreet, by Private Account
($37,000 RNA Wlg '20 FTKNOV; $95,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT).
O-Maple Lane Farm LLC; B-Frankfort Park Farm (KY); T-Nathan
Squires. $90,000.
Margins: 2HF, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 2.04, 6.41, 19.14.
Also Ran: Midnight Mile (Ire), Free Look, Last Call, Comanche Country (Ire), Manhattan Jungle (Ire), Be Your Best (Ire), Delight, Basil Martini (Ire), Bling, Spirit Gal (Fr), Xigera. Scratched: Alluring Angel (GB), G Laurie.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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After nominating Little Big Bear as being top of the class, O'Brien also advised O'Rourke, a renowned Irish racing commentator, to double his stake from a fiver to a tenner on the colt winning his maiden on debut at the Curragh the following weekend.

Although Little Big Bear found one too good on that occasion, all has since been forgiven in the O'Rourke household, with the colt winning each of his next four starts, including a seven-length tonking of his G1 Phoenix S. rivals at the Curragh last month.

Little Big Bear may well be the poster boy for the Ballydoyle-trained juveniles this season, but Blackbeard (Ire), Aesop's Fables (Ire) and Meditate (Ire) have all confirmed themselves as top-notch prospects for one of the most powerful stables in the world.

And what do they all have in common apart from the fact that they are all trained by the master of Ballydoyle? That they are also by the sire of the moment, No Nay Never.

⁦@Ballydoyle⁩ Press Morning
Ye heard it first here folks….
(c)https://t.co/voWGTccgic pic.twitter.com/rwQ3VFF4sQ

— Pat Healy (@patcashhealy) March 28, 2022

Coolmore's Mark Byrne said, “I had to laugh, that video resurfaced on Twitter again. 'What's his name, Chris [Armstrong, O'Brien's racing secretary at Ballydoyle]?' 'Little Big Bear, Aidan.'

“I don't think anyone could have imagined what would have happened after that. It's been an incredible year for No Nay Never. He has the ante-post favourite for the 1000 and 2000 Guineas already.”

An incredible year, indeed. Little Big Bear is likely to miss the G1 National S. at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend, but the hope is that he will run again this season, while fellow Group 1 winner Blackbeard, successful in the Prix Morny at Deauville when last seen, will continue to fly the flag for the stable and the stallion.

Byrne said, “Hopefully we'll see Little Big Bear back by the end of the year, Aesop's Fables could be anything, Blackbeard won the Prix Morny just like his father and his great grandfather [Johannesburg] and then you have Meditate as well. And they are just the Ballydoyle-trained No Nay Nevers I am talking about.

“It is an incredible feat for No Nay Never. He got off to a great start with Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and Alcohol Free (Ire), who is still running at the top level, but it's been a pleasure to see the standard of the mare that he has covered on the rise season after season. It's incredible to think that there could be even better to come.”

He added, “No Nay Never has sired the winner of 12 2-year-old stakes races in Europe already this season. That's remarkable. He's also sired [the winners of] both of the Group 1 2-year-old races in Europe this season as well. It's hard to knock him from any angle, really.

“Everyone is looking ahead towards the last Group 1 races of the Flat season for 2-year-olds and then all roads lead to the Guineas. It's conceivable that he could have two or three of ante-post favourites for the 2000 Guineas and possibly likewise for the 1000 Guineas by the end of the season.”

If there is one question mark hovering over No Nay Never, it may be whether or not his brilliant batch of 2-year-olds will stay the Guineas trip next term. However, Byrne thinks Little Big Bear and Aesop's Fables have emphatically enhanced their claims for Classic glory with their respective performances this season.

He said, “When Little Big Bear won the Phoenix S., there were three of them in a line a furlong and a half from home, and he went on to win by seven lengths. How could you say that he wouldn't get the mile on that performance?

“Aesop's Fables returned from 119 days off the track to win the G2 Futurity S. at the Curragh and he only really got going inside the last couple of furlongs that day. I'd have no doubt that they'd get at least a mile and there's still some lovely types out of Galileo (Ire) mares that we have here [at Coolmore] that will definitely get the mile and beyond in time. I have no fear about that whatsoever. As well as that, Meditate was doing her best work late on to win the Debutante quite comfortably, so it's a hugely exciting time.”

It's not just No Nay Never that everyone in Coolmore is thankful for. On that Scat Daddy line, Justify has emerged as a force to be reckoned with and Byrne thinks that the US Triple Crown winner can develop into a top-class stallion in his own right.

He said, “He has got off to a mind-bogglingly good start at stud. It might sound crazy, but you could compare him to Gun Runner in America, even at this very early stage. He actually has four stakes winners in America already, which is more than Gun Runner had at the same stage of his stud career, and interestingly, of those four stakes winners, two have been on turf and the other two on dirt, so he has versatility as well.

“To think that Justify has achieved all that he has already and he didn't even hit the track at two himself, he could be one of the most exciting young sires in America. That whole Scat Daddy sire line is really taking off–you've got Mendelssohn, who has had a 'TDN Rising Star' already, and it goes right down to Sioux Nation, who has two group winners and 28 individual winners already.

“We've also got Caravaggio in America, but he also has some very good crops in Europe, including Tenebrism, a Group 1 winner at two and three. There is also Maljoom (Ire) to look forward to and few would bet against him finishing the season as the best 3-year-old miler in Europe. I know that is a big statement to make but he looked unlucky in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot and the form of that race is looking stronger and stronger.”

And that's just the start of the Scat Daddy pipeline that Coolmore has been mining with great success in recent seasons. Those taps are in full flow now, with progeny of Ten Sovereigns going down well at the August Sale at Arqana and the Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster, which bodes well for the future.

“It's very early days at the yearling sales but the progeny of Ten Sovereigns have been extremely well-received. When you go to Book 1 and Book 2 at Tattersalls and the Orby Sale at Goffs, that's when you'll really see a different type of yearling coming along. The demand for these horses is just going up and up.

“Then we also have Arizona, who has his first foals on the ground, and in a couple of years' time, hopefully we will have Little Big Bears and Blackbeards as well. It's a line that keeps getting stronger and stronger.”

The post ‘It’s Been An Incredible Year’ – Coolmore Laud No Nay Never appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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When it comes to being a benevolent dictator, the Prescott pendulum has, by his own admission, swung more from dictatorship towards benevolence in recent years and, more than anyone involved in British racing, the master of Heath House cares deeply for the history of the sport, its milestones, and its continuing traditions.

Prescott will certainly be enjoying the fact that Haggas currently has the best horse in the world in his clutches, Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who notched his perfect ten in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday, earning a provisional Timeform rating of 137 with his imperious six-and-half-length romp over last year's winner, Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).

But when it came to moments of exultation on the Knavesmire last week, there was as much jubilation for the victory of the Prescott-trained Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Yorkshire Oaks as there was for Baaeed. Alpinista had been runner-up to the Oaks winner Love (Ire) in the Yorkshire Oaks of 2020 and, despite adding British Listed and Group 2 victories to her tally since then, her big-race successes had all come overseas until last Thursday.

Even if Kirsten Rausing's grey mare had retired last year at the end of her 4-year-old season she would still have been a treble Group 1 winner who had  achieved the remarkable feat of emulating her own grand-dam, Albanova (GB), by winning the Grosser Preis von Berlin – famously beating subsequent Arc winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) – then the Preis von Europa and Grosser Preis von Bayern. But we were treated to an extra season, and what a year it has been so far for the current star of the prolific Lanwades breeding programme. Two-for-two in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Yorkshire Oaks, Alpinista looks set for a rematch with Torquator Tasso at Longchamp on the first weekend of October. Whether or not she will also face Baaeed in the Arc remains in doubt. The crowd are certainly baying for it, and indeed the manner in which the Shadwell homebred won the Juddmonte International did nothing to suggest he would not see out another two furlongs. Haggas raised the idea that the Irish Champion S. could be the colt's next port of call for what looks likely to be his penultimate race, but wherever and however he ends his career Baaeed will surely be Horse of the Year.

Maybe because he didn't race at two and isn't a Classic winner, Baaeed is somehow not afforded the level of adulation deserving of a horse of his calibre, which is a shame, because let's face it, he's bloody brilliant. Naturally he is most often compared to two previous winners of the International in his own sire Sea The Stars, for whom it was one of six consecutive Group 1 wins in 2009, starting with the 2,000 Guineas and ending with the Arc, and Frankel, who brought York to a standstill a decade ago with his seven-length victory.

The debate will rage endlessly among racing folk as it which of those two greats was the greatest, but it doesn't really matter. What is more important is that both Sea The Stars and Frankel have gone on to be important sires in their own right, with their offspring lighting up racecourses around the world, just as Baaeed and Alpinista did last week at York.

And in the case of those two most recent Group 1 winners, equally important is that they both represent families which have been the cornerstone of their respective breeders' empires for generations. From Sheikh Hamdan's purchase of Height Of Fashion (Fr) from the Queen in 1982 stems Baaeed, while the purchase of Alpinista's fourth dam Alruccaba (Ire) in 1985 by Kirsten Rausing and Sonia Rogers from the Aga Khan has resulted in an impressive dynasty being assembled largely, but by no means solely, at Rausing's Lanwades Stud. Alpinista's run of success is all the more special to those who enjoy the continuity of the great families for it being the centenary of the Aga Khan Studs, an operation which owes much of its own success to her tenth dam, one of the greatest greys of all time, Mumtaz Mahal (GB), who was born 101 years ago and still exerts such influence over the breed.

Trevaunance at the Double

On the subject of anniversaries, the 60th year of Moyglare Stud continues to be marked with great success on the track. As well as an Irish 1,000 Guineas victory for Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and racing the top stayer in Europe, homebred Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), in partnership with Coolmore, Eva-Maria Bucher-Haefner's operation celebrated back-to-back group wins for Trevaunance (Ire) in the G2 Prix de la Nonette. Trained by Jessica Harrington, the daughter of Muhaarar (GB) had previously won the G3 Prix de Psyche at Deauville's opening meeting 18 days earlier.

Trevaunance marks the blending of two notable Irish stud farms. Her dam Liber Nauticus (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) was bought by Moyglare from the Ballymacoll Stud dispersal of 2017, and is from a celebrated family which includes dual Breeders' Cup hero Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Irish 2,000 Guineas and Champion S. winner Spectrum (Ire) (Rainbow Quest).

Never Again – and Again

Nine years ago No Nay Never bounced from victory in a Keeneland maiden to the G2 Norfolk S. followed by the G1 Darley Prix Morny, and he is now the sire of a Morny winner following the success of Blackbeard (Ire) on Sunday.

It has to be said that a five-runner Prix Morny with no French-bred or -trained horse was a little disappointing, but there is nothing disappointing about the winner himself, who has had a busy first campaign and has now won five of his seven starts for Aidan O'Brien, including the G2 Prix Robert Papin. 

Twenty-four hours earlier, No Nay Never had been represented by a Group 2 juvenile double at the Curragh, courtesy of the exquisite-looking Meditate (Ire) and Aesop's Fables (Ire), both Ballydoyle stable-mates of Blackbeard and the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Little Big Bear (Ire). No Nay Never is steaming ahead as the leading sire of juveniles in Europe this year, with Whitsbury Manor Stud's freshman Havana Grey (GB) in determined pursuit.

Deauville's other group races on Sunday fell to Richard Hannon, with the Rathasker Stud-bred Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) going one better than her finish behind Nashwa (GB) in the G1 Nassau S. to win the G1 Prix Jean Romanet, and to William Haggas, who completed a fantastic week in style with simultaneous victories in the G2 Prix de Pomone with Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and G3 Tally-Ho Stud Ballyogan S. at Naas with Perfect News (GB) (Frankel {GB}). 

Sea La Rosa also brought up an impressive double for both her dam Soho Rose (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and breeder Guy Heald following the win of her brother Deauville Legend (Ire) in the G2 Dante S. at York. 

Only Yann Barberot managed to keep a group race at home for the French trainers this weekend, and that has been a theme in Deauville again this summer, with 13 of the 17 group races having been won by British or Irish trainers, including all five Group 1 contests.

Golden Moments

Both Nathaniel (Ire) and Golden Horn (GB) have covered a number of National Hunt mares this year, and indeed the latter is now officially standing as a dual-purpose sire at Overbury Stud from next season. But both are still eminently capable of getting decent Flat runners, as exemplified by results at York this week.

Godolphin's Trawlerman (GB) landed the valuable Ebor H. under Frankie Dettori, while Haskoy (GB) became the second of Golden Horn's daughters to win the Listed Galtres S. The Juddmonte-bred filly, who was making just her second start, is out of a mare by Nathaniel, who also featured as the damsire of G3 Solario S. winner Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), the first foal of Group 1 winner God Given (GB).

Meanwhile, though the G2 Lonsdale Cup was drastically depleted by the defections of Stradivarius (Ire) and Trueshan (Fr), there was plenty to enjoy about the emphatic victory of Nathaniel's five-year-old son Quickthorn (GB) for his owner/breeder Lady Blyth.

While we are handing out bouquets, the mighty mare Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) deserves an extra-large one for winning back-to-back Group 1s in Deauville and York within 12 days, to take her tally to 11 wins from 29 starts for her owner/breeder John Fairley and trainer John Quinn.

Another should go to the Whitsbury Manor Stud broodmare Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who added the G3 Acomb S. winner Chaldean  (GB) (Frankel {GB}) – a rare non-homebred runner for Juddmonte – to her list of black-type performers which now numbers five and includes the G2 Mill Reef S winner Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). 

Finally, one trainer who almost certainly hasn't been bashed over the head with a frying pan by Sir Mark Prescott, but who, like Haggas, has enjoyed a fruitful week, is Ralph Beckett. Within five minutes on Saturday his stable was represented by the G2 City of York S. winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Listed Chester S. victrix River of Stars (Ire), who was one of five stakes winners for Sea The Stars last week. Beckett's good week also included the aforementioned Haskoy among his seven winners.

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