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. Monday's Insights features the next step for a TDN Rising Star moving up the ranks as he meets another at the Listed level.
15.35 Ripon, Listed, £40,000, 2yo, 6fT TASK FORCE (GB) (Frankel {GB}) impressed on debut at Salisbury last month to earn TDN Rising Star status for Juddmonte and the Ralph Beckett stable and takes the next step on his journey in this Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Ripon Champion Two Years Old Trophy S. The son of the operation's star performer Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy) meets another TDN Rising Star in Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), whose sensational debut performance hasn't been backed up in two subsequent efforts despite running third in the Listed Rose Bowl S.
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 Elusive Princess, who won the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. on Friday.
Princess Reigns In Saratoga Oaks
LNJ Foxwoods, Ecurie Victoria Dreams, and NK Racing's Elusive Princess (Fr) (Martinborough {Jpn}) made her Stateside debut a winning one at Saratoga for trainer Jean-Philippe Dubois on Friday (video).
Bred by her trainer, she won three of her first four French starts for Ecurie Victoria Dreams, and was runner-up in the G3 Prix Cleopatre. LNJ Foxwoods and Dubois signed on as owners prior to the daughter of Elusive Action (Fr) (Elusive City) running a close second in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary in May. Elusive Princess was making her first start since an unplaced run in the G1 Prix de Diane. A full-sister to a yearling filly, Elusive Princess is kin to the Group 3-winning sire Diamond Green (Fr) (Green Desert), who was placed thrice at the highest level.
Elusive Princess is the first runner in the U.S. for her dual Japanese Group 3-winning sire, who stands at Haras de la Baie in France.
Klaravich Stables' Technical Analysis (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) won the Listed De La Rose S. at Saratoga for Chad Brown on Wednesday. (video). The quadruple graded winner has been placed in both the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. and the GI Diana S.
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, the first foal out of her dam was a 200,000gns buy at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. Sealife (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire})'s latest foals are a yearling colt by Too Darn Hot (GB) and a weanling full-sister to the winner. G1 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) is under the third dam.
Juddmonte's Kingman has 30 winners from 54 runners (56%) in the U.S. His eight American stakes winners (15%) are anchored by three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) with Technical Analysis a close second.
Filly Continues Klaravich and Brown's Spa Success
GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. heroine McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was the second Saratoga stakes winner in two days for Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown with a victory in the GII Glens Falls S. on Thursday (video).
A 180,000gns Tattersalls Book 1 yearling, the bay was bred by Essafinaat UK, Ltd. The third foal and group/graded winner for G3 Oh So Sharp S. second Astrelle (Ire) (Makfi {GB}), the 4-year-old is a half-sister to Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}). A half-sister to G2 Premio Ribot victor Porsenna (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), Astrelle has the winning 3-year-old colt Lieber Power (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), as well as fillies by Calyx (GB) and Pinatubo (Ire), born in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Frankel's 44 U.S. runners have 25 winners (56%) among them. McKulick is his first Grade I winner in that locale among his 10 American stakes winners (23%), although the Juddmonte stallion does have Canadian Grade I winner Wild Beauty (GB).
Bravo, Mon Amy!
Graded winner Amy C (GB) (Charming Thought {GB}) collected her third career stakes victory in the Listed Daisycutter H. at Del Mar at the end of July (video). Representing Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, and Robert LaPenta, the 5-year-old mare took the GIII Las Cienegas S. in January for trainer Phil D'Amato and was placed in the GIII Intercontinental S. at Belmont in June.
A winner in two French starts for Franconson Partners, the D. Curran-bred was trained by Henry Spiller. The fourth foal and third winner for Alzahra (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Amy C has a 2-year-old half-brother named Rebel Empire (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) and a yearling half-sister by Wooded (Ire). Dual Guineas heroine Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) is under the third dam.
Charming Thought's leading runner, Amy C is one of two winners from two to race in the U.S. The 11-year-old son of Oasis Dream (GB) stands at March Hare Stud for LM Stallions.
Great Friends Stable, LLC, James Cahill, Mark Davis and Ty Leatherman's Irish import Angiolleta (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) became the first U.S. winner for her Coolmore Stud-based sire with a win at Del Mar for trainer Doug O'Neill recently (video).
Bred by Wardley Bloodstock, the daughter of Angelic Guest (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) changed hands for 20,000gns as a Tattersalls December yearling in 2022. Runner-up in her second start in France for Mrs. R Hillen and trainer Christopher Head, the chestnut was purchased privately by her current connections shortly thereafter. A half-sister to a pair of fillies by New Bay (GB) and Ardad (Ire) born in 2022 and 2023, respectively, Angiolleta's extended family features multiple group winner Sovereign Debt (Ire), a full-brother to the winner's dam, as well as G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 scorer Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
Freshman sire Calyx sports an 33% strike rate of 10 winners from 30 runners worldwide anchored by G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. heroine Persian Dreamer. Angiolleta is one of two runners in the U.S.
Dark Angel Colt Is The Vintage Of Choice
Three Chimneys Farm and Stonestreet Stables, LLC's Dark Vintage (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) graduated in his Del Mar bow for trainer Wesley Ward on Thursday (video). The KCS Bloodstock Ltd.-bred was third at first asking at Belmont in June.
Knocked down for €170,000 as a Goffs November foal, the grey was resold for 320,000gns as a Book 1 yearling at Tattersalls last October. The second foal and winner for The Mums (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who is a half-sister to a pair of black-type horses, the colt has a yearling full-brother. G2 Temple S. winner Priceless (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is under the third dam.
Of Yeomanstown resident Dark Angel's 43 runners in the U.S., 25 (58%) have passed the post in front and six (14%) have landed at least one stakes victory. His trio of top-level winners are three-time Grade I winner-turned Gainesway sire Raging Bull (Fr), dual Grade I winner Althiqa (GB), and GI Shoemaker Mile S. winner Hunt (Ire).
Turn On The Jets (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) is now a three-time winner in the U.S. after scoring at Del Mar on Friday evening for trainer Phil D'Amato (video). The gelding is owned by the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano.
Bred by Mr. D. Byrne, the chestnut won once on the Dundalk all-weather for Martin and D Moylan and trainer Jack Davison before traveling Stateside. The 2022 Stormy Liberal S. winner is the first foal out of the winning Dandy Man (Ire) mare Chiclet (Ire), who foaled a full-sister to Turn On The Jets in 2022. G1 Coronation Cup winner Pether's Moon (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) is under the third dam.
Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas has sired 13 winners from 21 runners (62%) in the U.S. His other three stakes winners besides Turn On The Jets (19%) have all won at the graded level–Grade I winners Going Global (Ire) and Chez Pierre (Fr)–while Quattroelle (Ire) has been placed in the GI Gamely S. besides her graded scores.
Honourable Mentions:
Grade I winner Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), who races for Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC, and Marsha Naify, padded his graded resume with a win in the GII Eddie Read S. at Del Mar on Sunday for trainer Phil D'Amato (video).
Bredman Family Racing LLC and WEBD, LLC's No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) bounced back to take Monmouth Park's Tyro S. after a fruitless Royal Ascot that same day for trainer George Weaver (video). The colt was ninth in the G2 Norfolk S. after taking the Royal Palm Juvenile S. at Gulfstream Park earlier this year.
Ripon's Sunday card threw up a surprise as the George Boughey-trained Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}–Looks Great {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) stormed to TDN Rising Star status in the six-furlong novice. Held up initially by William Buick, the 4-1 shot cruised to the front two out and strode further clear with distance to record a staggering 12-length debut success. Fellow newcomer Fifty Grand Slater (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was the one closest to Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's 160,000gns Tatts Craven Breeze-Up graduate, with Jesmond Dawn (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) a further four lengths behind. Providing context to the form, the fourth-placed 11-10 favourite Valadero (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who had been second in Doncaster's Brocklesby in March, was beaten a total of 16 1/2 lengths.
Connections are heading to the G2 Coventry S. next month with the outlandish winner, who recorded a time nearly a second faster than the dual listed scorer Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) did on ground officially faster in this 12 months ago.
Pedigree Notes
The dam, who also has a yearling filly by Belardo (Ire), was unraced for Godolphin before being sold for 10,000gns at the 2016 Tatts July Sale. She is out of the similarly-unraced Danehill Dreamer (Danehill), a half to the G1 Eclipse S. hero Compton Admiral (GB) (Suave Dancer), the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. hero Summoner (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and to the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Twyla Tharp (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). She in turn produced the excellent The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}), heroine of the G1 Prince of Wales's S., G1 Yorkshire Oaks, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Irish Champion S.
2nd-Ripon, £10,000, Novice, 5-21, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.87, gd. ASADNA (IRE), c, 2, by Mehmas (Ire) 1st Dam: Looks Great (GB), by New Approach (Ire) 2nd Dam: Danehill Dreamer, by Danehill 3rd Dam: Sumoto (GB), by Mtoto (GB)
(€62,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; 160,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,515. O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Aughamore Stud (IRE); T-George Boughey. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Nine more juveniles have been catalogued for Arqana's upcoming Breeze-Up Sale on May 13.
Among them is a granddaughter of group winner Sea Of Heartbreak (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) by Sea The Stars (Ire) (lot 186); lot 187, a colt by Mehmas (Ire) from the family of Classic winner Resless Kara (Fr) (Akarad {Fr}); Too Darn Hot (GB)'s lot 191, a colt out of a sister to Group 1 winner Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk); and a colt out of Grade I winner Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown) by Calyx (GB) (lot 194).
Several American-based stallions have progeny set to sell as well, including a Tapit half-brother to Group 1-placed Big City Bob (Shanghai Bobby) (lot 188); the first foal out of GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) by Medaglia d'Oro (lot 189); and a colt by Not This Time (lot 195) from the family of Grade I winners Al Mamoon (Believe It), La Gueriere (Lord At War {Arg}), and Icon Project (Empire Maker).
The breezes will take place on the grass at Deauville -La Touques Racecourse on Thursday, May 11, with the sale beginning on Saturday, May 13, beginning at 11 a.m.
