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 Insights features a daughter of G1 Golden Slipper heroine Estijaab (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) set for her debut at Kempton.
16.55 Kempton, £6,800, Nov, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT)
Emirates Park's homebred EJAABIYAH (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a Roger Varian-conditioned daughter of G1 Golden Slipper heroine Estijaab (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), who encounters a baker's dozen in this unveiling. She was due to make her debut at Yarmouth last month, but was denied her opportunity with the abandonment of that meeting. Her opponents include Sean Woods newcomer Cherry Burton (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), who is a 110,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 daughter of stakes-winning G1 Oaks placegetter Shadow Dancing (GB) (Unfuwain), and Valmont's similarly unraced Seek And Destroy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a sale-topping 260,000gns Tattersalls December yearling and a full-sister to G1 Australian Cup-winning sire Fifty Stars (Ire), from the Ralph Beckett stable.
18.00 Kempton, £9,900, Nov, 2yo, 8f (AWT)
Rockcliffe Stud's MIDNIGHT GUN (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is out of MG1SW 1000 Guineas heroine Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}) and thus a homebred half-brother to G1 Falmouth S. victrix Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The Ed Walker trainee encounters a dozen in this debut, including Qatar Racing and David Howden's Sword (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who is a 500,000gns Book 1 son of G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Ame Bleue (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), representing John and Thady Gosden.
Godolphin's G1 Derby winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Anna Salai, by Dubawi {Ire}) will join Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) at Darley Japan for stallion duty in 2024, Darley announced on Thursday. Fees for the G1 King George-winning duo will be revealed later.
The first horse to win the Derby and the King George in the same year since his paternal grandsire Galileo (Ire), Adayar was retired in July.
The bay broke his maiden by nine lengths at Nottingham at second asking at two for Charlie Appleby, and was group-placed prior to winning the 2021 Derby at Epsom before adding the King George in his next start. In two starts at four, he was second in the G1 Champion S., and resumed this term with a victory in the G3 Gordon Richards S. in May. After a third-placed run in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot, he concluded his career with a second in the G2 Princess Of Wales's S. at Newbury in July. Overall, he earned $2,553,575 and boasts a record of 13-5-4-1.
A full-brother to the stakes winner Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Adayar is out of G3 Prix de la Grotte winner Anna Salai, who also ran second in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. His dam is a half-sister to stakes winners Iguazu Falls (Pivotal {GB}) and Advice (GB) (Seeking The Gold), who both placed at group level. He is also kin to G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), among others.
Hukum, a full-brother to the brilliant miler Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) won nine stakes races for his owner/breeder Shadwell, including the 2023 King George and the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom. His female family features Shadwell blue hen Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}).
Harry Sweeney, president of Darley in Japan said, “We are really excited to be able to stand two brilliant stallions in Japan, Derby winner Adayar by Europe's leading stallion Frankel, and King George winner Hukum by Sea The Stars. We hope that these excellent bloodlines will not only succeed in Japan, but also spread to Europe and the rest of the world. We look forward to welcoming you to view these stallions.”
Over 40 lots from the Niarchos Draft headline the 541-strong Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale catalogue, which was released on Tuesday.
Some of the stars of the two-day stand on Nov. 24-25 are Classic heroine and four-time Group 1 winner Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 1263) in foal to Sea The Stars (Ire); Group 1 winners Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) (lot 1240) in foal to Frankel (GB) and Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) (lot 1212) carrying to St Marks Basilica (Fr). All three mares are from the 41-strong Niarchos Draft that will be presented by Baroda, Norelands and Kiltinan Castle Studs on Nov. 24.
Other lots of interest are Laurelita (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) (lot 1246), herself the dam of dual Grade I winner Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}); G2 Challenge S. heroine Matilda Picotte (Ire) (Sioux Nation) (lot 1258); and the multiple group winner Insinuendo (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) (lot 1252).
A total of 25 Galileo (Ire) daughters are signed on, while other sires represented by their daughters include Dansili (GB), Dubawi (Ire), Frankel, Invincible Spirit (Ire), Montjeu (Ire), Oasis Dream (GB), Pivotal (GB), and Sea The Stars. There are also a strong selection of covering sires with representation in the sale, among them: Blackbeard (Ire), Blue Point (Ire), Camelot (GB), Dark Angel (Ire), Frankel, Havana Grey (GB), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Kingman (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire), Mehmas (Ire), New Bay (GB), Night Of Thunder (Ire), No Nay Never, Pinatubo (Ire), Sea The Stars, Siyouni (Fr), St Mark's Basilica and Wootton Bassett (GB).
Large drafts from Godolphin (54), His Highness The Aga Khan Studs (18), Ballylinch Stud (16), the Irish National Stud (11), Moyglare Stud (8) are also featured. The 61-lot draft from The Castlebridge Consignment includes well-bred German mares from the dispersal of Gestut Hony-Hof.
Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “We are beyond proud to present this stunning showcase of mares and fillies for the 2023 Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale. Classic winners, Group 1 winners, dams of Group 1 winners, mares in foal to elite sires, top class performers off the track–they will all be here next month at Kildare Paddocks.
“Europe's first major breeding stock sale of the season, Goffs November is of course headed by the Niarchos Draft which offers a rare opportunity to buy into some of the world's most coveted bloodlines, nurtured for over half a century by the Niarchos family, and it is a huge honour for Goffs to handle the sale of these exquisite mares and fillies.
“Quality is a word long associated with the November Breeding Stock Sale but never more so than this year where buyers will be spoiled for choice thanks to our wonderful vendors who have supported the sale with black-type pedigree after black-type pedigree, and we look forward to welcoming buyers from around the world to Ireland next month.”
The Goffs Breeding Stock Sale follows the four-day Goffs November Foal Sale on Nov. 20-23.
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 Nations Pride in the Canadian International at Woodbine and two other graded wins for Godolphin colourbearers.
Nations Pride Adds Another Graded Win To His Resume
Autumn in North America is a rich seasonal hunting ground for Godolphin's European raiders, particularly those trained by Charlie Appleby, and Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) scooped Woodbine's GI Canadian International S. recently (video). The royal blue homebred had landed the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. and GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. last year.
Also a top-level winner in Germany, the 4-year-old colt is a half-brother to Crystal Of Time (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a weanling colt by Ghaiyyath (Ire), and he has a yearling full-sister. Their dam, the Oasis Dream (GB) mare Important Time (Ire), won at the listed level in Germany and is a daughter of Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}), who won the G1 Prix de l'Opera. Australian standout Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) and G1 Phoenix S. hero Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) are also in the family.
The best North American runner by Darley veteran Teofilo, Nations Pride is one of four stakes winners in that jurisdiction for the 19-year-old. Seventeen of his 27 runners have won in America (63%), including dual Grade II winner Amira's Prince (Ire).
Bold Act Another Graded Winner In The Royal Blue
Just a few days after Nations Pride won in Canada, Godolphin and Charlie Appleby celebrated another homebred graded winner, this time with New Approach (Ire) gelding Bold Act (Ire) in the GIII Sycamore S. at Keeneland (video).
Successful in the Listed Prix Nureyev in August, the multiple group-placed 3-year-old is out of the listed winner Dancing Sands (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who placed three times at the group level. His year-younger half-sister Dazzling Star (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) was third in the GI Natalma S., while Dancing Sands's latest pair are colts by Cracksman (GB) and Frankel (GB), respectively. G1 Futurity S. hero and sire Bakharoff (The Minstrel) is under the third dam.
The 13th winner from 23 runners (56%) in the U.S. for his Darley sire, Bold Act is New Approach's fourth black-type winner there. Both Ceisteach (Ire) and Messi (Ger) are Grade III scorers.
Lucky Girl Returns A Winner At Santa Anita
Already a dual American stakes winner, Lucky Girl (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) made it a hat trick for Panic Stable, LLC and trainer Phil D'Amato in the Swingtime S. at Santa Anita a few days ago (video).
Bred by Paul Hyland, the 4-year-old filly was originally a £19,000 yearling buy out of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale by Meadowview Stables. She did not meet her reserve when a £24,000 buy-back at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in 2021, and duly made one start at Gowran Park for Helen Slattery and trainer Andrew Slattery, where she finished third. The four-time winning dam Abbey Angel (Ire) (Arcano {Ire})'s latest produce is a yearling colt by Kodi Bear (Ire) whose latest trip through the ring resulted in a 110,000gns buy-back during the Tattersall October Yearling Sale.
Former reverse shuttle stallion Exceed And Excel has sired an even 10 black-type winners from his 41 U.S. runners (24%). Of those 41, 22 have earned at least one victory (54%). The Darley stallion's American best are GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Outstrip (GB) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Mischief Magic (Ire).
Peter Brant and Chad Brown's Notinamillionyears (Ire) (No Nay Never) won at second asking during the Belmont at the Big A meeting earlier this week (video).
Bred by Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock, the daughter of Dancing Shoes (Ire) (Danehill) was acquired by BSW/Crow for $450,000 out of the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The winner is a half-sister to GII La Canada S. winner Striking Dancer (Smart Strike) and G2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club hero Raymond Tusk (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}). Emmaline (Affirmed), the winner's second dam, is a half-sister to American champion Bates Motel (Sir Ivor).
Coolmore stallion No Nay Never has sired 43 winners from 78 runners (55%) in the U.S. Breeders' Cup winner Meditate (Ire) is one of three graded winners, and he has nine stakes winners overall in the Land of the Free.
Red Baron's Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners' Star Of The Night (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) won at Santa Anita this month (video). The Sunderland Holding-bred 3-year-old was making her second start for trainer Mark Glatt after a runner-up finish at Del Mar.
Out of the winning Simple Elegance (Street Cry {Ire}), Star Of The Night has juvenile half-brother by Gleneagles (Ire) and a yearling half-brother by the late Le Havre (Ire) who was picked up by Ross Doyle and Ciaran Murphy for €37,000 out of the recent Goffs Orby Book 2 Sale. Lackendarra Stables and Eddie Linehan bought the dark bay for €40,000 out of the 2021 Goffs Orby Sale, and sent her back through the ring at the 2022 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale where she made 140,000gns on the bid of her current owners. Her dam is one of six winners out of the Pulpit mare Rutherienne, who landed the GI Del Mar Oaks.
The Aga Khan's Studs' Sea The Stars has 17 winners from 37 runners (46%) in the U.S. His sextet of stakes winners are led by GII Fort Marcy S. winner and GI Manhattan S. third Ottoman Fleet (GB).
Repeat Winners
Repeat Making Waves alumni have been in outstanding form in recent weeks, and the GI Beverly D. S. heroine Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) doubled her Grade I tally with a stalking score in the E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine on Oct. 8 (video). Raced by Tracy Farmer, the Mark Casse pupil is pointing toward the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita in November.
Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) was the latest Making Waves alum to display her abundant talent in the GII Sands Point S. as the Belmont at the Big A meeting continued on Saturday (video). The Godolphin homebred was winning her second graded race in a row for Charlie Appleby, after taking the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. last month.
Klaravich Stables' McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), best known as the winner of the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. in 2022, also claimed her second graded victory of the year in the GIII Waya S. earlier in October (video). The Chad Brown trainee won the GII Glens Falls S. at the Saratoga meeting in August.
She's a star! It's Fev Rover who takes out the G1 E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine for Javier Castellano and Mark Casse! pic.twitter.com/yT9ZM8P3CG
