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Rising Stars: The Ones That Got Away

For all that the annual parade of TDN Rising Stars is generally a formidable one, there are always those that just miss the cut and who forge on to bring that familiar sense of regret and longing from our team here. Of the Europeans who were closely considered but ultimately left out of the picture, none stings more than Ballydoyle's rugged Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never), who first appeared in the five-furlong Dundalk maiden in early April won in the past by Scat Daddy's high-achieving Caravaggio and Skitter Scatter. Mostly workmanlike on this debut, the future star of two of the six-furlong peaks of his generation was judged more in the mould of two of his stable's more recent winners of this race in Cadamosto (Ire), another son of No Nay Never who failed to hit the heights, and King Neptune (War Front). How wrong we were! Like fellow luminaries Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), he was only hinting at the depth of his ability on his Polytrack bow and is truly the one that got away. Below are a few others who, like Blackbeard, were denied Rising Star status but unlike him will be racing in 2023 with the chance to prove us wrong.

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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Jockey Feedback Leads to Further Whip Rule Amendments

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has made further adjustments to the revised whip rules to be implemented in Britain in the coming months, including scrapping the need for jockeys to use the whip solely backhand position. Instead, the threshold for the number of times the whip may be used per race has been reduced to six times on the Flat and seven times over jumps. Previously the limits had been set at seven and eight respectively.

Penalties for breaching this limit, and for other misuse offences such as using the whip above shoulder height or not giving a horse time to respond, will be further increased beyond the planned increases which were published in November.

Since that time jockeys have raised concerns over information which was not aired during the consultation or technical discussion phase of the latest whip review, prompting a meeting between representatives of the Professional Jockeys Association (PJA) and the BHA board, with the latter insisting that the most recent amendments do not “reflect a dilution of the package of rule changes, but instead a method of achieving the same outcomes through a different approach”.

Another 19 recommendations and rule changes remain unchanged from the previous announcement. They include:

The introduction of disqualification as a penalty for use of the whip four times or more above the permitted level.
The introduction of a Whip Referral Committee which is responsible for evaluation of all rides and any necessary sanction or action, to increase consistency and drive ongoing improvement in riding standards.
The removal of “discretion” being applied by the stewards around interpretation of whip offences. Therefore every use of the whip will count towards the thresholds for use, unless it has been used clearly and unequivocally for safety purposes. This will have the effect of further reducing whip use.
Increased penalties for offences, including doubled suspensions in major races.

In National Hunt racing, the new rules are set to come into force next Monday (January 9) but with a “bedding-in” period, during which jockeys will be asked to ride under the new rules but will not be subject to the adjusted penalties until February 6. In Flat racing, a “soft launch” commences on February 27, with full implementation of the new penalties from March 27.

“An extremely thorough consultation was carried out over the course of 2021 and 2022, followed by an extensive technical discussion phase after the publication of the recommendations in July,” said David Jones, chair of the BHA's Whip Consultation Steering Group.

“Efforts were taken to listen to the views of jockeys from both codes, over many hours. This consultation has arguably been the most thorough undertaken by the BHA in relation to any specific regulatory reform in the past.

“In order to ensure that this process was suitably rigorous we pushed back the planned autumn implementation date for new rules.

“However, we are committed to listening to our participants, and when further views and information come to light very late in the day, and following the conclusion of that process, we were duty bound to consider it, and make representations to the BHA Board accordingly.”

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George Stanners Re-Joins Goffs

Goffs has announced that George Stanners has re-joined the company in a client liaison and auctioning role in Ireland and the UK.

Stanners spent 17 years working with Goffs UK before taking up the position as bloodstock manager at Yorton Farm last year.

He remains a consultant to the leading breeding operation but Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby has described his delight at seeing Stanners return to the company he joined straight out of school.

Beeby said, “We are delighted George is back with us as he was always a popular and highly effective member of the team.

“His new role will see him engage with vendors and purchasers for all Goffs and Goffs UK sales, inspecting and recruiting for our portfolio of sales in Kildare, Doncaster and our specialist boutique sales at the likes of Aintree, Punchestown and Sandown, and then working with our Purchaser Attraction Teams to promote each catalogue to buyers.

“At the same time he will maintain the superb link with Dave Futter and his team at Yorton as we evolve and develop that mutually beneficial relationship.”

Beeby added: “His presence on the rostrum at every sale in Kildare and Doncaster will only enhance our exceptional panel of auctioneers as he is a world-class operator with a unique and highly effective style.”

Stanners said: “I'm pleased to return to a role with Goffs and be back on the rostrum on a more consistent basis. Being on the ground visiting breeders and trainers is something I have always enjoyed, so I look forward to assisting them both at home and at sales throughout the year.

“Alongside my Goffs commitments, I will continue to work closely with both Yorton and the Potter family as they trade both on and off their farms at Leighton, which is another aspect I relish.

“Goffs and Yorton share many mutual clients so my new Goffs role will only be complemented by my ongoing connection with Yorton.”

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O’Callaghan Eyes Dubai Riches Before Moving To Purpose-Built Yard

Michael O'Callaghan is eyeing big-race riches in Dubai with half-brothers I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Fastnet Crown (Ire) (Hallowed Crown {Aus}) before making the move to a new purpose-built yard near the Curragh ahead of the turf season proper.

However, the leading Irish trainer has said that he remains in the dark over his position with Amo Racing despite sending out Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}) to secure G2 Beresford S. glory for Kia Joorabchian's major ownership vehicle at the Curragh last season.

Crypto Force joined the stable of John and Thady Gosden shortly after that triumph and O'Callaghan revealed that none of Amo Racing's horses, including Olivia Maralda (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) and Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), have returned to his yard for the new season.

He explained, “They haven't arrived back yet. I'm not sure what the plans are with Amo. There was chat about Indestructible coming back but, with the way they move the balls around over the winter, I'll know more in the next few weeks.”

I Am Superman, who O'Callaghan sourced as a yearling and retains a share of, showed a high level of form for the trainer initially on home soil before being moved to Australia in search of better prize-money.

Now in his second stint with O'Callaghan after returning home from Peter and Paul Snowden's, I Am Superman will be targeted at top-level races in Dubai and is reported to have settled in nicely at Meydan along with his stablemate and half-brother Fastnet Crown.

O'Callaghan said, “I bought I Am Superman as a yearling. He won three races for us and ran well in the 2019 Irish 2,000 Guineas. I actually had him sold to Hong Kong later that year but he failed the vet for something obscure on an x-ray so we decided to keep him.

“We brought him to Australia for the prize-money and decided to leave him out there with Peter and Paul Snowden. He'd been there for roughly two years where he racked up about a quarter of a million dollars in prize-money.

“To be fair to the Snowdens, they felt they never really got the rub of the green with him either because, every time they felt they had him ready, the ground went against him. He was only beaten a short head in a Group 1 on his latest start out there and is from a family who progress a lot with age. I wanted to get a bit of mileage out of him myself before his form tapered off, which is why we got him back and are now aiming him at the big prize-money in Dubai.”

He added, “He's in great form. He got a break in Australia after his last run there. When he came back here, it was just a case of building him back up for Dubai. He's been to Dundalk for a racecourse gallop and he's ready to go. His first run will be in the Zabeel Mile and his main target will be the G1 Jebel Hatta on March 4. He may have a run in between but we'll get the Zabeel Mile out of the way first. If he got an invite for Dubai World Cup Night, we'd have to consider that as well.”

“Fastnet Crown is on the up and I've been wanting to step him up in trip for a while. He won his prep race at Dundalk last week and will start out over a-mile-and-a-furlong on Friday 13 and we'll take it from there. Both horses travelled over there well and they are in great form.”

Fastnet Crown will run in the colours of his owner-breeder Michael Smith, whose Fastnet Lady (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is fast becoming a prolific broodmare.

O'Callaghan said, “The two of them are out of Fastnet Lady, who Michael also bred. I bought I Am Superman off him and we got to know each other from there. He sent me Fastnet Crown, the half-brother, and we've a full-brother to I Am Superman here as well. The mare has been very lucky for him with her first two foals, I Am Superman rated 114 and Fastnet Crown rated 106, so she's a good mare and I understand that she's now in foal to Australia (GB). Michael has been to Royal Ascot, had a winner on Derby day at the Curragh and he's coming to Dubai as well. He's loving it and I'm delighted because he's a lovely man.”

Domestically, O'Callaghan has high hopes for Gozen (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}). A winner on debut at Punchestown last September, Gozen was possibly a shade unlucky not to win the G3 Staffordstown S. at the Curragh when forced to race wide. O'Callaghan has Classic aspirations for the filly who failed to sell at the breeze-ups.

He said, “Gozen's first intended target will be the Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown over a mile, which we won with Now Or Never (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}). She's done very well over the winter and, I know it's a cliche but, everything she did last year, she'll improve on it because she's a big, raw filly. She's filled out very well over the winter so I'm really looking forward to her.”

Recalling how Gozen fell through the cracks at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale last year, O'Callaghan added, “To be fair to Eddie Ahern, who consigned her, he always felt she'd need time but he really liked her. He just let her do a nice canter in the breeze and, for people watching on, it probably left more questions than answers. I remember seeing her and I wrote in my catalogue, 'lovely action but she only cantered; is there an issue?'

“Funnily enough, Michael Shefflin, who is involved with Eddie, rang me a few weeks later to ask if I would have any interest in taking her for a month to try her out. He told me that, if I liked her, I could buy her privately. That's how it all happened.”

Asked if he was tempted to sell Gozen at any stage last season, O'Callaghan said, “There was plenty of interest after she finished second in the Group 3. Her form stacks up very well and you could even say that she was a little unlucky at the Curragh not to win. She will improve for strengthening up and I'd imagine the mile will be her minimum this season. She has a lot of natural speed.”

Seven of O'Callaghan's 15 winners in Ireland last year were recorded with two-year-olds. The figure was 13 from 17 in 2021. Few operators concentrate as heavily on juveniles as O'Callaghan and he has high hopes for the next crop coming through at his new base in Brannoxstown near the Curragh.

He said, “We have a lovely Inns Of Court (Ire) filly-a lovely shape of a filly. She's actually a homebred. I also have a nice Mehmas (Ire) colt and a nice Sioux Nation filly. They look to be nice two-year-old types and I like them. They've done plenty and were all broken in August. “They cantered away and have built their way up as much as they were able for. They'd have quickened up a couple of furlongs just before Christmas before getting a little break and starting back on Monday morning.”

He added, “We'll be fully moved into the new yard by the end of January. It's been a slow process between buying the site, getting planning permission and then the building. The gallops are fully finished over two months now so they will be nicely settled by the time they have horses on them, which is good. We've built the place from scratch and are looking forward to getting going there fully this season.”

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