Making Waves: Game, Set, Match

   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 Set Piece in the GIII Arlington S. at Churchill Downs in June.

 

Another Graded Victory For Juddmonte Veteran

Decorated 7-year-old Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) won the Arlington S. at Churchill Downs earlier this month for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms and trainer Brad Cox (video).

The newly minted millionaire, who was runner-up in the 2021 GI Fourstardave H., was taking his fourth graded event. A half-brother to dual stakes winner and two-time Group 3 runner-up Alocasia (GB) (Kingman {GB}), the gelding's latest half-sibling is a yearling Kingman filly. From the extended family of Group 1 winners Elmaamul (Diesis {GB}) and Reams Of Verse (Nureyev), Set Piece is also kin to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

Juddmonte's late Dansili has sired 19 stakes winners from 88 runners (21%) in the U.S. His 45 American winners (51%) also include 14 graded winners (16%), and eight Grade I scorers (9%). His best progeny in this region are headed by four-time Grade I winner Proviso (GB).

 

 

Another Juddmonte Homebred Doubles Down

Juncture (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won the Listed Cooley Fillies S. at Dundalk in her final European start, ran out a handy winner of the Ouija Board Distaff S. at Lone Star Park to give owner-breeder Juddmonte and trainer Brad Cox an end-of-the-month present.

Placed three times at group level in Ireland, the 4-year-old is the first foal out of her dam, Occurrence (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and is followed by the unraced 3-year-old filly Singularity (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and a yearling filly by Oasis Dream (GB). Her second dam is a full-sister to blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), and has G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Promising Lead (GB) (Danehill) to her credit.

One of 24 winners from 42 runners in the U.S. (57%) for Yeomanstown Stud's Dark Angel, Juncture is one of six stakes winners (14%) which includes Grade I winners Raging Bull (Fr), Althiqa (GB) and Hunt (Ire).

Free Spirit At Monmouth

Spirit And Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), who races for Michael Nentwig, Michael Dubb, Beast Mode Racing LLC, John Rochfort and trainer Robert N. Falcone, Jr., is now a two-time U.S. stakes winner after taking the Miss Liberty S. at Monmouth on May 28 (video).

The Dr. Noel Cogan and Patrick Williams-bred carried the colours of the Get Up And Go Again Syndicate for her four Irish starts under the care of Michael Mulvany, and joined the Falcone barn prior to July of 2022. Her three-time winning dam left Spirit And Glory and three other winners, as well as a yearling filly by Kuroshio (Aus).

Cotai Glory, best known as the sire of the Group 1-winning sprinter The Platinum Queen (Ire), has two winners from six runners in the U.S. (33%) and Spirit And Glory is his first stakes winner in that jurisdiction.

 

 

Le Havre Filly Graduates At Belmont

Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown teamed up to win a Belmont maiden special weight with Utilization Rate (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) recently (video).

Bred by Neustrian Associates and Christopher Hirst, the filly is a half-sister to Ride The Skies (Fr) (City Light {Fr}). A €95,000 Arqana October yearling, the dark bay is a granddaughter of G3 Prix Eclipse victress Iron Lips (GB) (Iron Mask) who is a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero and sire Falco (Pivotal {GB}).

The much-missed Le Havre has sired nine winners from 19 runners (47%) in the U.S. All three of his American stakes winners won graded stakes (16%), anchored by GI Turf Mile S. hero Suedois (Fr), while multiple graded winner Rymska (Fr) was second in both the GI Gamely S. and GI Jenny Wiley S.

Wonderfull Second Up Beneath The Twin Spires

Runnymede Farm and A.I.S's Wonderfull Lady (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) collected her first American win over the Churchill Downs turf for trainer Brendan Walsh in May (video).

Bred by former trainer Jean-Philippe Dubois, the bay made one start for Ecurie Victoria Dreams and Dubois last July, before racing for Maurice Lagasse and Catesby Clay in her next three French appearances including a fourth in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs for trainer Yann Barberot. The last foal of her dam, the Elusive Quality mare Tender Night, her great granddam is multiple group winner Smolensk (Danzig), who was second in the G1 Coronation S. and is a daughter of outstanding producer and Classic winner Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom {Fr}).

From five U.S. runners, Almanzor has sired four winners (80%), and one stakes winner, the 2022 Listed Woodhaven S. hero Unanimous Consent (GB).

 

 

Shock And Aw In California

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) made a winning Stateside debut at Santa Anita for trainer Leonard Powell (video).

A winner in three starts for breeder Morera Partnership and trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy, the 3-year-old filly was a 26,000gns Tattersalls Somerville yearling purchase by Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock and was acquired privately by these connections. Out of a Teofilo (Ire) half-sister to G1 Nassau S. heroine Sultanina (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), Anisette is followed by juvenile colt Eton Mes (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) and a yearling filly by Make Believe (GB).

Awtaad's American sire record stands at two winners from four runners (50%). Ebeko (Ire) won the Listed Zuma Beach S. and was fourth in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S.

 

Check It Twice

During a purple patch of form for Klaravich runners after Ultilization Rate's victory in late May, 4-year-old filly Customer List (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won a Monmouth allowance for Chad Brown on Derby day last Saturday (video) less than half an hour before Redistricting (GB) (Kingman {GB}) became the latest winner to wear the red-and-white silks when breaking his maiden at Belmont (video).

Bred by S.C.E.A. De La Fontaine & Ecurie Skymarc Farm, the €250,000 Arqana Deauville September yearling is the first foal of her winning dam. A 2-year-old by Sea The Moon (Ger) and a weanling colt by New Bay (GB) are still to come from Equivocal (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), herself a half-sister to multiple graded winner and GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. second Criticism (GB) (Machiavellian).

Coolmore's Wootton Bassett has 14 winners from 20 runners (70%) in the U.S., and his six stakes winners (30%) are led by Audarya (Fr), who won the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

In Redistricting's case, the Farm Cove Thoroughbreds Ltd.-bred was a 140,000gns selection out of the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale. The final foal out of the deceased Cascata (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), the gelding is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Pacharana (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Misericordia (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was third in the GII Presque Isle Downs Masters S. Multiple Group 1 winner St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) is under his second dam.

Kingman has accounted for 27 winners from 52 runners (52%) in the U.S., with eight of those (15%) being stakes winners. His best to date has been three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB), who also raced in the Klaravich silks.

 

 

Honourable Mentions

A repeat winner among the Making Waves brigade is Big Everest (GB) (The Gurkha {Ire}), who added the Cliff Hanger S. at Monmouth Park to his resume near the end of May (video). The Christophe Clement trainee, who is raced by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and William Branch, won the Listed Danger's Hour S. at Aqueduct in April.

Another Making Waves veteran is Cheyenne Stable LLC's Mondego (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Previously a maiden winner at Belmont in May, he stepped up to win an allowance contest there for trainer Christophe Clement on June 2 (video).

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Wootton Bassett’s Unquestionable Impresses With TDN Rising Star Display At The Curragh

Team Ballydoyle got off to a perfect start on Irish 2000 Guineas day when the once-raced Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Strawberry Lace {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) powered clear of his five rivals in Saturday's Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at the Curragh for a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette.

The July 2 G2 Railway S. entry lined up as the 4-6 favourite coming back off a promising debut third in this month's Listed First Flier S. and broke sharply to seize an immediate lead upped to six furlongs for this test. In command throughout, he was asked to stretch passing the quarter-mile marker and, with the benefit of the stands' side rail, quickened clear in taking fashion inside the final 150 yards to hit the line with an impressive 4 1/4-length buffer back to Mr Saturday (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}). Unquestionable becomes the fifth Rising Star for his sire (by Iffraaj {GB}), and second this term, following in the hoofprints of stablemate River Tiber (Ire).

“It was big ask to throw him in over five [furlongs] first time in a stakes race and we felt he'd appreciate the step up [in trip],” said Aidan O'Brien. “We're delighted with him and he's going to get even further than this. Ryan [Moore] was very happy with him and he went to the line very strong. It's very hard to beat a run and he had a good run. He looks like a [G2] Coventry horse.”

Unquestionable is the second of three foals and first winner, from two runners, produced by a daughter of Listed October S. victrix and G3 Sweet Solera S. runner-up Crying Lightening (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Crying Lightening is a half-sister to Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick second Lucky Bridle (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and a granddaughter of GII Dahlia H. winner and GI Gamely H. third Didina (GB) (Nashwan). Descendants of Didina include G1 Dubai Duty Free-winning sire Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk), G2 Temple S. victor and MG1SP sire Bated Breath (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Ajaya (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The April-foaled bay, a €340,000 Arqana August graduate, is kin to a yearling colt by Almanzor (Fr).

1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 5-27, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:16.42, gd.
UNQUESTIONABLE (FR), c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Strawberry Lace (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Crying Lightening (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
3rd Dam: Auction Room, by Chester House
(€340,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG) Lifetime Record: SP-Ire, 2-1-0-1, $16,849. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Al Shaqab Racing, Coolmore & Westerberg; B-Mme Camille Vitse, Mme Axelle Vitse, Mme Valentine Vitse & Guillaume Vitse (FR); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore.

 

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Observations: Unquestionable Kicks Off Big Day for Ballydoyle

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. Saturday's Insights features the unusual step down in class when Unquestionable tries a maiden off a Listed stakes placing.

15.20 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 6fT
UNQUESTIONABLE (FR) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) takes the unusual step of dropping in class for a maiden on his second start, having caught the eye when third in the Listed First Flier S. here at the start of the month. Sent off the favourite of the Ballydoyle duo in that five-furlong contest, Al Shaqab Racing, Coolmore and Westerberg's €340,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate is joined by the stable's newcomer City Of Troy (Justify), a son of the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) whose 3-year-old full-brother Bertinelli won Saturday's London Gold Cup.

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Observations: River Tiber Takes Aim at Naas

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. Sunday's Insights features the return of TDN Rising Star River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett ({GB}) at Naas.

13.45 Naas, Cond, €40,000, 2yo, 5fT
RIVER TIBER (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is dropped back slightly in trip by Aidan O'Brien following his 10-length demolition job at Naas last month, for which he was deservedly handed a TDN Rising Star tag. Pulled out of his intended debut at The Curragh which was won by the stable's fellow TDN Rising Star Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never), the 480,000gns Book 1 purchase from the family of the 2013 G1 Phoenix S. winner Sudirman (Henrythenavigator) is the pick of Ryan Moore over that full-brother to Midnight Mile (Ire).

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