The Richard Hannon trainee settled into a smooth rhythm after breaking from the outside stall and raced in rear for most of this one-mile test. Making eyecatching headway out wide once into the straight, the 5-2 favourite quickened stylishly to challenge passing the furlong pole and was ridden out up the hill to prevail by 3/4-of-a-length from Queen For You (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Potapova (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) just got he better of Novus (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) by a pixel in a ding-dong tussle in behind and finished 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third.

“She was drawn 10 of 10, which makes things a lot more difficult, but they didn't go overly quick and Sean [Levey] had to come a bit wide,” said Hannon. “After her last run I thought she would run very well and she is clearly in the form of her life. We were talking about some of the big races in America and she has justified going for one or two of those opportunities after this. I thought we would be lucky to win a Listed race earlier in the year, but she has thrived throughout the year. For St Albans Bloodstock, who bred her, they admitted she gave them one of them one of the best days of their lives when she won at Royal Ascot [in last year's Sandringham]. She won a Listed race last time and no one was there, but they were here today and it is a great day for them. She looks great, but she is carrying a bit of weight as she is getting older. She was a very fast 2-year-old and she won first time. She won't be going Stateside until she is a squeezed lemon [here], but it is up to them and I think they have got to try a big one in my name before one of those big trainers in America gets her.”

Last to first within a handful of strides

Brilliant performance from on-song filly Heredia (5-2f), who absolutely flies home in the Group Three @VirginBet Atalanta Stakes @Sandownpark @rhannonracing | @LeveySean pic.twitter.com/FGwPC0LbU6

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 2, 2023

Pedigree Notes
Heredia, the 57th pattern-race scorer for her sire, mirrored the feat of Nakuti (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in winning this test, her dam being a half-sister to GII Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}). Heredia is full to a weanling colt and a half to the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Arch Legend (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and a yearling filly by Night Of Thunder (Ire). Her third dam Sheba's Step (Alysheba) produced multiple stakes-winning G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris second Arch Rebel (Arch) and the stakes-winning On My Dime (Mizzen Mast). Sheba's Step, herself a daughter of GI Hollywood Oaks heroine Pattern Step (Nureyev), is also the second dam of GIII Robert J. Frankel S. victrix Customer Base (Lemon Drop Kid). Descendants of Pattern Step include GI Canadian International victor Bullards Alley (Flower Alley), GI Arkansas Derby-winning sire Archarcharch (Arch) and last term's G2 German 2000 Guineas victor and G1 St James's Palace S. fourth Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio).

Saturday, Sandown, Britain
VIRGIN BET ATALANTA S.-G3, £80,000, Sandown, 9-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:44.38, gd.
1–HEREDIA (GB), 132, f, 4, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Nakuti (Ire) (GSW-Eng & GSP-Can, $184,647), by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sheba Five, by Five Star Day
3rd Dam: Sheba's Step, by Alysheba
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. £45,368. Lifetime Record: 12-6-2-1, $233,691. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Queen For You (Ire), 127, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Fallen For You (GB), by Dansili (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £17,200.
3–Potapova (GB), 132, m, 5, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Safina (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £8,608.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 2.50, 6.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Novus (Ire), Roman Mist (Ire), Purplepay (Fr), Mysterious Love (Ire), Nibras Angel (GB), Coppice (GB), Midnight Mile (Ire).

The post Dark Angel’s Heredia On Top In The Atalanta appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dick Hern, who sent out 16 British Classic winners including three winners of the Derby as well as his best horse Brigadier Gerard (GB), would have thoroughly approved of Dark Angel. Hern was an archetypal 'old-school' trainer who excelled with every type of horse. Late in his career he prepared two consecutive Horses of the Year (in 1989 and '90). One, Nashwan, successively won the 2,000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse S. and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.; the other, Dayjur, was Europe's utterly dominant sprinter. Brigadier Gerard was a champion at two, three and four, from six furlongs to twelve.

Hern gave his charges a solid preparation at two and expected them to last for a few more years after that. Two of his best stayers, Little Wolf (GB) and Longboat (GB), won the Ascot Gold Cup over two and a half miles as five-year-olds, but each had shown very smart form at two, with Little Wolf winning over six furlongs at Hern's local course, Newbury. Little Wolf's high-class elder half-brother Smuggler (GB) had won from six furlongs to two miles. In short, the archetypal Hern horse was tough, started work early in life and thrived on that work over an extended period. One rather suspects that Hern would have loved the progeny of Dark Angel, a stallion whose sons and daughters in general come to hand quickly, hold their form for years, and are notably tough, sound, genuine and consistent.

The irony about Dark Angel's stock being so strongly associated with durability is that he himself did not have the chance to demonstrate whether he could have held his form over several seasons. He raced only as a two-year-old and his career lasted for precisely six months and two days during the spring, summer and autumn of 2007. During that time he raced nine times, showing himself to be a hardy, sound and enthusiastic racehorse. It is easy to believe that he could have put together a great sprinting career had he been asked to do so.

Trained by Barry Hills, an old-school conditioner in the Dick Hern mould, Dark Angel made his debut at Newmarket's Craven Meeting in the spring of 2007 and then ran at most of the traditionally prestigious meetings of the season: Chester, Royal Ascot, Newmarket's July Meeting, York's Ebor Meeting, Doncaster's St Leger Meeting. He then won the G2 Mill Reef S. at Newbury and contested both of Newmarket's juvenile autumn highlights, winning the G1 Middle Park S. before finishing unplaced behind subsequent Derby winner New Approach in the G1 Dewhurst S. It was a proper, old-fashioned two-year-old campaign from which he emerged with honour fully intact, the winner of four races.

A Changing Tide in the Stallion Market

Nowadays it is no longer unusual for a high-class two-year-old to be retired straightaway to stud. Dark Angel was only racing 16 years ago, but that was a different era. However, times were just beginning to change. 

Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) (Danehill) had been a top-class and super-tough two-year-old for Aidan O'Brien in 2006 and began 2007 appealing as a likely 2,000 Guineas winner. However, when it became clear that Coolmore Stud's star recruit, the 2006 2,000 Guineas winner George Washington (Ire) (Danehill), was infertile, suddenly there was a three-figure book of high-class mares looking for a suitable horse (preferably a fast son of Danehill) who could cover them. The solution was to take Holy Roman Emperor out of training and give him the job. Consequently Holy Roman Emperor started covering mares at Coolmore in March 2007, officially aged three but in reality not yet 36 months old.

Perhaps emboldened by this, Gay O'Callaghan put in an offer for Dark Angel in the final weeks of 2007, an offer so good that his connections felt that they could not refuse it.

The son of Acclamation (GB) proved popular at a first-season fee of €10,000, although this had come down to €7,000 by the time that he began to have runners in the spring of 2011. Once his offspring had started racing, though, it soon became clear that he was at least as good a stallion as he had been a racehorse and that he would never cover for a four-figure sum again. In Great Britain and Ireland he was represented by 27 individual winners of 44 races during 2011, headed by his first stakes winner Lily's Angel (Ire), successful in the Empress S. at Newmarket after changing hands for only £8,000 as a yearling.

Lethal Force (Ire), who cost €8,500 as a yearling, should also be mentioned in dispatches in any review of Dark Angel's first juveniles as he finished a close fourth of the 23 runners in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. That admirable grey, though, didn't fully come into his own until his four-year-old season in 2013, when he completed the great summertime six-furlong double of the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot and the G1 July Cup at Newmarket. Lily's Angel too did even better at four than she had done at two, her wins in 2013 including the G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. over seven furlongs at Lingfield.

Just this quick snapshot of the stars of Dark Angel's first runners tells the tale of what was to come: a torrent of horses who came to hand early and then thrived on their racing, continuing to improve as they got older. Just how durable they really could be, though, obviously took several years to be established, but in the spring of 2017 it became crystal-clear.

Two of Dark Angel's first-crop two-year-old winners in 2011 were Sovereign Debt (Ire) and Gabrial (Ire). The former won a maiden race at Doncaster in June and a nursery at Ascot in July; the latter scored on debut at the Chester May Meeting before following up in the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Beverley and then, like Lethal Force, running in the Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. They were clearly both precocious two-year-old sprinters; but, as it turned out, that was only the start. Six years later, in the spring of 2017 at the age of eight, Sovereign Debt was in the form of his life. He won the £150,000 All-Weather Championships Mile Conditions Stakes at Lingfield in March; the G2 Sandown Mile in April; and the G3 Diomed S. at Epsom's Derby Meeting in the first week of June. At both Sandown and Epsom, the runner-up was Gabrial. The latter finished second in the Diomed S. again the following year aged nine, with Sovereign Debt recording his 15^th and final victory (on his 62^nd start) as a nine-year-old in June 2018 when taking a listed race, the Ganton S., over a mile at York.

Attracting Outside Interest

As horses such as these began to show the full extent of Dark Angel's merit as a stallion, his fee began to climb and he found himself covering ever more impressive books of mares. In August 2015 it was announced that Sheikh Mohammed had bought a block of shares in the horse to ensure that he was guaranteed plentiful access to the stallion. Dark Angel had stood for €27,500 that spring but his progeny were winning good races so regularly (at the time that this deal was announced, he had already been represented by 13 individual stakes winners that year alone) that his fee would rise to €60,000 in 2016 (before reaching €80,000 in 2018).

It is not always the case that seemingly better opportunities bring even better results, but in Dark Angel's case that is what has happened. His roll of honour is now gilt-edged. His 14 Group/Grade 1 winners on the Flat are headed by a sprinting great: the mighty gelding Battaash, who in the five seasons 2016 to 2020 inclusive won 13 of his 23 starts (starting with a five-furlong two-year-old maiden race at Bath in May 2016 and ending with his second successive G1 Nunthorpe S.) including 12 stakes races, showing himself to be arguably Europe's fastest horse at ages three, four, five and six.

Aside from Battaash, Harry Angel (Ire) and Mecca's Angel (Ire) stand out among Dark Angel's fastest offspring. The brilliance of Mecca's Angel, a member of Dark Angel's third crop, was particularly impressive bearing in mind that she was conceived at a fee of €7,000 and then changed hands for 16,000gns as a yearling. These two speedsters won 10 Group races between them. Harry Angel's finest hours came when he won both the G1 July Cup and the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup (by four lengths) in 2017; while Mecca's Angel is best remembered for matching Battaash's feat of winning the G1 Nunthorpe S. twice.

The aforementioned Lethal Force and this year's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. hero Khaadem (Ire) are other top-class sprinters sired by Dark Angel. Khaadem is currently in the form of his life at the age of seven, having continued to progress since winning at Newmarket and Doncaster as a two-year-old in 2018 and then kicking off his three-year-old campaign in 2019 by beating subsequent G1 King's Stand S. and G1 July Cup hero Oxted (GB) in the Carnarvon S. at Newbury.

Dark Angel's best milers have included the US Grade I winners Raging Bull (Fr) and Althiqa (GB); the recently-retired Top Ranked (Ire) who thrived after being exported to Australia where won the G1 Epsom H. at Randwick in October 2022; and Persuasive (Ire) who won her first five races before finally signing off as an autumn four-year-old by beating Ribchester (Ire) and Churchill (Ire) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot in October 2017.

The one way in which the stock of Dark Angel differ from the profile of horses trained by Major Dick Hern is that, while Hern trained plenty of stayers, Dark Angel's stock almost exclusively excel as sprinters or milers. There is always the exception which proves the rule, of course, and in Dark Angel's case that exception was his second-crop son Guitar Pete (Ire), who raced 55 times between May 2013 and March 2021.  After starting out on the Flat, Guitar Pete thrived over jumps, his wins including the G1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle over two miles at Leopardstown in February 2014 and the G3 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Steeplechase over two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham in December 2017. He might be untypical of Dark Angel's stock as regards the distances and type of race at which he excelled, but as a grey horse who is as tough as old boots he is very much his father's son.

The Flourishing of a Sprint Line

Dark Angel retired to stud on his racing record rather than his pedigree, which at the time that he was sold as a yearling in 2006 at Doncaster's St Leger Yearling Sale for 61,000gns was seen as a page likely to produce the smart sprinter which his muscular physique suggested he should be, but probably not a stallion. In retrospect, of course, it is now tautologous that he has a stallion's pedigree (because he is a stallion). The most obvious aspect which makes it a stallion's pedigree is that he is a member of the first crop of the Royal Applause (GB) horse Acclamation (GB), who was a very good sprinter himself (most notably winning the 2003 G2 Diadem S. at Ascot, which is now the G1 British Champions' Sprint S.) and has turned out to be a far more influential sire than could have been reasonably expected at the outset.

Acclamation was not an obvious candidate to become a notable sire of sires, but that is exactly what he has become, with two of his sons, Dark Angel and Mehmas (Ire), having ended 2022 in the top 20 in the General Sires' Table for Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, another son, Aclaim (Ire), sired the 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire), while Harbour Watch (Ire) was represented by King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. hero Pyledriver (GB).

Dark Angel himself is now part of the furniture in the uppermost tiers of the General Sires' Table. He is currently sitting in fourth place in the 2023 table behind Frankel (GB), Siyouni (Fr) and Sea The Stars (Ire). Last year he finished fifth behind Dubawi (Ire), Frankel, Sea The Stars and Galileo (Ire). If he were to finish this season where he currently lies, his 'form figures' for the General Sires' Table in the nine years 2015 to 2023 inclusive would be 442763554, figures which represent an extremely high degree of sustained excellence.

Looking ahead, Dark Angel is still aged only 18 and should be among Europe's most successful sires for years to come. Among his sons to retire to stud, things are looking promising. Lethal Force was the first to get Dark Angel going as a sire of sires, retiring to Cheveley Park Stud as a five-year-old in 2014 and producing some fast horses including Golden Horde (Ire) who was twice Group 1-placed as a two-year-old in 2019 before winning the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in 2020.

In August alone, his son Guitaifan (Ire) has been represented by GI Beverly D S. heroine Fev Rover (Ire), while another, Heeraat (Ire), enjoyed a particular successful Goodwood, with Aberama Gold (GB) winning the Stewards' Cup (on his 60^th start) and White Lavender (Ire) finishing second to the great sprinting mare Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the race which Battaash won four years in a row, the G2 King George S. Furthermore, Harry Angel is shaping up as a useful young sprinting sire in both Europe and Australia, where he was one of only two first-season sires, along with Justify, to be represented by three individual stakes winners during the 2022/'23 season.

The other marker which adds depth to a stallion's career is his success as a broodmare sire. In this sphere, Dark Angel's influence is also becoming noteworthy, particularly through the exploits of one of the rising stars of the stallion ranks, Havana Grey (GB), who sired his first Group 1 winner last Sunday and is himself out of the Dark Angel mare Blanc De Chine (GB).

The post The Soaring Success of Dark Angel appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Fourth through halfway and scrubbed along approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 9-2 chance was afforded a dream seam underneath the stands' side rail inside the final furlong and kept on strongly under late rousting to deny 'TDN Rising Star' Knight (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by a half-length in the dying embers. Nurlan Bizakov's slow-starting Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) made relentless headway in the straight and finished 1 1/4 lengths adrift in third.

The post Dark Angel’s Angel Bleu Pounces Late For Celebration Mile Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The Owen Burrows trainee, who also saluted in last term's G3 Strensall S. at this venue, employed patient tactics from flagfall and settled into a smooth rhythm with just one rival behind until turning for home. Taking closer order in the straight, the 5-1 chance quickened stylishly to challenge inside the final furlong en route to a half-length verdict from the dual Group 1-placed G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).

“It was a very good training performance and, obviously, Owen Burrows' horses are running very well at the moment,” said rider Andrea Atzeni. “Now that I'm a freelance, I was able to commit to the ride. I have sat on him twice at home as Owen was very keen for me to get to know the horse. He hasn't run for a while, but his work was good. With the likes of My Prospero and Royal Champion running, it was a competitive race for such a small field and it was a very good race.”

Pedigree Notes

Alflaila, one of his sire's 56 pattern-race winners, is one of two winners from as many runners out of Listed Montrose Fillies' S. runner-up Adhwaa (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Adhwaa's dam, Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Hammiya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), also produced Listed Nereide-Rennen victrix Shaqira (GB) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and is the leading performer for Listed Prix Herod winner Albacora (Ire) (Fairy King), herself  a half-sister to G3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Pont-Aven (Ire) (Try My Best). Pont-Aven produced a quartet of black-type winners headed by dual G2 Prix du Gros-Chene victrix Sainte Marine (Ire) (Kenmare {Fr}), G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire Josr Algarhoud (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and the stakes-producing Listed winners Traou Mad (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and Cap Coz (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). Adhwaa has also produced the hitherto unraced 3-year-old filly Kick A Rhyme (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

Alflaila is up in time to win a thrilling renewal of the feature Group 2 @SkyBet York Stakes, with the four-year-old defying a 294-day absence to score under @Atzenijockey for trainer @ojburrows74 pic.twitter.com/7VRCvRMmX8

— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) July 29, 2023

Saturday, York, Britain
SKY BET YORK S.-G2, £125,000, York, 7-29, 3yo/up, 10f 56yT, 2:10.17, gd.
1–ALFLAILA (GB), 134, c, 4, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Adhwaa (GB) (SP-Eng), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Hammiya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Albacora (Ire), by Fairy King
O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-Owen Burrows; J-Andrea Atzeni. £70,888. Lifetime Record: 13-6-3-0, $339,313. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–My Prospero (Ire), 134, c, 4, Iffraaj (GB)–My Titania (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O/B-Sunderland Holding Inc (IRE); T-William Haggas. £26,875.
3–Royal Champion (Ire), 134, g, 5, Shamardal–Emirates Queen (GB), by Street Cry (Ire). O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £13,450.
Margins: HF, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 5.00, 1.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Checkandchallenge (GB), Mashhoor (GB).

The post Dark Angel’s Alflaila To The Fore On The Knavesmire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The Antarctic broke sharply and led along the far-side rail from flagfall. In command throughout, he surged clear approaching the final furlong and was driven out in the closing stages to hold the fast-finishing Ocean Quest (Ire) (Sioux Nation) by a head.

“He made good progress from Navan, he just needed that last run and I'm delighted with him,” commented Aidan O'Brien. “Navan was tough, soft ground and there wouldn't have been much of an edge put on him, but this win will leave a lovely edge on him. Ryan [Moore] was delighted with him and said he got a little bit lonely and idle in the last half-furlong. He'd progressed plenty without us really having to chase him and we couldn't be happier with him. We thought this race would bring him the rest of the way and if everything stays well we should be able to let him coast into [Royal] Ascot now. He would have the option of going to the [G3] Jersey over seven [furlongs] if Little Big Bear went to the [G1] Commonwealth Cup, but it will depend on where Little Big Bear goes. This horse is going to come forward again as he's still a little bit tubby, but he's coming. It always looked like he'd get seven and Ryan said today he was surprised that he quickened as much as he did.”

Pedigree Notes

The Antarctic, the fifth of seven foals, is one of two scorers out of Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), herself kin to four black-type performers headed by G2 Champagne S. victor and G1 July Cup third Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk). His dam's first foal is multiple Group 1-winning speedster Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and she has the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Go Big Or Go Home (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Blue Point (Ire) to come. Descendants of the The Antarctic's second dam Portelet (GB) (Night Shift) also include multiple Group-winning dual Group 1-placed sire Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).

Sunday, Naas, Ireland
GOFFS LACKEN S.-G3, €55,000, Naas, 5-21, 3yo, 5f 205yT, 1:09.41, gd.
1–THE ANTARCTIC (IRE), 131, c, 3, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr)
2nd Dam: Portelet (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Noirmant (Ire), by Dominion (GB)
(750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Magnier, Tabor, Smith, Westerberg & Brant; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €33,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Fr, G1SP-Eng, 10-4-2-3, $256,566. *Full to Battaash (Ire), MG1SW-Eng & G1SW-Fr, $2,286,611. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ocean Quest (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sioux Nation–Gold Zain (GB), by Aqlaam (GB). O-J Kirkland & Mrs J M Ryan; B-Dr T K Chah (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €11,000.
3–Ocean Jewel (Ire), 128, f, 3, Sioux Nation–Many Colours (GB), by Green Desert. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€230,000 Ylg '21 GOFOR). O-Al Shira'aa Farms; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Willie McCreery. €5,500.
Margins: HD, HF, HF. Odds: 1.63, 2.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: Thunderbear (Ire), Shartash (Ire), Torivega (Ire), Mauiewowie (GB), Maria Branwell (Ire), Apache Outlaw (Ire), Badb (Ire), Clever And Cool (Ire), Apricot Twist (Ire), Nightcliff (Ire), Running Cool (GB), Song For Whoever (Ire).

wins the Goffs Group 3 Lacken Stakes @NaasRacecourse for Aidan O'Brien (@Ballydoyle) and Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith, P Brant and Westerberg

Congratulations to the winning connections! pic.twitter.com/e8EqdNhiwF

— Goffs (@Goffs1866) May 21, 2023

The post Dark Angel’s The Antarctic Blows Hot At Naas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Got To Love A Grey went postward as the 5-2 second choice,  coming back off a six-length tally at Nottingham last month, and broke sharply from the far-side stall to seize an immediate lead. Unflustered on the front end until shaken up at the quarter-mile marker, she was tackled by Dorothy Lawrence approaching the final furlong and kept on in resolute fashion to keep her perfect record intact. She held a half-length buffer at the line with the same margin back to Gaiden (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in third.

True, isn't it?

Got To Love A Grey (Dark Angel) remains unbeaten and lands Listed honours, leading home a 1-2 for @karl_burke in the Clipper @BritishEBF Marygate Fillies' Stakes @yorkracecourse @MprUpdates pic.twitter.com/ezbuSj0Ed2

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 19, 2023

The post Got To Love A Grey Makes All In York’s Marygate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The only thing they can't agree on is which horse is likely to top the sale. We'll know that by Saturday evening, and it is every sales reporter's prayer that it will not be the last lot into the ring, with apologies to Eddie O'Leary, who has that honour this time with his Calyx (GB) wild card.

Nerves can jangle among the consignors, and who can blame them? After all, the investment in yearlings from the breeze-up set has increased significantly in recent years, and for that to continue, a decent return on investment must be found somewhere along the way. But with some gains elsewhere this season, notably at a strong Goffs UK sale in Doncaster, a more relaxed vibe has settled on Deauville and the mood is generally positive. 

Some new faces are in attendance. John Sadler, the man behind the sensational Flightline, is at Arqana for the first time, and his fellow Californian trainer Simon Callaghan has made a temporary return closer to his former homeland of Britain. Also assembled are Terry Henderson of Australian-based OTI Racing, various members of the Saudi racing fraternity, as well as Satish and Bhupat Seemar and Fawzi Nass, the latter trio now all regular attendees at the European breeze-up sales.
Drawing a large contingent of people around his boxes was Tom Whitehead of Powerstown Stud. That may have had something to do with the generous hospitality offering of oysters, paté, cheese and a rather cheeky little Muscadet, though Whitehead will be hoping that it is more to do with his draft of horses, which includes an imposing Uncle Mo colt (lot 51) who was barely in his stable all day.

Each new person who appeared at the Glending Stables draft asked the same question first: “Can I see your Kodiac, please?” Roderick Kavanagh clocked up some miles jogging to and fro the breeze track on Thursday, but then his extra long legs mean that he takes one step to a regular person's three, so his exertions hadn't worn him out. Indeed, by Friday, he was still bearing the broad grin of a consignor who has had a jolly good season so far.

“We've just landed on a good vein of horses and we've been very lucky,” said Kavanagh. “They've all trained well, got here well, and it's just been a good run. When things are bouncing in your favour, it's amazing. 

“It all has to come together, the people have to get here and it's not done until it's done, but there's definitely a very positive vibe.”

The in-demand Kodiac filly (lot 164) was a €90,000 Goffs foal purchase and she has plenty to recommend her on the page along with clocking one of the fastest times of the breeze. Her dam Leyburn (GB) (Shamardal) is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Centennial (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) with an extended family that includes Classic heroine Sleepytime (Ire) and Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa (Jpn).

Kavanagh continued, “The ground was beautiful for the breeze. You've no excuses out there. The star of the show for us is probably the Kodiac filly. She certainly looks the part and is bred on a very successful cross. But we've got a lovely Invincible Spirit (Ire) filly with an interesting pedigree, inbred to Eljazzi (GB) [dam of Rafha (GB)], and then a French-bred Galiway (GB) filly who should appeal to the domestic market. We've also got two lovely colts by Wootton Bassett (GB) and New Bay (GB) and it takes a lot to get a bunch like this together. That stallion power gives you a great chance.”

There's a strong Irish background to the main breeze-up gang and only three French-based consignors appear in the catalogue, with nine horses between them. Among the trio is Jennifer Pardanaud, who, with husband Ronan, has been selling through her Ecurie La Frenée for the past five years.

“I ride them all myself, both at home and in the breeze,” says Pardanaud, who is offering fillies by Zarak (Fr) and Dark Angel (Ire) and a colt by Sioux Nation. 

“I like to let them gallop easily within themselves and not push them too hard. I'm really happy with how the breezes went yesterday.”

Her Sioux Nation colt (lot 54) traces right back to the influential broodmare and German Classic winner Anna Paola (Ger), but closer up on the page, his grand-dam is the Listed winner and Group 2-placed Sugar Baby Love (Ger) (Second Empire {Ire}).

During a short coffee break at the Zinc bar, agents Ted Durcan and Colm Sharkey were hard pressed to pick just one favourite horse at the sale. “There's a whole fleet of them,” said Durcan.

Another agent, BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe agreed with this assessment and praised the Arqana team for the organisation of the most crucial part of the sale.

“The breeze was so well run,” he said. “It took two hours and 15 minutes for 180 horses. You can really get a good view of them, close up and on the screens, and the ground looked good. It's very user-friendly.”

Donohoe added, “It's been quite a good season so far. The Craven was probably a bit disappointing for some, but the Guineas sale was excellent and Doncaster was excellent. This sale has had some good horses in recent years and it's been lucky for me, so when you're lucky you want to come back.”

Yeomanstown Stud's consignment may be missing from the catalogue's index but its draft of five in B yard was drawing plenty of attention nonetheless. On paper, the quintet appears to offer something to suit most tastes: from a colt by the champion sire Dubawi (Ire), a filly by his son Night Of Thunder (Ire), colts by American speedster Speightstown and the Derby winner Masar (Ire), and of course one by Yeomanstown's dependable flagship stallion Dark Angel.

“There's good traffic around and when people come down they are all picking different horses, which is good, to see them landing on different horses,” said Yeomanstown's David O'Callaghan. “Hopefully they all have a good chance and a few will sell well. There are lot of well-bred horses here.”

Elaborating on how he decides which of his team of breezers will head to which sale, he added, “They kind of pick themselves up to a point. You assess them on pedigree and physique and, to a lesser degree, on price bracket. The Craven horses need to be early, sharp horses because the Rowley Mile is hard to breeze for a bigger horse; they need to be very together. And Donny, again, people are focussing on an early two-year-old. But from there on they broaden their spectrum a little bit so you can send a slightly less precocious horse to the later sales.”

The headline horses from the Arqana breeze-up in recent years have included British and American Classic winners in Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and War Of Will (War Front), both of whom were consigned by Norman Williamson's Oak Tree Farm, as well as the smart juveniles from last year's event, Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). It is a range which pulls in major names from the training ranks even in the midst of important Classic trials at Chester and Lingfield, and at Arqana by Friday were Charlie Appleby, Roger Varian, Simon Crisford, Thady Gosden, Donnacha O'Brien, and Tom Clover among others, while the home guard included Andre Fabre, Francis Graffard, Jean-Claude Rouget, Christophe Ferland and Pia Brandt.

Such apparent interest on the ground during Friday's viewing session was balm for Arqana's Freddy Powell, who has been flying around the world to spread the word. 

“The breeze was very smooth, so that's the first jump that's been jumped,” he noted. “France Galop has a great team here in Deauville and they really embrace the whole thing because it's a great advertisement for their racecourse. 

“There are a lot of people here, some new faces. It's interesting; I was in Ocala a few weeks ago and a lot of Americans are thinking about this sale, and not trying to buy American horses especially but trying to get some horses for the turf, too.”

By the time withdrawals have been taken into account, around 170 horses will be offered on Saturday, making this the biggest breeze-up held at Arqana. 

“We do have to limit the numbers as there's only a certain amount of time people can stand next to the track watching the breezes,” he explained. “At the same time, we had to increase the number because we don't want to turn away the really nice horses that we are offered but we also need to keep a group of horses that are accessible to everyone. Our July sale has some breezers, but that's much later, so for French clients, we need horses who, on paper, who are not looking like €200,000 horses. So we have increased the numbers, but this is probably really the most we can take. There's only is much the track can take, and also the people too.”

The sales commences at Arqana at 11am, by which stage the vast pallet of oysters may all have been consumed at Powerstown Stud, perhaps to be replaced later in the day by Champagne.

The post Good Horses, Good Oysters, Good Vibrations: It Must Be Deauville! appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

2nd-Musselburgh, £30,000, Novice, 4-30, 2yo, 5f 1yT, 1:03.42, g/s.
LOVE BILLY BOY (IRE) (c, 2, Invincible Army {Ire}–Katrine {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) Sales history: £90,000 Ylg '22 GOFFUK. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $19,433.
O-Roldvale Ltd, C. Bloor, W Salthouse; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon.

The post First Winner For Yeomanstown’s Invincible Army appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

One of the early highlights of the year for pedigree buffs and casual observers, the Irish Thoroughbred Stallion Trail, got underway with a bang on Friday with heavy footfall reported at over 30 of the stallion farms taking part in the two-day extravaganza. 

The TDN Europe team were out and about in the Kildare area on Friday and visited Kildangan Stud, The Irish National Stud, Yeomanstown Stud and Derrinstown Stud before venturing further south on Saturday. 

Don't let the sunny snaps fool you, Friday was another bitterly cold day, but Night Of Thunder (Ire) warmed the cockles followed by emerging forces Earthlight (Ire) and Ghaiyyath (Ire) at Kildangan Stud. 

In fact, such was the quality on show at Kildangan Stud, nominations manager Eamon Moloney described the current collection of stallions on offer at the Irish arm of the hugely-powerful Darley operation as the best he's seen during his time at the helm.

Moloney said, “We've had good horses here in the past but we have a mix of stallions who are operating at the top of their game, like Teofilo (Ire) and now Night Thunder climbing his way to the top-and you don't know how far he might go-right through to Ghaiyyath, Earthlight and Blue Point (Ire) with his first runners this year. I don't think we've ever had a more exciting roster. “

It was not just the seasoned breeders who turned out in their droves, either, on Friday. Moloney reported a good mixture of industry stakeholders and families searching for an alternative day out to be coming through the gates at Kildangan and predicted Saturday to be even busier. 

He said, “The Thoroughbred Stallion Trail is a very important initiative. It provides you with an opportunity to showcase your new horses and gives everyone a chance to see them in the flesh. A lot of breeders have been here already but they love coming back to see the stallions a second time. There's also a social aspect to the whole thing and the amount of new people who come through the gates for the Thoroughbred Trail-we've even attracted clients who had never been involved in this industry prior to the initiative, so it's very important. “

It won't take a genius to sell Ghaiyyath to breeders. He may be a Dubawi (Ire) and his dam was no giant, but this boy commands attention wherever he goes, with his giant stride and powerful makeup clearly capturing the attention of those in attendance on Friday. 

Moloney commented, “I don't think we had one negative comment on a Ghaiyyath or Earthlight foals. Not one. The Earthlights are just so sharp and strong. I really think they have a huge chance. With Ghaiyyath, people seem to stop and stare at him in silence. His foals are the same-they are very athletic. I think we are in very good shape, to the point that Ghaiyyath will cover his biggest book of mares in his third season, which isn't the normal trend. He's not your typical Dubawi-he has this big walk and has great presence. Those great horses seem to have presence.”

He added, “We've had a good mixture of breeders who are going to be sending us mares and families who are making a day of it viewing the stallions. There are plenty of racing enthusiasts as well, and they love coming to see the horses up close in the flesh, so there's a great mix. It's brilliant.”

“We're very pleased and it has provided us all with a lift here at Derrinstown. He's a Group 1-winning sprinter and was an absolute flying machine as a racehorse so we're all very excited about him,” – Joe Behan. 

Geographically, Kildangan is just over 10 minutes from the Irish National Stud, and many of the same faces made the short journey to see Invincible Spirit (Ire), Lucky Vega (Ire), Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) and more. 

Lucky Vega | INPHO/Morgan Treacy

At 26 years young, Invincible Spirit has been there and done that and is widely recognised as one of the best producers this country has to offer. But standing on the opposite side of the long row of boxes at the beautiful Irish National Stud could be the heir to Invincible Spirit's throne, the powerhouse that is Lucky Vega, who has done extremely well since he retired from racing and is letting down into a bull of a stallion. 

Lucky Vega showed top-class form at two, including when carrying the colours of Yuesheng Zhang to victory in the G1 Phoenix S., and his owner's pursuit of top-class broodmares to support the young stallion was one of the major stories to emerge from 2022. He certainly won't lack for support. 

Nor will Minzaal (Ire). Derrinstown Stud manager Joe Behan admits that the past 12 months have not been easy for anyone working with the operation after the man he affectionately refers to as 'the boss,' Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, passed away. 

However, Group 1-winning sprinter Minzaal is proving a beacon of hope at Derrinstown and is understood to be oversubscribed already such is his popularity among breeders.

Another son of Mehmas, the recently retired Group 1-winning sprinter Minzaal is proving particularly popular @Derrinstown. pic.twitter.com/nzbe5xiKJG

— TDN (@theTDN) January 13, 2023

Behan explained, “Minzaal is going down very well with all the breeders. There has been nothing but positive comments on him today and he's taking everything in his stride. He's a good model, very correct and makes great use of himself. He has a great walk and has a nice bit of length and scope to him as well. 

“We're very pleased and it has provided us all with a lift here at Derrinstown. He's a Group 1-winning sprinter and was an absolute flying machine as a racehorse so we're all very excited about him.”

He added, “There is a buzz around the place. The past 12 months have not been easy since the boss passed away so, to get that buzz back and have everyone rowing in behind Minzaal now, it means an awful lot. It's great.”

Great, too, is the confidence behind Invincible Army (Ire) at Yeomanstown Stud. Dark Angel (Ire) is still very much the daddy of them all at Yeomanstown but, despite the fact they are facing into one of the hottest years one can remember in terms of the fight for first-season sire honours, the O'Callaghans are predicting big things from Invincible Army this year.

What a temperament he has. #DarkAngel https://t.co/jZHVw4cq6a pic.twitter.com/2uDDNW86DP

— TDN (@theTDN) January 13, 2023

Rob O'Callaghan said, “We're very confident with Invincible Army. He's got great stock coming through and has a lot going for him with over 130 2-year-olds this year. They are well-bred horses and they've got the strength, the action and they have gone to the right homes as well. Karl Burke, Richard Hannon, Ger Lyons, Richard Fahey and Clive Cox have all bought yearlings by him and he's got as good a chance of any of the first-season sires to make a big impression this year. You've got to remember that he was a top-class racehorse and was a Group winner at two, three and four.”

Friday was the only day that Yeomanstown opened their doors to the public and O'Callaghan labelled the initiative as a success before pointing to the fact that many breeders visited with a view towards getting a glimpse at some of the younger sires the stud has to offer. 

He added, “Technically, this is our only day on the Thoroughbred Stallion Trail but we are open every day of the year. We've plenty of shows booked in for tomorrow [Saturday] and the past few weeks have been very busy with showing. We'd a busy morning today with a lot of people starting the Trail here and working their way on to other studs. 

“It's been a good day and we've had a good mixture between breeders and casual visitors. We're glad to have them and it's good to see people enjoying their day. When you have a new stallion it's always busier. Also, a lot of people like to come and see a stallion in his second year at stud to see how they have progressed during the summer.

“These stallions change so much from year one to year two. It's amazing and I think it's important for breeders to come back to see a horse in his second year at stud to get a proper viewing. It's hard to judge a horse straight out of training because they are fit and go to stud off the back of a hard two or three years galloping. When they have had that first year's covering and a summer of grass under their belt, they change a lot.”

The post ‘The Past 12 Months Have Not Been Easy But Minzaal Has Provided A Buzz Again’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Also a winner of the G2 Richmond S., Supremacy, from the first crop of Mehmas (Ire), covered a book of 187 mares in 2022, which included 75 stakes performers or producers. He stands for €10,000 at Yeomanstown Stud this year.

The post First Reported Foal For Supremacy appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post