Seven for Saxon Warrior
New winners
Saxon Warrior – Gan Teorainn (2 f ex Dance Troupe by Rainbow Quest) became the seventh individual winner for first-season sire Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact), when she built on the promise of her debut second to take out a fillies’ maiden over a mile at Naas. Trained by Jim Bolger, Gan Teorainn defeated newcomer Perseids (More Than Ready) by two and a half lengths, with favourite Dame Kiri (Justify) another neck away in third. Carrying the colours of her breeders Ennistown Stud, Gan Teorainn is a half-sister to eight winners, including the Group 3-scorer Puncher Clynch (Azamour). She is out of the Rainbow Quest (Blushing Groom) mare Dance Troupe, who herself is a granddaughter of the Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Sarah Siddons (Le Levanstell). Saxon Warrior, who has now had 30 starters, stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season for a fee of €20,000 (approx. AU$29,215).
US Navy Flag – Nibras Rainbow (2 g ex Show Rainbow by Haafhd) provided Coolmore first season sire US Navy Flag (War Front) with his fifth individual winner when scoring on handicap debut at Leicester. Having finished down the field in all three of his novice races, the gelding clearly appreciated the drop in class and held on well in the closing stages of the race to beat Man Made Of Smoke (Havana Gold) by a head with the same distance further back to Gumais (Buratino) in third. A £60,000 (approx. AU$104,900) purchase as a yearling, Nibras Rainbow is the sixth foal out of the Listed-winning Haafhd (Alhaarth) mare Show Rainbow and is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Rainbow Royal (Paco Boy) and winner Rose Mamara (Exceed And Excel). US Navy Flag, who has had 29 starters, stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season at Castlehyde Stud for €12,500 (approx. AU$18,400). He will shuttle to The Oaks Stud in New Zealand this spring, where he will stand for a fee of $15,000 (plus GST).
New Group / Grade 1 winners
Night Of Thunder (pictured above) – Highfield Princess (5 m ex Pure Illusion by Danehill) earned her sire Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) a third individual Group 1 winner when victorious in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr 1, 1300m) at Deauville. The John Quinn-trained mare won by three-quarters of a length ahead of Minzaal (Mehmas) with Garrus (Acclamation) a head further back in third. Highfield Princess is a homebred for John Fairley’s Trainers House Enterprises Ltd. A daughter of the Swettenham Stud-bred Pure Illusion (Danehill), Highfield Princess is a half-sister to juvenile Group 2 winner Cardsharp (Lonhro). Night Of Thunder, who has had 276 starters, stands for a fee of €75,000 (approx. AU$110,571) at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Ireland.
No Nay Never – Coolmore’s Little Big Bear (2 c ex Adventure Seeker by Bering) produced an outstanding performance to win the Phoenix Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at the Curragh and lay down a marker as one of this season’s leading two-year-olds. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Little Big Bear, who has now won four of his five career starts, including the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed, 5f) at Royal Ascot in June, won by seven lengths, defeating July Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) winner Persian Force (Mehmas). Railway Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) winner Shartash (Invincible Spirit) finished third, seven and a half lengths from the winner. Little Big Bear, who won the Anglesey Stakes (Gr 2, 6.5f) by four and three-quarter lengths last time out, is out of French 2100-metre Listed winner Adventure Seeker (Bering). He is a half-brother to multiple winner American Graffiti (Pivotal) and a granddaughter of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Along Again (Elusive City). The win provided former shuttler No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) with his fourth elite-level winner from 516 starters. He stands at Coolmore Stud for a fee of €125,000 (approx. AU$184,176).
Shamalgan – Australian Bloodstock celebrated Group 1 success in Germany’s Preis der Diana (Gr 1, 2400m) at Dusseldorf courtesy of a tough all-the-way victory for Toskana Belle (3 f ex Tristane by Teofilo). Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the daughter of Shamalgan (Footstepsinthesand) went a length clear into the straight and repelled the late challenge of Wagnis (Adlerflug) to win by a head, with Mylady (The Grey Gatsby), who threatened briefly on the outside, a length further back in third. Having won two of her first three starts in Germany, including a Listed race at Dusseldorf in May, Toskana Belle was snapped up by Jamie Lovett and Luke Murrell of Australian Bloodstock on the eve of her third-placed finish in the Diana Trial (Gr 3, 2000m) in June, before being transferred to Andreas Wohler. The one and only stakes winner for her sire, Italian Group 1 winner Shamalgan, she becomes the first elite-level winner for the stallion. Toskana Belle is out of Teofilo (Galileo) mare Tristane, herself a half-sister to French Group 3 winner Varevees (Kahyasi), making her a half-sister to the stakes-placed Frohsim (Dabirsim). Shamalgan, who has had 77 starters, stands at Haras de Grandcamp for a fee of €4,000 (approx. AU$5,900).
Teofilo – Charlie Appleby made yet another successful raid stateside as Nations Pride (3 c ex Important Time by Oasis Dream) won the Saratoga Derby (Gr 1, 9.5f) in the royal blue silks of owner-breeder Godolphin. Sent off favourite, the three-year-old colt, who has been touted as a Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) contender this spring, was always prominent throughout under William Buick and took the lead inside the final furlong, being driven out by his jockey to beat Grade 2 scorer Annapolis (War Front) by one and three-quarter lengths. Classic Causeway (Giant’s Causeway), who had previously beaten Nations Pride in the Belmont Derby (Gr 1, 10f), finished third, beaten two lengths by the winner. “This horse is a very good mover, and he stays,” Appleby said, with the horse possibly due to stay in America for the Jockey Club Derby (Gr 3, 12f) at Aqueduct. Last year’s Saratoga Derby winner, State Of Rest (Starspangledbanner), went on to win the Cox Plate at his next start. The third foal out of the Listed-winning Oasis Dream (Green Desert) mare Important Time, Nations Pride is a half-brother to winner Making History (Dubawi). The colt is the 23rd individual elite-level scorer for the son of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) Teofilo, who stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season at Kildangan Stud for €30,000 (approx. AU$44,200). He has had 1,166 starters.
Verrazano – The Wesley Ward-trained Chi Town Lady (3 f ex Toni’s Hollyday by Harlan’s Holiday) became former Ashford Stud resident Verrazano’s (More Than Ready) third individual elite-level scorer as she produced a career-best effort to win the Test Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at Saratoga. The three-year-old filly drastically improved on her previous form, in which a Listed win was the highest honour, to come home with a wet sail on the outside and deny Grade 3 scorer Hot Peppers (Khozan) by a length and a half at the line. The Brad Cox-trained Matareya (Pioneerof The Nile), who was an impressive last-start winner of the Acorn Stakes (Gr 1, 8f) at Belmont, was sent off the long odds-on favourite but could only finish third, beaten a length and three-quarters by the winner. The third foal out of the stakes-placed Harlan’s Holiday (Harlan) mare Toni’s Hollyday, Chi Town Lady is a half-sister to winner Gio’s Lil Angel (Gio Ponti). Verrazano has had 518 starters.
New stakes winners
Awtaad – Anmaat (4 g ex African Moonlight by Halling) provided Derrinstown Stud stallion Awtaad (Cape Cross) with his eighth individual stakes winner when producing an impressive display in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 2.5f) at Haydock. Trained by Owen Burrows for owners Shadwell Estate, the four-year-old gelding followed up his John Smith’s Cup Handicap (1m 2.5f) win at York last month in smooth fashion, cruising to the lead and careering away to beat Grocer Jack (Oasis Dream) by four lengths. There was a further three-quarters of a length back to the consistent Certain Lad (Clodovil) in third. Anmaat is the sixth foal out of the unraced Halling (Diesis) mare African Moonlight, herself a sister to Group 3 winner Mkuzi, and is a half-brother to five winners including Grade 3 winner Syntax (Haatef) and useful winners Repton (Zebedee) and She Believes (Arcano). Awtaad, who has had 125 starters, stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season for €5,000 (approx. AU$7,360).
Dandy Man – Hellsing (2 c ex Souzie by Le Havre) provided Ballyhane Stud stallion Dandy Man (Mozart) with his 24th individual stakes winner when running out a determined victor of the Coolmore Stud Churchill Stakes (Listed, 7.5f) at Tipperary. Having broken his maiden on debut at the Curragh, the two-year-old colt then finished a good second in the Tyros Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Leopardstown. Going one place better here, dropping in grade, Hellsing ran on strongly over the seven-and-a-half-furlong trip to beat Papilio (Starspangledbanner) by half a length with Lakota Seven (Sioux Nation) a further one and three-quarter lengths behind in third. A €100,000 (approx. AU$147,300) purchase for Teme Valley Racing manager Richard Ryan out of the Ballygallon Stud consignment at last year’s Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, Hellsing is the second foal out of the unraced Le Havre (Noverre) mare Souzie and is a half-brother to useful winner Navagio (Footstepsinthesand). Dandy Man, who has had 745 starters, stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season for €15,000 (approx. AU$22,100).
Darci Brahma – Lord Darci (5 g ex Madam Victoria by High Chaparral) provided The Oaks Stud resident Darci Brahma (Danehill) with a 56th individual stakes winner when the gelding scored a career-best result in the Winter Cup (Gr 3, 1600m) at Riccarton. The Terry Moseley-ridden and locally-trained runner turned the tables on his last-start conqueror Summer Festival (Poet’s Voice) to run out a convincing two-length winner. The pair pulled six and a half lengths clear of the third-placed Verry Flash (Zed). “That was very satisfying as when we first laid eyes on this bloke, we didn’t even think he would get to the races,” former All Black Bevan Wilson, who bred, owns and trains the gelding with his wife Robyn, said. “He just keeps stepping up and it has been a wonderful thrill for us all. He is the seventh or eighth generation out of this family and it is just great to get a good horse again. He was his own worst enemy there for a while and wanted to win his races at the start. It took a couple of runs to get the recipe right, and now he has, it is all good.” Lord Darci is the first foal out of Wilson’s eight-time-winning mare Madam Victoria (High Chaparral), who won four times at Listed level, including the 2016 Timaru Stakes (Listed, 1400m). Darci Brahma, who has had 725 runners, stands for a fee of NZ$15,000 (Plus GST).
Dark Angel – Yeomanstown Stud stallion Dark Angel (Acclamation) was provided with his 88th and 89th individual stakes winners this week, beginning with The Antarctic’s (2 c ex Anna Law by Lawman) victory in the Prix de Cabourg (Gr 3, 1200m) at Deauville. Already twice placed in black-type company, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt made it three wins from his six starts to date as he beat Listed winner Manhattan Jungle (Bungle Inthejungle) by a length. Kerinda (Cotai Glory) made it a clean sweep for the visitors, finishing a further three-quarters of a length away in third. A 750,000gns purchase out of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, The Antarctic is a brother to the multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Battaash. Rose Premium (3 f ex Rosie’s Premiere by Showcasing) provided the stallion with his 89th individual stakes winner when scoring in the Prix Moonlight Cloud (Listed, 1200m) at Deauville. Trained by Jerome Reynier and ridden by Cristian Demuro, the three-year-old filly beat Loubeisien (Kheleyf) by a length and a quarter with the same distance further back to Siam Paragon (Shalaa) in third. The second foal out of the Listed-placed winning Showcasing mare Rosie’s Premiere, Rose Premium is closely related to Listed winner Louliana (Acclamation). Dark Angel, who has had 1,271 starters, stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season for a fee of €60,000 (approx. AU$88,390).
Exaggerator – Skippylongstocking (3 c ex Twinkling by War Chant) became the first Graded-race winner for his sire Exaggerator (Curlin) and fifth individual stakes scorer when he won the West Virginia Derby (Gr 3, 9f) at Mountaineer Park. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jnr, the three-year-old colt came home one and a half lengths to the good over race favourite and Belmont Stakes (Gr 1, 12f) fourth We The People (Constitution) with Grade 2 scorer Simplification (Not This Time) a further four and three-quarter lengths adrift in third. The second foal out of the placed War Chant (Danzig) mare Twinkling, Skippylongstocking is a half-brother to stakes winner Moonlite Strike (Liam’s Map). Former WinStar Farm inmate Exaggerator, who has had 271 starters, stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season at Elite Thoroughbreds for US$5,000 (approx. AU$7,235).
Exceed And Excel – Darley’s Exceed And Excel (Danehill) became the first Australian-bred stallion to reach the landmark of 200 individual stakes winners when his daughter Natural Colour (4 f ex Safiyna by Sinndar) won the Luther Burbank Handicap (Listed, 8.5f) at Santa Rosa in the US. Exceed And Excel is just the sixth stallion to reach the milestone after Danehill (Danzig), Galileo (Sadler’s Wells), Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer), Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) and former Vinery Stud shuttler More Than Ready (Southern Halo). The British-bred Natural Colour is out of Safiyna (Sinndar), herself a half-sister to Prix d’Ispahan (Gr 1, 1800m) winner Sageburg (Johannesburg) and a daughter of Group 2 winner Sage Et Jolie (Linamix). Exceed And Excel, who has 16 individual Group 1 winners, will stand his 19th season for a fee of $132,000 (inc GST) at Kelvinside Stud this year. He has had 2,366 starters.
Fast Company – Rising Star (4 f ex Ile Flottante by Duke Of Marmalade) earned her sire Fast Company (Danehill Dancer) a 22nd individual stakes winner when winning the Dick Hern Stakes (Listed, 1m) at Haydock. The Marco Botti-trained filly won at Royal Ascot at odds of 40-1 in June when scoring in the Kensington Palace Stakes (1m) and she defeated Random Harvest (War Front) by half a length to earn her first success at stakes level. Crenelle (Kingman) was a neck further back in third. A homebred, Rising Star is out of the unraced Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill) mare Ile Flottante and is a half-sister to the winner Aguaplano (Outstrip). Former Darley stallion Fast Company, who has had 666 starters, died in 2020.
Golden Horn – The Andre Fabre-trained Botanik (4 g ex Autumn Lily by Street Cry) grabbed a deserved first stakes win as he made all in the Prix de Reux (Gr 3, 2500m) at Deauville. Bred and raced by Godolphin, the four-year-old was a short-neck runner-up in the 2020 edition of the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Gr 1, 2000m) and put that abundant class to good use here, coming home three-quarters of a length clear of Group 2 winner Glycon (Le Havre) and a length and three-quarters ahead of the Group-winning third-placed horse Iresine (Manduro). Botanik is the second foal out of the winning Street Cry (Machiavellian) mare Autumn Lily, herself a sister to useful winner Hibou and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Alexandros (Kingmambo). The win provided sire Golden Horn (Cape Cross), who was recently sold to Overbury Stud from Dalham Hall, with his 11th individual stakes winner. He has had 220 starters.
Henny Hughes – The Makoto Saito-trained Full Depth Leader (5 h ex First Chair by Jungle Pocket) scored a narrow success in the Elm Stakes (Gr 3, 1700m) at Sapporo, providing his sire Henny Hughes (Hennessy) with a 41st individual stakes winner. The five-year-old came home a neck winner at the line over Listed winner Well Done (Henny Hughes) with the same distance further back to Omega Rainbow (I’ll Have Another) in third. Out of the placed Jungle Pocket (Tony Bin) mare First Chair, Full Depth Leader is a half-sibling to seven winners including the Group 3-placed winner Logi Harbin (Harbinger). Henny Hughes, who has had 1,168 starters, stands at Yushun Stallion Station in Japan.
Maurice – Kafuji Octagon (3 c ex Mejiro Marian by Mejiro Bailey) provided Shadai shuttler Maurice (Screen Hero) with his eighth individual stakes winner when scoring in the Leopard Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) at Niigata. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, the three-year-old colt ran out a narrow neck victor over race favourite Taisei Drefong (Drefong) with the same distance further back to Hapi (Kizuna) in third. The fourth foal to race out of the winning Mejiro Bailey (Sunday Silence) mare Mejiro Marian, Kafuji Octagon is a half-brother to winners Northern Kris (Novellist), Yep Yep Yep (King Kamehameha) and Almeida Minoru (Rulership). Maurice, who has had 402 starters, will return to Arrowfield Stud this year where he commands a fee of $82,500 (inc GST).
Muhaarar – Irish raider Trevaunance (3 f ex Liber Nauticus by Azamour) became the 11th individual stakes winner for Muhaarar (Oasis Dream) when she landed the Prix de Psyche (Gr 3, 2000m) at Deauville. Trained by Jessica Harrington, Trevaunance was winning for the third time in six starts as she beat Mqse De Sevigne (Siyouni) by a neck. Life Of Dreams (Dubawi) finished third, another three-quarters of a length away. Carrying the colours of her breeders Moyglare Stud, Trevaunance is the fifth foal out of the Group 3-winning Azamour (Night Shift) mare Liber Nauticus, making her a half-sister to Listed winner Miss Celestial (Exceed And Excel). Muhaarar, who has had 292 starters, stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season at Haras des Faunes for a fee of €5,000 (approx. AU$7,380).
Outstrip – Nastaria (3 f ex Cinta by Monsun) provided former Dalham Hall Stud stallion Outstrip (Exceed And Excel) with a ninth individual stakes winner when she ran out a runaway victor of the Sommerpreis (Listed, 1900m) at Dresden. Trained and owned by Frau Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep, the three-year-old filly came down the centre of the track to pick up the lead inside the final furlong and move away from her rivals, beating long-time leader Pace Man (Reliable Man) by a widening five lengths. The Markus Klug-trained Aguirre (Camelot) was a further neck back in third place. The fifth foal out of the winning Monsun (Konigsstuhl) mare Cinta, Nastaria is a half-sister to winners Moon Eclipse (Paco Boy), Bal Tik Tak (Poet’s Voice) and Magal (Cockney Rebel). Outstrip, who has had 231 starters, was purchased last year by numerous Brazilian studs and currently stands at Fazenda Mondesir in Brazil.
Sioux Nation – Coolmore’s first season sire Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy) sired his first two stakes winners this week, beginning with Sydneyarms Chelsea’s (2 f ex Wedding Dress by Tamayuz) win in the Prix Six Perfections (Gr 3, 1400m) at Deauville. The Charlie Hills-trained filly took her tally to two wins in four starts as she got the better of favourite Terrestrial (Kingman) by three-quarters of a length. Third place went to Ipanema Princess (Kessaar), a further length behind. Sydneyarms Chelsea is the second foal out of the winning Tamayuz (Nayef) mare Wedding Dress who herself is a half-sister to the Listed-placed juvenile winner Delhi (High Chaparral). Sioux Nation’s second stakes winner came when Lakota Sioux (2 f ex Shemiyla by Dalakhani) won the Sweet Solera Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Newmarket. Trained by Charlie and Mark Johnston, the filly had previously finished third in the Chesham Stakes (Listed, 7f) at Royal Ascot and went two places better here with a determined success, beating long-time leader Dandy Alys (Dandy Man) by three-quarters of a length. The Hughie Morrison-trained Mottisfont (Adaay) finished one and a quarter lengths behind the winner in third. A £15,000 (approx. AU$26,200) purchase by her trainers as a yearling, Lakota Sioux is the seventh foal out of the Group 3-winning Dalakhani (Darshaan) mare Shemiyla and is a half-sister to Listed winner Sheraz (Sea The Stars) and to winners Shehiyr (Acclamation), Surrey Gold (Golden Horn), Shendeliya (Pivotal) and Shenshi (Invincible Spirit). Sioux Nation, who shuttled to Swettenham Stud for one season, stood for a fee of €10,000 (approx. AU$14,740) at Coolmore in Ireland during the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season. He has now had 52 starters.
Siyouni – Siyouni (Pivotal) sired his 64th individual stakes winner when God Blessing (3 c ex Galaxe by High Chaparral) stretched his unbeaten run to three with a victory in the Prix de Tourgeville (Listed, 1600m) at Deauville. Trained by Damien de Watrigant, the colt beat Yokozuna (Kizuna) by a length and a half with favourite Tribalist (Farhh) another three-quarters of a length away in third. Racing in the colours of breeder Ecurie D’Haspel, God Blessing is the third foal out of the Listed-placed winning mare Galaxe (High Chaparral). Siyouni, who has had 785 starters, stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season at Haras de Bonneval for a fee of €140,000 (approx. AU$205,500).
US Navy Flag – Coolmore first season sire US Navy Flag (War Front) grabbed his first stakes winner as Ocean Vision (2 c ex Balaagha by Mr Greeley) won the Prix de la Vallee d’Auge (Listed, 1000m) at Deauville. The Tim Donworth-trained colt ran out a narrow neck winner over Vicious Harry (Harry Angel) with a further head back to Kokachin (Kodiac) in third in what was a tight finish. The eighth foal out of the Listed-placed winning Mr Greeley (Gone West) mare Balaagha, Ocean Vision is a half-brother to winners Sootability (Camelot) and Khawaater (Haatef). New Zealand shuttler US Navy Flag, who has now had 29 starters, stood the 2022 northern hemisphere breeding season for €12,500 (approx. AU$18,410). He will stand the southern hemisphere season at The Oaks Stud for a fee of $15,000 (plus GST).