One of the things that analysts look for when assessing the potential of any prospective stallion is the presence of other stallions in his family. Are there any? Were they any good? Are there reasons why some might have disappointed? Or have one or more of them being a notable success?
When Invincible Spirit began his career he could boast of being a Group 1-winning son of Green Desert (by Danzig) and of the classic star Rafha (by Kris), a mare whose dam was a half-sister to the classic-placed pattern winner and leading sire Pitcairn (by Petingo). Those credentials augured well for his prospects and, although he looked like a horse who could do well in his new role, it is fair to say that the Irish National Stud's flag bearer has exceeded expectations. He is also showing signs of leaving a lasting impact via his stallion sons and broodmare daughters.
Rafha's five blacktype offspring also include the Group 3-placed Kodiac (by Danehill), a Tally-Ho Stud stallion who has worked his way up through the ranks to become one of the most sought-after sires and he too has a growing number of sons going to stud.
Al Anood (by Danehill) is a stakes-placed half-sister to Rafha and to Chiang Mai (by Sadler's Wells), the pattern-winning dam of Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes heroine Chinese White (by Dalakhani). She is, therefore, very closely related to Invincible Spirit, she could be described as being a three-parts sister to Kodiac, and so that makes her dual Group 1-winning son Pride Of Dubai one of the most eye-catching new additions to the European stallion ranks for 2017. Coolmore Stud's shuttler got his Group 1 wins over six and seven furlongs in Australia as a two-year-old, he was short-headed by Of The Brave in a Group 3 contest over five and a half furlongs, and he is a son of Street Cry (by Machiavellian), the late champion sire whose stallion sons include Shocking, Street Boss, Street Hero and Street Sense. PRIDE OF DUBAI (AUS) – b.2012 – Street Cry – Al Anood, 2 wins inc Sires Produce Stakes (Gr1), Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr1), 2nd Blue Diamond Prelude (Gr3). Sire in Australia & Ireland. First northern hemisphere foals in 2018. Timeform 119-rated sprinter Pearl Secret joins the team at Bucklands Farm and Stud in Gloucestershire. Winner of his only start at two, he won three from four as a three-year-old, including an odds-on listed success at Sandown, and his most high-profile victory came in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock last year, at the age of six.
He is among the leading sons of the Group 1 July Cup hero Compton Place (by Indian Ridge) and he is the best of several winners out of Our Little Secret (by Rossini), a prolific sprinter who won a listed contest at Chester. His grandam, Sports Post Lady (by M Double M), won four times and is a half-sister to Palacegate Episode (by Drumalis), Another Episode (by Drumalis) and Palacegate Jack (by Neshad), blacktype stars who won a total of 37 races between them. The latter won 15 including the Listed Rockingham Stakes, Listed Harry Rosebery Trophy and Listed Tattersalls Breeders Stakes, while Group 3 Molecomb Stakes runner-up Another Episode notched up a tally of 11 that included the Listed Roses Stakes at York. Palacegate Episode was best of the trio, the champion older mare in Germany in 1994 and an 11-time scorer who won the Group 3 Premio Omenoni, Listed St Hugh's Stakes, and three editions of the Listed Flieger Preis at Cologne, among other blacktype success. Her son King Quantas (by Danehill) was champion two-year-old in Scandinavia in 2000 and his string of career wins included the Group 3 Polar Cup at Ovreroll. Her stakes-placed daughter Longing To Dance (by Danehill Dancer) is the dam of the Group 3 Prix de Psyche winner Be My Gal (by Galileo). From the perspective of assessing Pearl Secret's sire potential, it is more notable that Palacegate Episode's unplaced daughter Halland Park Lass (by Spectrum) is the dam of classic-placed Group 2 Blandford Stakes winner Up (by Galileo) and of the classic-placed dual Group 1 star and notably successful stallion Dutch Art (by Medicean). PEARL SECRET (GB) – ch.2009 – Compton Place – Our Little Secret, 7 wins inc Temple Stakes (Gr2), Beverley Bullet Stakes (L), Scurry Stakes (L), 2nd Temple Stakes (Gr2), 3rd King's Stand Stakes (Gr1). Sire in England. First foals in 2018.
A €2,850,000 graduate of the Goffs Orby Sale, Ol' Man River made a winning debut over a mile at the Curragh, followed-up with an odds-on success in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes, but his best effort in five subsequent starts was his fourth-place finish behind Balios in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot.
Arctic Tack Stud's new recruit is a son of the brilliant middle-distance horse Montjeu (by Sadler's Wells), a horse who sons have been producing excellent results with their National Hunt runners, and his dam is the dual classic star Finsceal Beo (by Mr Greeley), a half-sister to the Group 2 Mehl Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) scorer Frozen Power (by Oasis Dream).
His grandam is the Listed Lupe Stakes runner-up Musical Treat (by Royal Academy), his third dam is the prolific Mountain Ash (by Dominion), who won at up to Group 3 level, and that mare's siblings include the Group 3 scorer Lidhame (by Nureyev). The next dam, Red Berry (by Great Nephew), won a listed contest at Newbury as a juvenile and was runner-up in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes. With these pedigree connections it seems likely that Ol' Man River will be among the busiest new stallions in 2017. OL' MAN RIVER (IRE) – b.2012 – Montjeu – Finsceal Beo, 2 wins inc Beresford Stakes (Gr2). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.
Night Wish is a dual Group 1-placed pattern-winning son of the notable dual-purpose sire Sholokhov (by Sadler's Wells) and he begins his career as a National Hunt stallion at Haras de Montaigu in Normandy, France.
He is a full-brother to the Group 1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) and Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden heroine Night Magic. Their stakes-winning dam, Night Woman (by Monsun), is out of listed scorer Noveka (by Kalaglow) and is a grand-daughter of Novelle (by Northfields), the Group 2 Preis der Diana winner of 1983.
NIGHT WISH (GER) – b.2010 – Sholokhov – Night Woman, 4 wins inc Grand Prix de Vichy (Gr3), Grand Prix Aufgalopp (L), 2nd Gerling-Preis (Gr2), Premio Ambrosiano (Gr3), 3rd Preis von Europa (Gr1), Grosser Preis von Baden (Gr1), La Coupe (Gr3), Bavaria-Preis (L). Sire in France. First foals in 2018.
Runner-up over a mile on the all-weather track at Chantilly in November of his juvenile season, New Bay got off the mark at the second attempt, a mile maiden at Longchamp in April and just a few weeks before he chased home Make Believe in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas).
Just three weeks after that he was established on the international scene having beaten Highland Reel by one and a half lengths in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club. He followed that with defeat of Dariyan in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville, easily beat Silverwave in the Group 2 Prix Niel at Longchamp, and had the mighty Treve a nose behind when third to Golden Horn and Flintshire in the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Timeform rated him 128.
New Bay's four-year-old campaign did not go as hoped. He was well-beaten behind A Shin Hikari in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan on his seasonal reappearance, bounced back to take the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron over 10 furlongs at Deauville nearly three months later and then finished fourth to Almanzor in that vintage edition of the Group 1 Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopadstown before coming home in only seventh behind Found in the Arc, this year run at Chantilly.
Being a classic-winning son of Dubawi (by Dubai Millennium) would be more than enough to guarantee that he would attract plenty of attention as a stallion recruit, but Ballylinch Stud's new addition is out of Cinnamon Bay (by Zamindar), a stakes winner who comes from the immediate family of leading international sire Oasis Dream (by Green Desert). His dam is a half-sister to the Group 1-placed Group 2 scorer Bellamy Cay (by Kris), his grandam is the stakes-placed Trellis Bay (by Sadler's Wells), and her siblings include Group 1 Irish Oaks heroine Wemyss Bight (by Dancing Brave). That champion is the dam of multiple Group/Grade 1 star and successful dual-purpose sire Beat Hollow (by Sadler's Wells), her full-sister Hope is the dam of Oasis Dream and also of Zenda (by Zamindar), the classic-winning dam of brilliant miler and young Banstead Manor Stud stallion Kingman (by Invincible Spirit). Trellis Bay's siblings also include a full-sister named Coraline. That mare is the dam of the Group 1-winning stayer Reefscape (by Linamix), of Group 1-placed Group 2 scorer Coastal Path (by Halling) and of Group 2 winner Martaline (by Linamix), and she is the grandam of the Group 2 scorer Doha Dream (by Shamardal). Those four are all stayers, as was Bellamy Cay, but New Bay got more of the speed of his sire and dam than the stronger stamina of some of his relations. All of this makes New Bay a fascinating stallion prospect and he is likely to be among the most popular first year horses of 2017. The contribution of the mares may determine how his offspring fare as juveniles as he looks a likely candidate to get high-class milers and middle-distance horses. He is a potential classic sire. NEW BAY (GB) – ch.2012 – Dubawi – Cinnamon Bay, 5 wins Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1), Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (Gr2), Prix Niel (Gr2), Prix Gontaut-Biron (Gr3), 2nd Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Gr1), 3rd Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.
A runaway Group 1 winner at two who went on to be classic-placed at three, Morandi is an early stallion son of the notably successful international sire Holy Roman Emperor (by Danehill). He is a half-brother to the stakes-placed filly Vita (by Elusive City), and, like Triple Threat, he begins his new career at Haras du Mont Goubert near Deauville.
The grey is out of Vezina (by Bering), a full-sister to the stakes-placed Vezing and half-sister to Group 3 Prix Fille de l'Air scorer Marie De Ken (by Kendor). That talented filly has been a notable success at stud as she is the dam of the Grade 1-placed Grade 2-winning miler Charmo (by Charnwood Forest) and of Ana Marie (by Anabaa), the Group 2 Prix d'Harcourt scorer who earned placings in the Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks), Group 1 Nassau Stakes and Group 1 Prix Vermeille.
Ana Marie is the dam of the Group 1-placed stakes winner Ana Americana (by American Post), while Marie Glitters (by Crystal Glitters), a half-sister to Marie De Ken and Vezina, is the dam of two listed races winners in France and of a mare whose blacktype-winning descendants include the Group 3 Prix Gontaut-Biron scorer Petit Chevalier (by High Chaparral). Ordenstreue (by Orsini), the third dam of Morandi, was the champion three-year-old filly in Germany in 1965, when she won the Preis der Diana (German Oaks), and her string of successful runners features Dom Alaric (by Sassafras), a Canadian champion who won the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville before going on to win at the same level in his adopted home. Dom Alaric was also multiple Grade 1-placed, he went to stud at Windfields Farm, and he sired a dozen individual stakes winners, along with a high proportion of winners to runners. His grandam, Ordinate (by Nebelwerfer), won the Deutsches St Leger in 1959. MORANDI (FR) – gr.2010 – Holy Roman Emperor – Vezina, 4 wins inc Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1), Prix de Conde (Gr3), 2nd Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1), Prix du Prince d'Orange (Gr3), Prix de Fontainebleau (Gr3), Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage (L). Sire in France. First foals in 2018. High-class stayer Mizzou is a dual Group 3 Sagaro Stakes winner whose final start was a three-length second to Order Of St George in the Group 1 Gold Cup at Ascot. He begins his new career at Old Road Stud in Co Waterford.
The son of multiple champion sire Galileo (by Sadler's Wells) is out of the 14-furlong listed race winner Moments Of Joy (by Darshaan), which makes him a full-brother to the Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes third Eternal Bounty and half-brother to Unity (by Sadler's Wells), a multiple blacktype-placed filly who was only beaten by half a length when third in the Group 3 Noblesse Stakes at Cork. Moments Of Joy is the best of three blacktype horses out of the Group 1 Prix Vermeille and Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine My Emma (by Marju) and that star is a half-sister to Classic Cliche (by Salse). He won the Group 1 Gold Cup and Group 1 St Leger plus the Group 2 Dante Stakes, Group 2 Yorkshire Cup and Group 2 Prix Kergorlay, and he enjoyed some success as a dual-purpose sire. Their siblings also include the lightly-raced pattern-placed Ebor Handicap winner Mediterranean (by Sadler's Wells) and Threatening (by Warning), the stakes-placed dam of Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Mutinyonthebounty (by Sadler's Wells). MIZZOU (IRE) – b.2011 – Galileo – Moments Of Joy, 5 wins inc Sagaro Stakes (Gr3-twice), 2nd Gold Cup (Gr1), Lonsdale Cup (Gr2), 3rd Noel Murless Stakes (L). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.
Ito is one of two Group 1 winners from the early crops of classic star Adlerflug (by In The Wings), a leading stallion who is related to Galileo (by Sadler's Wells) and Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross). Gestut Ammerland's new recruit was a lightly-raced dual winner at three and got his top-level victory at four, when Timeform rated him 125.
That same organisation assessed Ito as being the top German-trained horse of 2016, this time rating him 123.
He is the best of several winners out of the Group 1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Iota (by Tiger Hill) and that daughter of stakes-placed Iora (by Konigsstuhl) is a half-sister to the Group 2-placed pattern winner Illo (by Tertullian) and to the Group 1 Preis von Europa third and listed scorer Ioannina (by Rainbow Quest).
Incitation (by Be My Guest), the stakes-placed third dam of Ito, was out of Iberica (by Green Dancer) and so was a half-sister to the classic-placed dual stakes winner Iberus (by Monsun) and also to Iberi (by Rainbow Quest). That sibling is the dam of the Group 1-placed pattern winner Ibicenco (by Shirocco) and of the multiple Group 1-placed Group 2 Mehl-Mulhens Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) and Group 2 Jockey Club Cup winner Irian (by Tertullian). Iberi is also the grandam of the talented filly Spectre (by Siyouni), who won the Group 3 Prix Imprudence in April, finished third to Zelzal in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat in July, was fourth to Ribchester in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois and then chased home Vadamos in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in September. ITO (GER) – b.2011 – Adlerflug – Iota, 6 wins inc Grosser Preis von Bayern (Gr1), Gerling Preis (Gr2), Grosser Preis der Badischen Unternehmer Rennen (Gr2), Preis von Dahlwitz (L), 2nd Grosser Preis von Berlin (Gr1), Prix Foy (Gr2), 3rd Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft (Gr2). Sire in Germany. First foals in 2018.
I reviewed the pedigree of Mehmas in detail in July and since then he ran three more races. He narrowly beat Blue Point in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, failed to stay the trip when runner-up Churchill in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh, and then finished third to The Last Lion and Blue Point in the Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, beaten by three-parts of a length and two and a quarter lengths.
He is by the sire of leading sire Dark Angel, he is from the family of Group 1 stars such as Avenir Certain (by Le Havre), Luso (by Salse), Warrsan (by Caerleon), and Queen's Trust (by Dansili), and he begins his new career at Tally-Ho Stud in Co Westmeath.
How he performed in that final furlong at the Curragh could have been an artefact of a long season or of a lack of stamina and, if the latter, then whether or not some of his offspring stay a mile may depend on their dams. But if it was merely a slowing down after a long campaign then this Timeform 115-rated horse's own distaff line may provide him with the potential to get milers, in addition to the sprinters and juvenile types that will no doubt represent him. MEHMAS (IRE) – b.2014 – Acclamation – Lucina, 4 wins inc July Stakes (Gr2), Richmond Stakes (Gr2), 2nd National Stakes (Gr1), Coventry Stakes (Gr2), National Stakes (L), 3rd Middle Park Stakes (Gr1). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.
This high-class grandson of Danehill Dancer (by Danehill) was Timeform-rated 113 at two, 118 at three, and 111 at both four and five years of age. He was precocious and durable, a juvenile Group 2 scorer who finished third to Mecca's Angel in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at three and whose wins also includes Group 3 success at the Curragh.
Mattmu, who begins his new career at Bearstone Stud in Shropshire in 2018*, is out of the prolific sprinter Katie Boo (by Namix), his siblings include the multiple winning fillies Penny Garcia (by Indesatchel) and Rose Eclair (by Major Cadeaux), and his grandam is the stakes-placed juvenile Misty Peak (by Sri Pekan).
That mare produced two blacktype earners, as did her own unraced dam Miss Declared (by Alleged), and the fourth dam of Mattmu is Greida (by Far North), a seven-times scorer in the USA who won twice at listed level and whose siblings include Helen Christine (by Northern Jove). That mare is the dam of the Argentine juvenile champion Handsome Halo (by Southern Halo), a dual Grade 1 star who has enjoyed some success as a stallion and whose offspring include the Grade 1-winning sprinter Rufus. MATTMU (GB) – b.2012 – Indesatchel – Katie Boo, 6 wins inc Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr2), Phoenix Sprint Stakes (Gr3), Rockingham Stakes (L), 2nd Duke of York Stakes (Gr2), Chipchase Stakes (Gr3), Two Year Old Trophy (L), 3rd Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr1), Abernant Stakes (Gr3). Sire in England. First foals in 2019. * edited in 2018. Plans to stand him at stud in 2018 were abandoned, he returned to training, won the Great St Wilfred Handicap over six furlongs at Ripon, and then moved to Bearstone Stud for 2018.
The rise of Dark Angel (by Acclamation) to become a leading European sire has been something of a surprise and he already has a string of sons who at stud. Those include Group 1 star Lethal Force, the pattern scorers Alhebayeb, Gutaifan and Heeraat, and Group 1-placed Tough As Nails, and they will be joined in 2017 by new recruits Estidhkaar and Markaz.
The latter starts his career at Derrinstown Stud and, in addition to having the considerable attraction of being a full-brother to the Timeform 130-rated dual Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Mecca's Angel, he has the distinction of having been a notably talented performer in his own right, a dual Group 2-placed six and seven-furlong pattern winner.
He was a pattern-placed winner as a juvenile and at three he won the Group 3 Criterion Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket, was beaten by less than three lengths when fourth to Adaay in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, and chased home Limato in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster.
At four, he won the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs on the tapeta at Newcastle, he was fourth to Richard Pankhurst in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes over seven at Newbury, and was a three-quarter length runner-up to Donnerschlag in the Group 2 Goldene Peitsche over six at Baden-Baden on what was to be his final start. He was awarded that race in the stewards' room, but that decision was later reversed on appeal. A good looking horse who made £200,000 in Doncaster as a yearling, Markaz and Mecca's Angel are out of the prolific sprint winner Folga (by Atraf), a stakes-placed mare whose unraced juvenile, Dirayah, and current yearling filly – both by Dark Angel - made 825,000gns and 400,000gns respectively from Book 1 in Newmarket. His grandam is the pattern-winning sprinter Desert Dawn (by Belfort), whose offspring also include the listed scorer Desert Kaya (by Bikala), and the next dam is a four-times winner called Cast Pearls (by Cutlass). His talent, and that of his brilliant sister, combined with being a son of the hughly popular Dark Angel, suggest that Markaz will be a popular new addition to the stallion ranks, a potential source of high-class sprinters and of some who will prove best at around a mile. MARKAZ (IRE) – gr.2012 – Dark Angel – Folga, 3 wins inc Criterion Stakes (Gr3), Chipchase Stakes (Gr3), 2nd Goldene Peitsche (Gr2), Park Stakes (Gr2), Somerville Tattersall Stakes (Gr3), 3rd King Charles II Stakes (L), Spring Trophy Stakes (L). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.
The Peter Chapple-Hyam trained Marcel was among the ante-post leaders for the classics following his victory in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy over a mile at Doncaster, for which he earned a Timeform rating of 118, but he finished down the field behind Galileo Gold in the Group 1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket at the end of April and was not seen out again.
Like classic stars Harbour Law and Just The Judge, and Coolmore's young stallion Most Improved (first yearlings in 2016), Marcel is a Group 1-winner by Lawman, Ballylinch Stud's classic-winning son of Invincible Spirit (by Green Desert). He is standing at the National Stud in Newmarket.
He is out of an unraced full-sister to the Group 2 Diadem Stakes runner-up Munjiz (by Marju) and his grandam, Absaar (by Alleged), is a winning half-sister to the Group/Grade 1 stars Annoconnor (by Nureyev) and At Talaq (by Roberto).
The former won the Ramona Handicap, Santa Ana Handicap and Vanity Invitational Handicap – all Grade 1 – and her string of stakes-winning descendants includes the Group 2 Cape Verdi Stakes and Group 2 Balanchine Stakes heroine Cladocera (by Oasis Dream). At Talaq, who was third in the Group 1 Derby Italiano and fourth in the Group 1 Derby at Epsom, won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris, Group 1 MacKinnon Stakes and Group 1 Melbourne Cup. He died young but the progeny he left behind included the Group 1 scorers Al Mansour, Leica Smile, Star Of Maple, Toledo, and sprint champion Skating. Absaar's siblings also include two mares from whom several stakes winners descend and the more notable of the pair is Pattimech (by Nureyev), dam of the dual Group 3 scorer Far Lane (by Lear Fan) and grandam of the Group/Grade 2 stars Arod (by Teofilo) and Dark Islander (by Singspiel). Marcel represents the Green Desert (by Danzig) sire line and he comes from the immediate family of a notably successful stallion, which makes him an interesting prospect. MARCEL (IRE) – b.2013 – Lawman – Mauresmo, 2 wins inc Racing Post Trophy (Gr1). Sire in England. First foals in 2018.
Like Free Eagle, [It's A] Dundeel, So You Think, and Toronado, Lucky Lion is a Group 1-winning stallion son of dual Derby and dual Breeders' Cup hero High Chaparral (by Sadler's Wells). He was Timeform 121-rated as a three-year-old and he begins his new career at Gestut Graditz in Germany.
Lucky Lion first came to the attention when, just a month after winning his maiden over the course and distance, he beat Nordico by one and three-quarter lengths in an eight and a half furlong Group 3 contest at Krefeld. The following month he beat that same rival to take the Group 2 Mehl Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) and it is he who chased home ruanway Group 1 Deutsches Derby hero Sea The Moon at Hamburg that July.
Three weeks after that initial defeat, Lucky Lion beat Noble Mission by half a length in the Group 1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen over 10 furlongs on soft ground at Munich, and although that was to be his final blacktype success, he was Group 3 placed at four and five years of age and only beaten by three-parts of a length when fourth to Guiliani in 2015's edition of that Munich Group 1.
Lucky Lion is out of the speedy pattern-placed dual stakes winner Lips Arrow (by Big Shuffle), who is a half-sister to the Group 2 German 1000 Guineas heroine Lips Poison (by Mamool), and his grandam is Lips Plane (by Ashkalani), a pattern-placed half-sister to Beacon Lodge (by Clodovil) and Sugarhoneybaby (by Docksider). The latter won the Listed Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown and is the dam of winners from her first few foals, whereas Beacon Lodge is a multiple Group 2-placed gelding whose wins feature the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes, Group 3 Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord, and two editions of the Listed Silver Trophy Stakes at Haydock. Royal House (by Royal Academy), who is the third dam of Lucky Lion, won twice, is out of the speedy pattern-placed juvenile stakes winner Reine Caroline (by Pharly) and so is a half-sister to the Grade 3 Bay Meadow Derby and Group 3 Prix de Guiche scorer Ranger (by Un Desperado), as well as to the dam of the Grade 1-placed Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes winner Reine De Romance (by Vettori). LUCKY LION (GB) – b.2011 – High Chaparral – Lips Arrow, 5 wins inc Grosser Dallmayr Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (Gr1), Mehl Mulhens-Rennen (Gr2), Grosser Preis der Dr Busch-Memorial (Gr3), 2nd Deutsches Derby (Gr1), Fruhjahrsmeile (Gr3), Fruhjahrs-Meile (L), 3rd Preis der Sparkassen Finanzgruppe (Gr3). Sire in Germany. First foals in 2018.
Invincible Spirit's three-parts brother Kodiac (by Danehill) has developed a strong profile as a sire in recent seasons and he has several sons begins stud careers of their own in 2017: Adaay, Coulsty, Prince Of Lir, and Kodi Bear. The latter joins the team at Rathbarry Stud.
He was a listed winner over seven furlongs at Ascot in July of his two-year-old season and chased home champion Belardo in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on his next start. Timeform rated him 112 that year but 123 as a three-year-old after a campaign that saw him add three more blacktype wins to his name. He kicked off that season with listed success over eight and a half furlongs at Windsor, finished only fourth behind Territories in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly, but then bounced back a month later to take the Group 3 Sovereign Stakes in impressive style over a mile at Salisbury, winning by four and a half lengths.
Two weeks after that, he beat Gabrial by three and a quarter lengths in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood, and although he was unplaced behind Solow in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on his final start, he was beaten by just under four lengths.
Kodi Bear stayed in training as a four-year-old, taking on some of the best around in four starts over a mile, but he did not manage to reach the frame in any of them. The best of eight winners out of an unraced mare called Hawattef (by Mujtahid), Kodi Bear is a half-brother to the dam of two Italian listed scorers and his grandam, dual winner Madary (by Green Desert) is a half-sister to two broodmares of note. Shining Creek (by Bering) produced the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes winner Cool Creek (by Desert Style) and her half-sister Dievotchka (by Dancing Brave) is the dam of six stakes winners, most notably the classic-placed triple Group 1 mile star Esoterique (by Danehill Dancer). That filly's half-brothers Russian Hope (by Rock Hopper), Russian Cross (by Cape Cross) and Archange D'Or (by Danehill) got their Group 2 wins over middle-distances. Half-brother Russian Desert (by Desert Prince) was a Group 2-placed stakes winner in France, and their half-sister Russian Hill (by Indian Ridge), who won a listed contest and was runner-up in both the Group 2 Prix de Royallieu and Group 2 Prix Corrida, is the dam of the dual pattern-winning sprinter Russian Soul (by Invincible Spirit). There are various other blacktype horses to be found within these first three generations of the family and their branches, and if you go back farther then you will find a host of notable individuals. The fourth dam of Kodi Bear is the classic-placed Princess Margaret Stakes winner Photo Flash (by Match), her descendants also include Group 1 scorer Hello (by Lycius) and Group 2 winners Dano-Mast (by Unfuwain), Atlantis Prince (by Tagula) and Prolific (by Compton Place), among others of note, and her siblings included champion racehorse and notable stallion Welsh Pageant (by Tudor Melody), sire of eight Group 1 winners. Those horses are remotely connected to Kodi Bear and even further removed are the likes of Royal Palace (by Ballymoss), Selhurst (by Charlottesville), Desert Prince (by Green Desert) and Make Believe (by Makfi), who appear in various other offshoots of the family. Kodi Bear is a Timeform 123-rated miler who is by a leading young sire, inbred 3x4 to Danzig (by Northern Dancer), and from a branch of a famous family. He is somewhat closely related to a multiple Group 1 mile star, and his sire is closely related to a leading sire whose early stallion sons are doing well. All of this makes Rathbarry Stud's recruit look like a potentially very busy new member of the team. KODI BEAR (IRE) – br.2012 – Kodiac – Hawattef, 4 wins inc Celebration Mile (Gr2), Sovereign Stakes (Gr3), Midsummer Stakes (L), Winkfield Stakes (L), 2nd Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018. The Sadler's Wells (by Northern Dancer) line has had a considerable impact on both flat and National Hunt racing and High Chaparral, the late dual Derby-winning son of the great white-faced bay, has compiled an excellent record in both sectors.
His flat stars include standouts such as Free Eagle, [It's A] Dundeel, So You Think and Toronado – all of whom are in the early years of their own careers at stud – and his growing number of talented performers over obstacles include Grade 1 standout Altior and recent graded-winning juvenile hurdler Landofhopeandglory. This boosts the prospects of Haras de Cercy's new stallion Karaktar of attracting attention and as a dual middle-distance Group 3 scorer whose limitations were exposed in stronger company, it seems likely that his best long-term results may come in the National Hunt sector. He is out of the eight and 10-furlong winning mare Karawana (by King's Best), which makes him a half-brother to the Grade 1-placed hurdles winner Karezak (by Azamour), and his dam is out of a half-sister to the Group 2 Doncaster Cup scorer Kasthari (by Vettori). Those siblings also include the Group 3 May Hill Stakes winner Karasta (by Lake Coniston) and the Group 3 Gladness Stakes winner Kargali (by Invincible Spirit). KARAKTAR (IRE) – b.2012 – High Chaparral – Karawana, 4 wins inc Prix du Prince d'Orange (Gr3), Prix Noailles (Gr3), Prix Francois Mathet (L), 3rd Prix Thomas Bryon (Gr3). Sire in France. First foals in 2018.
When asked to name an influential son of Shirley Heights (by Mill Reef) most will automatically say Darshaan. The classic star was a prolific source of top-class racehorses, his stallion sons include Mark of Esteem and Dalakhani, and his daughters have long been prized as broodmares.
The 64 stakes winning offspring of 1978's dual Derby hero, which represented 9.2% of his progeny, also included a champion freshman sire who, despite siring just six blacktype scorers of his own at stud, left a notable legacy. Group 2 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero Elegant Air died young but he was the sire of Dashing Blade, who represented his first crop. Bred by Jeff Smith's Littleton Stud, Dashing Blade won both the Group 1 National Stakes and Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes in 1989, he was Ireland's juvenile champion and he went on to add both the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam and the Group 1 Gran Premio d'Italia before heading to stud. He spent one season at his owner-breeder's farm and then moved to Gestut Etzean in Germany from where he became a multiple champion sire. Dashing Blade was retired from stallion duties early in 2013, he died several months later, and his 54 stakes winners include four who have won at the highest level, headed by classic-placed Group 1 star and leading young sire Lord Of England. That Gestut Etzean stallion has two Group 1 winners to his name so far, both of them classic stars: Preis der Diana (German Oaks) winner Feodora and Deutsches Derby hero Isfahan. The latter, a lightly-raced triple pattern scorer, was not seen out again after his classic success in heavy ground at Hamburg in mid- July.
Isfahan is a half-brother to the mile pattern winner Incantator (by Areion) and he could be described as being a three-parts brother to the Group 3 Bavarian Classic runner-up Il Divo (by Dashing Blade). Their dam, an unraced mare called Independent Miss (by Polar Falcon), is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Invincible Hero (by Lomitas).
His dam is, in turn, out of a winning daughter of Group 1 Arak-Pokal heroine and 1990's German three-year-old filly champion Indica (by Athenagoras) and that makes the grandam of Isfahan a half-sister to the Group 3 Furstenberg-Rennen scorer Indikator (by Sillery). If you go back farther then you will find that Isfahan's fifth dam is the smart Inga (by Birkhahn), who was a full-sister to 1965's Preis der Diana (German Oaks) winner Indra (dam of classic-placed champion Indian Pearl, by Gulf Pearl), and his seventh dam is 1939's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) winner and multiple classic producer Yonne (by Indus). Isfahan's is a German classic winner from a family that has a long-established classic tradition and this young descendant of Shirley Heights is likely to prove popular in his new role at Gestut Ohlerwriherhof. ISFAHAN (GER) – ch.2013 – Lord Of England – Independent Miss, 3 wins inc Deutsches Derby (Gr1), Bavarian Classic (Gr3), Preis der Winterfavoriten (Gr3). Sire in Germany. First foals in 2018.
A late addition to the list of new sires for 2017, former leading juvenile Estidhkaar is to join the team at Tara Stud in Co Meath.
Another high-class son of leading sire Dark Angel (by Acclamation), he is a half-brother to the juvenile champion Toormore, who begins his second career at Dalham Hall Stud, and it will be interesting to compare the stallion careers of the two siblings. Estidhkaar was trained by Richard Hannon, he won an extended six-furlong maiden at Newbury in mid-June of his two-year-old season and followed that with a wide-margin success in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes over seven at Newmarket, beating Aktabantay by four and a half lengths.
He then beat War Envoy by one and a quarter lengths in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, was favourite when only fourth to Belardo in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, and he was beaten by just a neck when runner-up to the subsequent sprint champion Muhaarar in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes on his seasonal reappearance at three.
Estidhkaar was unplaced behind Gleneagles in the Group 1 2000 Guineas and behind Esoterique in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois, and was then off the track for 14 months before being runner-up to Crazy Horse in a seven furlong conditions event at Salisbury. On his final start, he beat Kool Kompany by a neck in the Listed Ben Marshall Stakes over a mile on fast ground at Newmarket. As noted above, Estidhkaar is a half-brother to the Group 1 winner and juvenile champion Toormore (by Arakan). The pair are out of the unraced mare Danetime Out (by Danetime), who is a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Easaar (by Machiavellian), and their grandam, Matila (by Persian Bold), is a winning daughter of the Group 3 Curragh Stakes winner Peace Girl (by Dominion). That mare, who was the joint champion juvenile filly in Ireland in 1987, is the grandam of the Group 3 Jockey Club Cup scorer Hawridge Prince (by Polar Falcon), of Listed Heron Stakes winner Hero's Journey (by Halling) and of several who have been blacktype placed, and she was a half-sister to the Group 3 Norfolk Stakes runner-up and prolific winner Runaway (by Godswalk). There are plenty of other talented horses to be found in the family, including the Group 2-placed stakes-winning juvenile Pool Music (by Forzando), Grade 2-winning miler Mr Napper Tandy (by Bahamian Bounty), Group 2 winner and Group 1 Champion Stakes runner-up Insatiable (by Don't Forget Me), and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Seazun (by Zieten), but those horses are remotely connected to Estidhkaar. ESTIDHKAAR (IRE) – b.2012 – Dark Angel – Danetime Out, 4 wins inc Champagne Stakes (Gr2), Superlative Stakes (Gr2), Ben Marshall Stakes (L), 2nd Greenham Stakes (Gr3). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.
Fifth over a mile at Gowran Park on his only start as a juvenile, Harzard burst onto the scene with a 16-length defeat of Sword Fighter over 10 furlongs on heavy ground at Cork in late March. The runner-up went on to win the Listed Queen's Vase and Group 2 Curragh Cup, and Harzard went on to become one of the brightest stars of 2016.
Two weeks after this maiden success, Harzand took on Idaho in the Group 3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes over the same trip at Leopardstown and, when the latter took up the running more than a furlong from home, the son of Galileo looked set for victory. But then Harzand made his move, passed Idaho and won by one and a quarter lengths, with that colt finishing seven and a half lengths clear of the third. I reviewed Harzard's pedigree for The Irish Field after that race, explaining why there was reason to believe that he could become both a classic winner and one of the top Group 1 horses of 2016, and noting too that Idaho's performance was also enough to suggest that he also remained a live classic prospect. Neither colt disappointed. Harzand went on to beat US Army Ranger and Idaho in the Group 1 Investec Derby at Epsom and then followed-up with by again beating Idaho in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh. Sadly, his final two starts did not go as smoothly, injured when down the field behind Almanzor in the Group 1 Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and then unplaced behind Found in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly.
Like runaway classic star Sea The Moon, whose first foals caught the eye at the sales in recent weeks, Harzand is an early stallion son for the Timeform 140-rated superstar Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross).
This is the Green Desert branch of the powerful Danzig (by Northern Dancer) sire line, and as Sea The Stars is a half-brother to the great Galileo (by Sadler's Wells) there is every reason to hope that he too will get some top-class sire sons. Hazariya (by Xaar), the dam of Harzand, won the Group 3 Athasi Stakes and her four previous winners include listed scorer Hazarafa (by Daylami), pattern-placed Haziyna (by Halling), and Group 1-placed Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes winner Harasiya (by Pivotal). The mare was sold, by H H the Aga Khan's Studs, in Goffs in November 2014, carrying a Fastnet Rock (by Danehill) filly, and when reoffered in Newmarket late last month, this time from Newsells Park Stud and in foal to Invincible Spirit (by Green Desert), her price rose from €480,000 to a sale-topping 2,000,000gns. She has joined the Coolmore broodmare band and will reportedly visit Galileo in 2017. Hazariya is a half-sister to the classic-placed Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes winner Hazarista (by Barathea), to the dam of this year's middle-distance listed scorer Humphrey Bogart (by Tagula), and also to Handaza (by Be My Guest). That mare is the dam of the Group 3 Concorde Stakes winner Hamairi (by Spectrum), of pattern-placed listed scorer Hanabad (by Cadeaux Genereux), and of Hannda (by Dr Devious), the dam of Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mare Stakes heroine Seal Of Approval (by Authorized). Their dam, Hazaradjat (by Darshaan), won twice and as she was out of the Prix de Royallieu runner-up and multiple stakes winner Hazy Idea (by Hethersett), she was a half-sister to the Timeform 125-rated juvenile Hittite Glory (by Habitat). He won the Group 1 Flying Childers Stakes and Group 1 Middle Park Stakes in 1975, and although he failed to make an impact as a stallion that should not reflect negatively on Harzand's prospects. The newly retired classic star represents a notably successful male line, whereas Hittite Glory was by a major sire but one whose stallion sons tended to disappoint at stud. Being bred to excel on the track is not necessarily the same thing as being bred for success at stud. Hazy Idea's descendants also include the Australian juvenile champion Decision Time (by Foreplay) – a Group 2 scorer who was runner-up in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes – and also the outstanding filly Streama (by Stratum), whose wins include the Group 1 AJC Oaks, Group 1 Doomben Cup, Group 1 Coolmore Stud Flight Stakes and Group 1 George Main Stakes. Harzand was indeed one of the top Group 1 horses of 2016 and this dual Derby hero should prove very popular in his new role at his owner-breeder's famous Gilltown Stud. He is a fascinating prospect and, as we are likely to see with all of the Sea The Stars horses who go to stud, it would be no surprise to see a fair number of his mares representing Galileo, his descendants, and others representing the Sadler's Wells line. HARZAND (IRE) – br.2013 – Sea The Stars – Hazariya, 4 wins inc Derby (Gr1), Irish Derby (Gr1), Ballysax Stakes (Gr3). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.
A Group 1 winner over 10 furlongs at Munich as a four-year-old, Guiliani looked set for another excellent season when kicking off 2016 with defeat of the classic-placed Group 1 scorer Lucky Lion in the Group 3 Fruhjahrsmeile on soft ground at Dusseldorf in April. Unfortunately, he suffered a tendon and now the regally-related horse is about to start a new career at the famous Gestut Schlenderhan in Germany.
He is one of the best representatives of Tertullian (by Miswaki), a high-class performer and notably successful German sire who could be described as being a three-parts brother to the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine and phenomenal broodmare Urban Sea (by Miswaki). No doubt there will be descendants of her star sons Galileo (by Sadler's Wells), Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross) and Black Sam Bellamy (by Sadler's Wells) among Guiliani's books of mares, and also those descending from Urban Sea's classic-winning close relation King's Best (by Kingmambo).
Guiliani is out of the champion and Group 1 Oaks d'Italia heroine Guadalupe (by Monsun) and that makes him a sibling of several blacktype horses, most notably last month's Group 1 Grosser Preis von Bayern scorer Guignol (by Cape Cross).
Guadalupe's full-brother Getaway was also a champion and that multiple Group 1 star is now one of the rising stars of the National Hunt stallion ranks, a Coolmore team member whose early runners are winning point-to-points and bumpers. They include recent point-to-point debut winner Cool Getaway, who made £305,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham December Sale yesterday, and Getabird, who ran away with a Fairyhouse bumper last week. Guernica (by Unfuwain), the grandam of Guiliani, was the only one of her dam's runners not to win and her siblings include two individuals of particular interest. Way West was a multiple pattern-placed stakes-winning sprinter in France before going on to a handful of stakes winners, including Western Pride, a Grade 2 Ohio Derby and Grade 2 San Fernando Handicap winner who was runner-up in both the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and Grade 1 Pimlico Special. His half-sister Gerbera (by Lyphard), who won once in France as a three-year-old, is the grandam of the multiple pattern-placed filly Military Angel (by Big Brown) but she is the dam of Renashaan (by Darshaan), the pattern-placed stakes-winning dam of Alexander Goldrun (by Gold Away) and Medecis (by Machiavellian). European champion Alexander Goldrun won the Group 1 Nassau Stakes, Group 1 Prix de l'Opera, Grade 1 Hong Kong Cup and two editions of the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes and the races in which she was placed included the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas, Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, Group 1 Nassau Stakes and Group 1 Falmouth Stakes. Medecis won the Group 3 Prix de la Jonchere at Chantilly and also listed races at Saint-Cloud and Maisons-Laffitte, he was runner-up in both the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) and Group 1 Prix de la Foret, and the best he sired, from limited opportunities, is December Draw, winner of the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes over 10 furlongs at Flemington. Guiliani is a Group 1-winning son of a regally-related stallion and he is out of a classic-winning mare whose relations include two stallions who have sired Group/Grade 1 performers from limited opportunities. This makes him an interesting addition to the stallion ranks and he looks a likely candidate to get some talented performers in the eight to 12-furlong range. GUILIANI (IRE) – br.2011 – Tertullian – Guadalupe, 5 wins inc Grosser Dallamyr Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (Gr1), Fruhjahrsmeile (Gr3), Prix Matchem (L), Fruhjahrsmeile (L), 2nd Badener Meile (Gr2), Preis der Deutschen Einheit (Gr3), Fruhjahrsmeile (Gr3), Grosser Preis der Wirtschaft (Gr3). Sire in Germany. First foals in 2018.
Placed on his only start as a juvenile, Cannock Chase ran just three times at three, all of them wins and culminating in a length and a half defeat of Mutakayyef in the Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes over 10 furlongs at Royal Ascot.
He was not seen out again until the following April, when he finished third to Western Hymn in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown. He then failed by just half a length to take the Group 3 Huxley Stakes and his sixth of seven outings that year saw him beat Up With The Birds by one and a half lengths in the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes over 12 furlongs at Woodbine. Cannock Chase ran just once at the age of five, beating Western Hymn by a length in the Group 3 Huxley Stakes at Chester. Timeform rated him 119 in 2015, and he begins his stallion career at Nunstainton Stud in North Yorkshire.
He is by the classic winner and highly-ranked Lane's End Farm stallion Lemon Drop Kid (by Kingmambo), he is a full-brother to the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam scorer Pisco Sour, and his dam is a half-sister to the prolific blacktype horse Lord Admiral (by El Prado), a Group 1-placed horse whose wins included the Group 2 Jebel Hatta at Nad Al Sheba, the Group 3 Al Rashidiya Stakes at that same venue, and each of the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes, Listed Glencairn Stakes and Listed Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown.
Lady Ilsley (by Trempolino), the stakes-placed grandam of Cannock Chase, is a half-sister to several winners and she is a full-sister to Najecam, the Grade 2-placed dam of juvenile champion and Grade 1 scorer Action This Day (by Kris S) and grandam of Drefong (by Gio Ponti), likely US sprint champion of 2016 following his wins in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Spring and Grade 1 King's Bishop Stakes. These are the highlights that you will see on a catalogue page for Cannock Chase, but what is not on the page is that his fourth dam is Bitty Girl (by Habitat), the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes, Group 3 Lowther Stakes and Group 3 Molecomb Stakes winner of 1973, who Timeform rated 123. Her year-younger full-brother Hot Spark won the Group 1 Flying Childers Stakes at two and achieved a Timeform rating of 126 at three. Like most sons of his leading sire, he disappointed at stud although did get some stakes winners and blacktype earners. It is through two of his daughters that Hot Spark's name was brought back to prominence in more recent times as he is the broodmare sire of the Group 1-winning sprinter Ya Malak (by Fairy King) and, more notably, of the dual Guineas hero and prolific Group 1 star Rodrigo De Triano (by El Gran Senor). Bitty Girl's son Beaudelaire (by Nijinsky), who won the Group 2 Prix Maurice de Gheest at three and a listed race at two, stood in Florida and in France. He got a few blacktype horses, including the Group 3 Prix d'Arenberg scorer Repercutionist. CANNOCK CHASE (USA) – b.2011 – Lemon Drop Kid – Lynnwood Chase, 5 wins inc Canadian International Stakes (Gr1), Huxley Stakes (Gr3), Tercentenary Stakes (Gr3), 2nd Winter Hill Stakes (Gr3), Huxley Stakes (Gr3), 3rd Gordon Richard Stakes (Gr3). Sire in England. First foals in 2018.
Kendargent (by Kendor) has been something of a surprise success at stud and his high-class sprinting son Goken will begin a stallion career at Haras de la Huderie in France. He was third to Profitable in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes in June and was a pattern winner both two and three years of age.
Goken was also one of the most precocious juveniles of 2014 and, having been runner-up on his debut, he was an eight-length winner over five furlongs at Chantilly in mid-April and a six-length winner over the same course and distance a month later. He then completed a hat-trick there with a two-length score in the Group 3 Prix du Bois in late June.
He finished fourth behind Kool Kompany in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin and fourth to The Wow Signal in the Group 1 Prix Morny, was unplaced against the older horses in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp and then finished third to Mattmu in the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte over six furlongs on very soft ground.
The following year he added wins in the Group 3 Prix Texanita over five and a half furlongs at that latter venue and a six-furlong listed contest on the polytrack at Lingfield, earning a Timeform rating of 113. Goken is the first foal of Gooseley Chope (by Indian Rocket), a winning daughter of Gooseley Lane, who had the distinction of being one of just two stakes winners for the Danzig (by Northern Dancer) stallion Pyramus). These are the highlights of the first three generations of the pedigree, which makes this new addition to the stallion ranks an unknown prospect. GOKEN (FR) – b.2012 – Kendargent – Gooseley Chope, 5 wins inc Prix Texanita (Gr3), Prix du Bois (Gr3), Golden Rose Stakes (L), 3rd King's Stand Stakes (Gr1), Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr2), Prix Sigy (Gr3). Sire in France. First foals in 2018.
Free Port Lux is among the growing number of sons of Oasis Dream (by Green Desert) who are going to stud and this dual Group 2 scorer, who just missed out on a Group 1 placing when fourth to Gallante in the Grand Prix de Paris, will begin his new career at Haras de Cercy in France.
A €220,000 Arqana yearling, he is out of the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes winner Royal Highness (by Monsun), who won the Group 2 Prix de Mallaret and was placed in the Group 1 Prix Ganay and in two editions of the Group 1 Prix Vermeille before crossing the Atlantic.
Her half-sister Royal Dubai (by Dashing Blade) was the joint champion juvenile filly in Germany in 2002, when she won the Group 3 Preis der Winterkonigin, and has since become the dam of the 10-furlong listed scorer Rumh (by Monsun), who could be described as being a three-parts sister to the dam of Free Port Lux.
Their dam, Reem Dubai (by Nashwan), was only placed and has just two winning siblings, but one of the pair is Elbaaha (by Arazi), dam of the pattern-placed stakes winner Grigorieva (by Woodman) and of the top-class but tragically ill-fated Electrocutionist (by Red Ransom). Timeform-rated 125 at three and 127 at both four and five years of age, Electrocutionist won the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes and Group 1 Gran Premio di Milano, he was runner-up in each of the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes and Group 1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club, finished third in the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes, but died of a heart attack in early September of his five-year-old season. The third dam of Free Port Lux is the Group 3 Prix de Flore winner Gesedeh (by Ela-Mana-Mou) and she was a half-sister to the mighty Ardross (by Run The Gantlet) and also to the dam of Group 2 scorer and leading National Hunt sire Alflora (by Niniski). There are many other notable horses in the various branches of this famous family, but it is his relationship to the that pair of successful stallions that gives the best clue to his prospects. FREE PORT LUX (GB) – b.2011 – Oasis Dream – Royal Highness, 4 wins inc Prix Dollar (Gr2), Prix Hocquart (Gr2), Prix du Prince d'Orange (Gr3), 2nd Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (Gr2), Prix Gontaut-Biron (Gr3), Prix La Force (Gr3). Sire in France. First foals in 2018.
The Group 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes has a remarkable record this century of being won by subsequent Group 1 stars and the roll of honour includes Fascinating Rock (by Fastnet Rock), the dual top-level winner whom Timeform rated 127 at four and 129 at five.
The grandson of Danehill (by Danzig) is one of two horses beginning their stallion career at Ballylinch Stud in 2017: the other is New Bay. A top-class 10-furlong horse, Fascinating Rock was unplaced in both the Derby and Irish Derby but, on his only other attempt at a mile and a half, he beat Panama Hat by six lengths in a Group 3 contest at Leopardstown. Both of his Group 1 wins came at the expense of the star filly Found.
He is an early stallion son for Australian champion sire Fastnet Rock, a horse whose 114 stakes winners include the European Group 1 stars Diamondsandrubies, Qualify, Intricately and Rivet and whose overall tally of 26 top-level winners includes successful young shuttle sire Foxwedge, whose first juveniles ran in Europe in 2016.
Fascinating Rock is the best of three winners out of Miss Polaris (by Polar Falcon), the other pair include the Grade A Galway Hurdle star Quick Jack (by Footstepsinthesand), and his dam's four blacktype siblings are headed by her stakes-winning full-brother Euro Falcon. His grandam is the one-time scorer Sarabah (by Ela-Mana-Mou) and as she is out of the prolific Be Discreet (by Junius) that makes her a half-sister to the multiple Group 1-placed triple Group 2-winning miler Gothenberg (by Polish Patriot), to multiple blacktype-placed juvenile sprinter Omaha City (by Night Shift), and to Lindesberg (by Doyoun). That latter horse is the dam of Group 1 Phoenix Stakes runner-up Amadeus Mozart (by Mozart) and of Listed Masaka Stakes third Madam Hoi (by Hawk Wing) and she is the grandam of the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes winner Nancy From Nairobi (by Sixties Icon) and of Japanese Group 3 scorer Sweet Salsa (by Durandal). If you go back to the fourth generation of the family then you will find a string of stakes winners, including Japanese champion and US Grade 1 scorer Cesario (by Special Week), who became the dam of the Group 1 Japan Cup and Group 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) winner and dual classic-placed colt Epiphaneia (by Symboli Kris S) and his Group 1-winning juvenile champion half-brother Leontes (by King Kamehameha). The fourth dam of Fascinating Rock is Querida (by Habitat) and, in addition to being a half-sister to the Timeform 131-rated sprinter-miler Chief Singer (by Ballad Rock), she was a grand-daughter of Oaks, Lowther Stakes, Cherry Hinton Stakes and Park Hill Stakes heroine Pia (by Darius). Fascinating Rock was unplaced on his only start at two, the mile maiden in late October won by subsequent Group 1 star Adelaide, who was also making his debut. This, combined with his pedigree and overall racing record suggests that, although he will of course get winners in that age group, his best results are likely to be seen with his three-year-olds and older horses. FASCINATING ROCK (IRE) – b.2011 – Fastnet Rock – Miss Polaris, 8 wins inc Champion Stakes (Gr1), Tattersalls Gold Cup (Gr1), Mooresbridge Stakes (Gr3), Kilternan Stakes (Gr3), Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (Gr3), Ballysax Stakes (Gr3), Heritage Stakes (L), 2nd Tattersalls Gold Cup (Gr1), Royal Whip Stakes (Gr3), 3rd Mooresbridge Stakes (Gr3). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.
Top Australian sprinters have proved both popular and successful as stallions in Europe and Exosphere is among the latest to make the trip north. The Group 1-winning son of leading sire Lonhro (by Octagonal) is a Darley horse and he will begin this phase of his career at Haras du Logis in France.
His unraced dam Altitude (by Danzero) is out of the stakes-placed Highest (by Marscay) and that mare is, in turn, a half-sister to the Group 1-placed multiple stakes winner Tell Me Straight (by Is It True). Their Group 1-placed half-sister Serious Matter (by Carry A Smile) is the dam of two stakes winners and grandam of a Group 3 scorer.
Consular Belle (by Pro Consul), the stakes-winning third dam of Exosphere, won 11 times from 49 starts and that Canadian-bred grand-daughter of multiple champion sire Vice Regent (by Northern Dancer) was out of a winning full-sister to the talented Canadian sprinter-miler Stacy Mckay (by Dance To Market). His pedigree makes him something of an unknown as a stallion prospect, but with his racing record and connections he is likely to prove popular and it will be fascinating to see how he fares in this part of the world. EXOSPHERE (AUS) – b.2012 – Lonhro – Altitude, 5 wins inc Golden Rose Stakes (Gr1), Roman Consul Stakes (Gr2), Run to the Rose (Gr2), Skyline Stakes (Gr2). Sire in Australia & France. First northern hemisphere foals in 2018. The Pivotal (by Polar Falcon) stallions include Kyllachy and Siyouni, and although it looks unlikely that Eagle Top will achieve anything like their level of success at stud, he should be capable of getting some talented performers, probably in the middle-distance and stayers divisions. The Timeform 125-rated chestnut begins his new career at Hedgeholme Stud.
He is the second foal out of the 14-furlong listed scorer Gull Wing (by In The Wings), his older full-sister The Lark won the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes and was third in the Group 1 Oaks at Epsom, and his younger brother Wings of Desire won the Group 2 Dante Stakes in May before chasing home Highland Reel in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Gull Wing is out of the listed handicap winner Maycocks Bay (by Muhtarram) and her star sibling could be described as being a three-parts sister to Eagle Top. Sariska (by Pivotal), whom Timeform rated 123, was Europe's three-year-old filly champion of 2009 when she won both the Oaks at Epsom and the Irish Oaks at the Curragh. The trend for middle-distance stamina is also found further back on the page as unraced third dam Beacon (by High Top) was a half-sister to the Group 3 Gordon Stakes winner and Group 1 Gold Cup third Compton Ace (by Pharly) and they were out of the Group 1 Irish St Leger heroine Mountain Lodge (by Blakeney). EAGLE TOP (GB) – ch.2011 – Pivotal – Gull Wing, 2 wins inc King Edward VII Stakes (Gr2), 2nd King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr1), Hardwicke Stakes (Gr2), 3rd Arc Trial (Gr3). Sire in England. First foals in 2018. |
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