FIRST PATTERN WINNER FOR FRESHMAN SIRE RELIABLE MAN
Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club star Reliable Man (by Dalakhani) became the latest freshman sire to get a pattern winner when Narella came home a two-length winner of the Group 3 144th Steinhoff Zukunftsrennen over seven furlongs at Baden-Baden on Sunday.
The Markus Klug-trained grey is owned and bred by Gestut Rottgen – which is where her sire has been standing (he will be at Haras du Thenney, in France, in 2018) – and she is out of the nine-furlong listed scorer Naomia (by Monsun).
Her grandam is the Group 1 Oaks d'Italia heroine Nagoya (by Goofalik) and that half-sister to stakes winner Nureus (by Sternkonig) is out of the Group 2 scorer Nuas (by Aspros).
A close relation to Narella – colt by Reliable Man and out of a three-parts sister to Naomia – made €32,000 at the recent BBAG September Yearling Sale.
In addition to his classic success, Reliable Man won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Australia and the Group 2 Prix Niel at Longchamp. His dam, On Fair Stage (by Sadler's Wells), was a listed winner at Tralee and his grandam is the Oaks and Irish Oaks heroine Fair Salinia (by Petingo).
The southern hemisphere half of his global first crop includes the Group 1-placed filly Belle Du Nord.
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INTERNATIONAL DOUBLE FOR LOPE DE VEGA
Ballylinch Stud's classic star and notable sire Lope De Vega (by Shamardal) recorded an international big-race double last weekend, with the first leg provided by Vega Magic in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes over seven furlongs at Caulfield.
As noted here in May, after Wally and George Daly's prolific and homebred gelding won the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap over six furlongs at Morphettville, the son of Admirable (by Magic Albert) is a great-grandson of Starlight Express (by Century), a blacktype-placed full-sister to Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes heroine Century Miss.
That star has a variety of stakes-winning descendants including the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Natural Blitz (by Maroof), who was previously a blacktype scorer in Australia under the name Shout From Maroof.
The second leg of the double was provided by the Wertheimer brothers' homebred juvenile Soustraction who won the Group 3 Prix d'Aumale over a mile at Chantilly on Sunday.
The chesnut is trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias and the filly she defeated – odds-on favourite Efaadah – is the one who beat her by three lengths on their debut at Deauville last month.
She is the second foal and second winner out of Mathematicienne (by Galileo), her dam won over nine furlongs and is a full-sister to 12-furlong listed scorer Galipad, and her grandam is the well-related stakes winner Never Green (by Halling).
That mare is a half-sister to Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Solemia (by Poliglote), to the Sadler's Wells-sired pattern winners Prospect Wells and Prospect Park, to listed scorers Gold Dodger (by Slew O' Gold) and Brooklyn's Gold (by Seeking The Gold), and also to Brooklyn's Storm (by Storm Cat).
That dual winner is the grandam of juvenile champion and classic-placed dual Group 1 star Silasol (by Monsun), whereas Gold Dodger is, of course, the grandam of Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Group 1 Sussex Stakes star The Gurkha (by Galileo), who has completed his first season at Coolmore Stud.
Lope De Vega's 28 stakes winners also include the Group 1 scorers Belardo (stands at Kildangan Stud), Jemayel, and The Right Man.
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TWO POTENTIAL CLASSIC CONTENDERS FOR GODOLPHIN
Two members of Godolphin's juvenile team advertised their classic potential for 2018 with Group 3 wins last weekend.
First strike went to Masar in the Group 3 BetBright Solario Stakes at Sandown.
The homebred colt is a son of juvenile star and classic hero New Approach (by Galileo) and his only defeat in three starts has been when third to the Aidan O'Brien-trained September in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He is the second foal out of Group 2 UAE Derby and Group 3 UAE Oaks heroine Khawlah (by Cape Cross) and that half-sister to Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano scorer Vancouverite (by Dansili) is a granddaughter of classic-placed stakes winner Melikah (by Lammtarra).
That mare is, of course, the dam of pattern scorers Masterstroke (by Monsun) and Moonlight Magic (by Cape Cross), and of recent impressive maiden winner Royal Line (by Dubawi), and she is a daughter of Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine and phenomenal broodmare Urban Sea (by Miswaki).
This means that Masar comes from the family of Group 1 stars and Group 1 sires such as Galileo (by Sadler's Wells), Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross), King's Best (by Kingmambo), Black Sam Bellamy (by Sadler's Wells), and Adlerflug (by In The Wings) – something that will not be lost on breeders should this talented juvenile go on to earn a place at stud some day.
The following day Stage Magic, who was short-headed in a listed contest at Deauville last month, made it two wins from four starts with a short-head victory in the Group 3 Prix des Chenes over a mile at Chantilly.
Also trained by Charlie Appleby, the bay son of Yeomanstown Stud's leading sire Dark Angel (by Acclamation) was bred by Paul and Billy McEnery.
He is a 160,000gns graduate of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, he is the second foal out of Witnessed (by Authorized), and his dam is a winning half-sister to Group 2 scorer Talismanic (by Medaglia d'Oro).
His grandam, Magic Mission (by Machiavellian), was a Grade 1-placed Grade 3 winner in California and she is a granddaughter of Capo Di Monte (by Final Straw), a Grade 3-winning half-sister to Group 1 star and influential broodmare Wind In Her Hair (by Alzao).
That mare is, of course, the dam of Group 1 star and phenomenal Japanese stallion Deep Impact (by Sunday Silence), among other offspring and descendants of note, and she comes from the famous family of Highclere (by Queen's Hussar), Nashwan (by Blushing Groom), Nayef (by Gulch), Ghanaati (by Giant's Causeway), Unfuwain (by Northern Dancer), etc.
Stage Magic's entries include the Group 2 Juddmonte Beresford Stakes and the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes.
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GROUP 2 SUCCESS FOR RAVEN'S PASS SON
Godolphin's Secret Number notched up the biggest win of his career to date when taking the Group 2 International Bosphorus Cup at Veliefendi, in Turkey, on Sunday.
Previously a Group 2-placed Group 3 and multiple listed race winner, the Darley-bred gelding is widely travelled.
The son of Kildangan Stud stallion Raven's Pass (by Elusive Quality) is out of Mysterial (by Alleged), which makes him a half-brother to the Group 1 stars and stallions Dubai Destination (by Kingmambo) and Librettist (by Danzig).
His dam was unplaced but out of Group 3 Musidora Stakes third Mysteries (by Seattle Slew), which made her a half-sister to the Japanese-trained Group 1 July Cup and Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye hero Agnes World (by Danzig).
Raven's Pass is awaiting his first Group 1 scorer, but his 19 stakes winners include three others who have won at Group 2 level and also this year's high-class French filly Via Ravenna, the Group 3 Prix Imprudence heroine who failed narrowly to beat Roly Poly in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville on her most recent start.
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SHAMARDAL FILLY'S VALUE BOOST
The Marco Botti-trained four-year-old Aljazzi gave her future paddocks value another boost when taking the Group 3 BetBright Casino Atalanta Stakes over a mile at Sandown.
Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar's homebred had previously been a Group 2-placed dual listed race winner but Saturday's three-length success is her first pattern victory.
One of 110 stakes winners by Kildangan Stud's outstanding stallion Shamardal (by Giant's Causeway), she is the first foal out of dual 10-furlong listed scorer Nouriya (by Danehill Dancer).
That half-sister to two stakes-placed winners is a great-granddaughter of Group 1 Prix Morny runner-up Shy Princess (by Irish River) and so comes from the family of Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes winner and Group 1 2000 Guineas runner-up Zafeen (by Zafonic).
Shamardal's week also included listed success for his high-class daughter Usherette. The Darley-bred dual Group 2 scorer made it seven wins from 13 starts with her narrow defeat of Game Theory in the Prix de la Cochere – Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage over a mile at Maisons-Laffitte on Tuesday.
She is a full-sister to pattern-placed stakes winner Show Day and her dam, Monday Show (by Maria's Mon) comes from the immediate family of Group 1 stars Vespone (by Llandaff) and Vallee Enchantee (by Peintre Celebre).
Kildangan Stud was also the home of Group 1-winning miler Cape Cross (by Green Desert) and the late stallion, who gave us Group 1 standouts such as Sea The Stars, Golden Horn, and Ouija Board, was also in the news last weekend.
His 111 stakes winners include a total of 13 who have won at least once at the highest level and that elite club includes Guignol, the Jean-Pierre Carvalho-trained entire who took the Group 1 145th Longines Grosser Preis von Baden on Sunday.
This was a second Group 1 success for Stall Ullmann's homebred entire. He is a half-brother to Group 1 scorer and young Gestut Schlenderhan stallion Guiliani (by Tertullian), and he is out of Group 1 Oaks d'Italia heroine Guadalupe (by Monsun), a full-sister to dual Group 1 star and promising Grange Stud stallion Getaway.
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GROUP 2 FOR MASTERCRAFTSMAN FILLY
Dual listed scorer Ashiana was only fifth on soft ground in the Group 1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) at Dusseldorf last month but returned to winning form at Baden-Baden when taking the Group 2 T Von Zastrow Stutenpreis over 12 furlongs on Saturday.
The Peter Schiergen-trained three-year-old is a daughter of Coolmore Stud's Group 1 star and classic sire Mastercraftsman (by Danehill Dancer) and the €46,000 BBAG September Sale graduate was bred by Hans Wirth.
She is the fourth foal of 11-furlong Group 3 scorer Ashantee (by Areion) whose winning dam, Api Sa (by Zinaad), is a half-sister to stakes winner and blacktype producer Appena La (by Tirol).
Apange (by Simply Great), the third dam of Ashiana, finished third in the Group 2 Schwarzgold Rennen (German 1000 Guineas), was a half-sister to a pair of blacktype winners who took a total of 30 races between them, and also to a multiple winner whose descendants include recent dual Brazilian Grade 1 heroine Kiss Me Now (by T H Approval).
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NEW TOP-LEVEL WINNER FOR ARCHIPENKO
Lanwades Stud stallion Archipenko (by Kingmambo), who comes from the family of Sadler's Wells and Nureyev, notched up his second top-level winner when Forty One took the Grade 1 Gran Premio General San Martin by seven lengths at Palermo, in Argentina, on Saturday.
The Pablo Falero-trained colt was bred by Las Raices, he is out of the Grade 1-placed Forty Marinesca (by Roar), and that half-sister to Grade 2 scorers Marinero Toss (by Egg Toss) and Marpla Toss (by Egg Toss) is out of Ma Sirene (by Mountdrago), a half-sister to Grade 2 winner and 1989's Argentine Broodmare of the Year Sibaritante (by Practicante).
She is the dam of multiple Grade 1 star and Argentine Horse of the Year Savage Toss (by Egg Toss) and of his Grade 1-winning half-brother Monte Silvestre (by Mountdrago).
Archipenko's double-digit tally of stakes winners also includes the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes heroine Madame Chiang.
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NEW STAKES WINNER FOR WINDSOR KNOT
Rossenara Stud stallion Windsor Knot (by Pivotal), best known as the sire of Group 1-placed pattern scorer Euphrasia and of Cheltenham Festival Grade 3 winner Flaxen Flare, added to his blacktype tally when Another Batt won the Listed (local Group 3 only) International Trakya (Thrace) Trophy over six furlongs at Veliefendi on Sunday.
The George Scott-trained juvenile took the six-furlong contest by one and a half lengths, his third win from nine starts.
He was bred by John Nicholson, his recent form includes a trio of listed race placings in England, and his dam, Mrs Batt (by Medecis), is a winning daughter of She's Wonderful (by Magical Wonder), a full-sister to Group 2 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) scorer Alabama Jacks.
That latter pair also have a talented half-sister in Oh Bej Oh Bej (by Distinctly North), who won the Group 3 Premio Tudini over six furlongs at Capannelle.
Windsor Knot's notable progeny also include the stakes winners Asidious Alexander, Jalapeno, and Mamma Giovanna, plus the six-figure earner Get Knotted.
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INVINCIBLE SPIRIT SON GETS OVERDUE PATTERN WIN
Five-year-old Karar (by Invincible Spirit) finally got a first pattern success when taking the Group 3 Prix du Pin over seven furlongs at Chantilly on Sunday.
Al Shaqab Racing's gelding was bred by James Wigan, he is trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, and he chased home Limato in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret over the course and distance in October.
He is the third foal out of the stakes-placed In The Light (by Inchinor) and his grandam, Exclusive Approval (by With Approval), is a half-sister to Vignette (by Diesis), the dam of Group 1 St Leger hero Lucarno (by Dynaformer).