GROUP 1 WINNER No.14 FOR INVINCIBLE SPIRIT
Irish National Stud flag bearer Invincible Spirit (by Green Desert) added another Group 1 star to his tally when Signs Of Blessing made all to take the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs at Deauville on Sunday, bring him just one short of the number needed to get his name added to the list of Protected Names.
The Francois Rohaut-trained gelding was bred by Serge Boucheron, he is out of Sun Bittern (by Seeking The Gold), and his stakes-placed grandam, Sunray Superstar (by Nashwan), is a full-sister to the classic-placed French Group 1 winner Nadia.
It is a prolific blacktype family whose various notable performers include US champion Flawlessly (by Affirmed), Group 2 Yorkshire Cup and Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes scorer Zindabad (by Shirley Heights), and much farther back, Halo (by Hail To Reason), Tosmah (by Rim Tam), Cannonade (by Bold Bidder), Arctic Tern (by Sea Bird II), Northern Dancer (by Nearctic) and Danehill (by Danzig).
Signs Of Blessing is a €102,000 Arqana Deauville August Sale graduate and his full-sister is Lot 129 in this year's edition of that famous auction, which starts on Sunday.
Invincible Spirit's top runners in 2016 also feature Group 1 King's Stand Stakes winner and future Darley stallion Profitable.
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15TH PATTERN WINNER FOR DARK ANGEL
Yeomanstown Stud stallion Dark Angel (by Acclamation) is currently fourth behind Galileo, Sea The Stars and Dubawi in the combined Ireland & UK sires' championship title race, and when Nations Alexander won at Newmarket on Saturday she became his 15th individual pattern winner.
His overall total of stakes winners is 30, this Richard Hannon-trained juvenile was previously a listed scorer and Group 2-placed, and her latest success came in the Group 3 German-Thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes over seven furlongs.
Noel O'Callaghan's grey was bred by Oakhill Stud, she made 34,000gns in Newmarket as a foal and 50,000gns at the same venue last October.
She is the second foal out of Party Whip (by Whipper), who is an unplaced half-sister to to the Group 2 Richmond Stakes winner Always Hopeful (by Mind Games). That colt also earned blacktype when third in both the Group 1 Prix Morny and Group 1 Middle Park Stakes.
The mare's siblings also include the prolific mile handicapper Extraterrestrial (by Mind Games) and the stakes-placed Nacho Libre (by Kyllachy), and she comes from the family of Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Front Row (by Epaulette).
Dark Angel, who has several young sons at stud, has also been represented in 2016 by the pattern winners Mecca's Angel, Divine and Markaz, and also by a string of listed scorers.
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BIG RESULTS FOR ZOFFANY & HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR
Coolmore Stud's exciting second-crop sire Zoffany (by Dansili) got his seventh pattern race scorer, among 10 stakes winners, when Ventura Storm impressed in the Group 3 Haras de la Pomme (Argentine) Prix de Reux over 12 and a half furlongs at Deauville on Sunday.
Bred by Laurence Kennedy and trained by Richard Hannon, the Group 1 Ladbrokes St Leger entrant is out Sarawati (by Haafhd). She is a half-sister to the listed scorer and Group 2 Lancashire Oaks and Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes runner-up Sahool (by Unfuwain), and also to the dams of Group 2 stars Gutaifan (by Dark Angel) and Maraahel (by Alzao).
Others of note in the family include the pattern-winning sprinters Muhbubh (by Blushing Groom), Kayrawan (by Mr Prospector), and Magical Memory (by Zebedee).
Coolmore Stud's classic sire Holy Roman Emperor (by Danehill) was also in the news this week because he recorded another win at the highest level when his Brazilian-bred son Maraton won the Grade 1 Grand Premio J Adhemar de Almeida Prado over a mile at Cidade Jardim on Saturday.
The Haras Santa Camila-bred colt rounded off his juvenile season with victory in the Grade 1 Grande Premio Farwell over the same course and distance in June, so his latest success confirms his position as a leading classic contender in his native land.
He is out of Virgo Dancer (by Fantastic Dancer), who is a half-sister to dual Grade 2-winning miler Scalinatella (by Public Purse), and his grandam is the Grade 3-placed Cybill (by Music Prospector).
This is the family of the Brazilian Triple Crown winners Emerald Hill (by Locris; fourth dam of Maraton) and Colina Verde (by Know Heights; out of half-sister to Cybill).
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LISTED SUCCESS FOR TEOFILO FILLY
Adool made it two wins from three starts when taking the Listed Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Hurry Harriet Stakes over nine and a half furlongs at Gowran Park on Wednesday evening.
The Dermot Weld-trained three-year-old, who only defeat is her third-place finish in last month's Group 3 Meld Stakes at Leopardstown, is owned and bred by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, she is a daughter of Kildangan Stud's classic sire Teofilo (by Galileo), and she is out of Khulood (by Storm Cat).
That mare is a pattern-winning half-sister to Group 1 stars Elnadim (by Danzig) and Mehthaaf (by Nureyev) and so comes from the famous family of Dubai Millennium (by Seeking The Gold) and many other top-level stars.
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ANOTHER FOR WAR FRONT
Claiborne Farms stallion War Front (by Danzig) added another European pattern winner to his tally when the John Gosden-trained three-year-old Royal Artillery won the Group 3 Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes over 10 and a half furlongs at Haydock on Saturday.
The colt broke the track record, this was his second win from four starts, and he is a Fasig-Tipton foal sale graduate who cost $450,000. His Grade 3-winning dam, Masseuse (by Dynaformer), is a half-sister to two US stakes winners, and his stakes-winning third dam Footy (by Topsider) is responsible for the Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner Footing (by Forty Niner).
He was bred by Jpr Stable Llc, he is inbred 3x3 to Mr Prospector (by Raise A Native), and his prolific fifth dam, Romanticism (by Bold Ruler), was a multiple blacktype-winning daughter of 1956 US juvenile filly champion Romanita (by Roman).
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GOOD SPELL FOR GROUP 1-WINNING MARES
Mares who won at the highest level have been represented by a lot of winners over the past few weeks, and the roll of honour, since last weekend, includes these horses.
Grade 1 Ramona Handicap scorer Tuzla (by Panoramic) is the dam of the Darley-bred and Michael Halford-trained Group 3 Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Phoenix Sprint Stakes winner Toscanini (by Shamardal).
The gelding is inbred 4x3 to the graded-winning mare Immense (by Roberto) as she is the dam of Panoramic (by Rainbow Quest) and of top US runner Mariah's Storm (by Rahy), the mare who gave us Shamardal's prolific Group 1-winning and triple US champion sire father Giant's Causeway (by Storm Cat).
If you go back a few more generations of his pedigree then you will find a string of major winners, including sprint, juvenile and classic stars.
Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes winner Hibaayeb (by Singspiel) got off the mark at stud when Wuheida (by Dubawi), her second foal, made a winning debut over seven furlongs at Newmarket on Saturday. The Darley-bred juvenile is trained by Charlie Appleby and she holds an entry in the Group 2 Shadwell Rockfel Stakes.
Group 1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Kinnaird (by Dr Devious), who is the dam of Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Berkshire (by Mount Nelson), was represented at Haydock on Saturday by Abdon (by Cacique), who took a 10 and a half furlong handicap.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained three-year-old is a stakes-placed dual winner, he was bred by Newsells Park Stud, and his siblings also include Keenes Royale (by Red Ransom), the multiple winning dam of classic-placed Group 2 scorer and young Coolmore Stud stallion Ivawood (by Zebedee).
Balisada (by Kris) won the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, she is the dam of the capable stayer El Salvador (by Galileo) and listed scorer Galatic Star (by Galileo), and her three-year-old Kummiya (by Dansili) won a mile handicap at Ffos Las on Monday, a third success for the Roger Charlton-trained gelding.
Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Mail The Desert (by Desert Prince) is the dam of Zwayyan (by Pivotal), the William Haggas-trained three-year-old who made it third time lucky with seven-furlong success at Lingfield on Tuesday.
Zanzibar (by In The Wings) won the Group 1 Oaks d'Italia in 2001 and her Clive Cox-trained son Totally Committed (by Invincible Spirit) won a 10-furlong handicap at Bath on Wednesday.
That same day, Cheveley Park Stud homebred Aristocratic (by Exceed And Excel) got off the mark over seven furlongs at Kempton. She is out of Group 1 Lockinge Stakes star Peeress (by Pivotal).
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's homebred three-year-old Takatul (by Smart Strike) is now unbeaten in three starts following an odds-on success over a mile at Salisbury on Wednesday. The Charles Hills-trained colt is out of Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Torrestrella (by Orpen), and this half-brother to Group 3 scorers Farmah (by Speightstown) and Intilaaq (by Dynaformer) looks one to note.
On Thursday, the Brendan Powell-trained gelding Mysterious Man (by Manduro) made a winning debut over hurdles at Worcester. The dual flat-scorer is out of Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Edabiya (by Rainbow Quest).
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SIBLINGS OF GROUP 1 WINNERS
Quite a few relations of Group/Grade 1 scorers visited the winners' enclosure in the past week, but these are ones who are full- or half-siblings to such stars, rather than being more distantly connected.
Invincible Ridge (by Invincible Spirit), a full-brother to Group 1 King's Stand Stakes winner Profitable and half-brother to pattern scorer Ridge Ranger (by Bushranger), notched-up his sixth win when scoring over five furlongs at Ayr on Saturday evening. The Eric Alston-trained gelding is out of Dani Ridge (by Indian Ridge), and he was bred by Con Harrington.
First Sitting (by Dansili) notched-up his fourth win when taking a 10-furlong handicap at Newmarket on Saturday. The Chris Wall-trained gelding was bred by Juddmonte Farms Ltd, he is out of Aspiring Diva (by Distant View), and that makes him a full-brother to Group 1 Matron Stakes heroine Emulous.
Hydrangea (by Galileo), odds-on winner of a seven-furlong maiden at the Curragh on Sunday, is out of Group 2-winning sprinter Beauty Is Truth (by Pivotal) and that makes her a full-sister to The United States, who won the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes over 10 furlongs at Rosehill, in Australia, in March.
Gold Hunter (by Invincible Spirit) got his second win from 24 starts when scoring over six furlongs at Chepstow on Tuesday. He is out of Goldthroat (by Zafonic) and that makes him a half-brother to the Group 1 Criterium International winner Zafisio (by Efisio).
Odds-on Thirsk 12-furlong scorer Walpole (by Rock Of Gibraltar), who is out of Serena's Storm (by Statue Of Liberty), is a half-brother to the Group 1 Coronation Stakes and Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Rizeena (by Iffraaj).
That same day, five-year-old gelding Spiritueux (by Invincible Spirit) justified favouritism in a 12 and a half furlong handicap at Deauville. He is out of Stormina (by Gulch) and the best of his siblings is the classic-placed dual French Group 1 star Silasol (by Monsun).
Then Romantic (by Holy Roman Emperor) won a nine and a half furlong handicap at Gowran Park. He is out of Welsh Love (by Ela-Mana-Mou) and the best of his five blacktype siblings is the classic-placed Group 1 Grand Criterium scorer Second Empire (by Fairy King).
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FRESHMAN ROUND-UP
The front-running victory of Majoris (by Frankel) was one of the most impressive performances from a two-year-old last weekend. Winning for the second time in three starts, the Hugo Palmer-trained colt took Newmarket's seven-furlong nursery by seven lengths.
He is owned and bred by Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd, he is the first foal out of Drops (by Kingmambo), and his grandam is the dual Oaks heroine Alexandrova (by Sadler's Wells), which makes him inbred 3x3 to that star's sire.
Overbury Stud's classic-placed Group 2 scorer Delegator (by Dansili) added another to his tally when Crossfields Racing's homebred filly Delectation made a winning debut over six furlongs at Thirsk on Tuesday.
The Bryan Smart-trained bay is the third foal and third winner out of Chushka (by Pivotal), his dam is a half-sister to Group 2 scorer Captain Hurricane (by Desert Style), and his grandam, Ravine (by Indian Ridge), is a half-sister to the ill-fated classic-placed Group 2 Falmouth Stakes heroine Niche (by Risk Me).
Kings Gift (by Casamento) got off the mark at the second attempt when scoring over seven furlongs at Ayr on Saturday. The Michael Dods-trained colt was bred by Old Carhue & Graeng Bloodstock, and his winning dam, Jawaaneb (by Kingmambo), is out of a full-sister to Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sakhee (by Bahri).
Mur Hiba (by Helmet) made it third time lucky when winning over five furlongs at the Curragh on Sunday, Notalot (by Sir Prancealot) was running for the fifth time when he took a nursery over seven furlongs at Chepstow, and so too was Megan Lily (by Dragon Pulse) when she scored at Chelmsford.
Her Irish National Stud-based sire struck again when his now dual-winning son Northern Thunder scored over six furlongs at Kempton on Wednesday.
For Bath scorer Blue Suede (by Requinto), victory came at the sixth attempt, and for Sir Viktor (by Sir Prancealot), who won at Beverley that same day, his five-furlong success came on his fourth start.
Sweetasever (by Power) was also running for the fourth time when getting off the mark in the nursery at Gowran Park on Wednesday. She is out of a half-sister to classic sire and prolific Group 1 star Rock Of Gibraltar (by Danehill).
On Tuesday, the Brian Meehan-trained colt Shipping Forecast (by Harbour Watch) added to his sire's tally with maiden success over seven furlongs at Chepstow. The blacktype-entered colt is out of Early Morning Rain (by Rock Of Gibraltar), and that mare is a half-sister to Group 1 Irish Derby and Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes winner Treasure Beach (by Galileo).
Soldier's Girl (by Sepoy) was an odds-on winner over seven furlongs at Kempton on Wednesday evening. The Richard Hannon-trained filly is a half-sister to multiple listed scorer Air Crew (by Pollard's Vision).
Devil's Bridge (by Casamento) won over a mile at Newcastle and Ultimate Avenue (by Excelebration) scored at Newbury, both on Friday.