SUNDAY
Almanzor, a first-crop son of Haras d'Etreham stallion Wootton Bassett (by Iffraaj), won the Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) over 10 and a half furlongs at Chantilly. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt, who was bred by Haras d'Etreham, is the first foal out of Darkova (by Maria's Mon). The mare is an unraced grand-daughter of middle-distance listed scorer Darkara (by Halling), a half-sister to Darinska (by Zilzal) who is the pattern-placed dam of classic and multiple Group 1 mile star Darjina (by Zamindar).Volta was an easy winner of the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham over a mile at Chantilly, a third consecutive victory for the daughter of Haras de Bonneval stallion Siyouni (by Pivotal) and her first at pattern level. She is trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, she was bred by T De La Heronniere and partners, and she is a half-sister to Calvados Blues (by Lando) whose wins included the Group 3 Prix de Guiche and Group 3 Prix des Chenes. Her unraced dam, Persian Belle (by Machiavellian), is a full-sister to the Grade 2-winning miler Beautyandthebeast and a half-sister to the 10-furlong Group 1 winner and Gestut Hof Ittlingen stallion Neatico (by Medicean).One Foot In Heaven won the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly over 12 furlongs, a second pattern success for the son of Coolmore Stud shuttle sire Fastnet Rock (by Danehill) and Group 1 Champion Stakes heroine Pride (by Peintre Celebre). He was bred by Craigavon Agro Ltd, he is trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, and his dam's siblings include both Group 3 scorer Fate (by Teofilo) and Specifically (by Sky Classic), the dam of Group 1 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa (by Danehill Dancer).Son Cesio narrowly won the Group 2 Prix du Gros-Chene over five furlongs at Chantilly, a second pattern success for Yves Borotra's homebred five-year-old. The Alex Pantall-trained entire is a son of the Group 1-winning miler and Haras du Petit Tellier stallion Zafeen (by Zafonic), he is the better of two winners out of Slitana (by Dansili), and his dam is a half-sister to the blacktype-placed miler Metal Rocket (by Muhtathir). His grandam is a half-sister to the 12-furlong Group 2 scorer Coroner (by Mtoto).Hawksmoor won the Group 2 Wempe 96th German 1000 Guineas over a mile at Dusseldorf, a second pattern-succcess for the dual Group 1-placed daughter of late Gilltown Stud stallion Azamour (by Night Shift). The Hugo Palmer-trained bay was bred by Tenuta Gezianella, she is out of Bridal Dance (by Danehill Dancer), and her dam is a half-sister to the Grade 1-placed mile Grade 3 scorer Millennium Dragon (by Mark Of Esteem).I reviewed Hawksmoor's pedigree in detail in the 5th September 2015 edition of The Irish Field.
Dimension won the Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes over seven furlongs at Woobine in Canada, a second graded win for the Conor Murphy-trained eight-year-old. The gelding was bred by Cheveley Park Stud, which is where his sire Medicean (by Machiavellian) stands, and he is a half-brother to the Group 1-placed dual Group 2-winning miler Spacious (by Nayef). His dam, Palatial (by Green Desert), is a half-brother to the listed scorers Ice Palace (by Polar Falcon) and Portal (by Hernando).The Juliet Rose made all to take the Group 3 Prix de Royaumont over 12 furlongs at Chantilly, a third win from four starts for the previously pattern-placed stakes winner. Bred by Guy Heald and trained by Nicolas Clement, the daughter of late Gestut Schlenderhan stallion Monsun (by Konigsstuhl) is a €650,000 Aqrana Deuaville August Yearling Sale graduate. She is the second foal out of Swiss Derby and German listed scorer Dubai Rose (by Dubai Destination), and that mare is a half-sister to the Group 2 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Hanami (by Hernando).-----
SATURDAY
Harzand wrote his name into the history books as the Group 1 Investec Derby hero of 2016. The Dermot Weld-trained colt is owned and bred by the Aga Khan and he is a son of 2009 Derby hero Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross). With US Army Ranger (by Galileo) and Idaho (by Galileo) finishing second and third, the first three home are all paternal grandsons of the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine and phenomenal broodmare Urban Sea (by Miswaki).Harzand is the one of four blacktype horses from the first five foals out of Group 3 winner Hazariya (by Xaar). He is a half-brother to pattern winner Harasiya (by Pivotal) and the Group 1 winners in his family include Seal Of Approval (by Authorized) and Hittite Glory (by Habitat).
I reviewed Harzand's pedigree in detail in the 16th April 2016 edition of The Irish Field.
Postponed is now a triple winner at the highest level following his defeat of Found in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Cup (sponsored by Investec) over 12 furlongs at Epsom. The five-year-old son of Dalham Hall Stud's outstanding stallion Dubawi (by Dubai Millennium) was bred by St Albans Bloodstock Llp, he is a 360,000gns graduate of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket, and he is trained this year by Roger Varian. He is out of Ever Rigg (by Dubai Destination), a daughter of Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Bianca Nera (by Salse), and I reviewed his pedigree in detail in the 1st August 2015 edition of The Irish Field.Divine was an easy winner of the Group 3 TRM Ballyogan Stakes over six furlongs at the Curragh, a fifth win from 20 starts for the Mick Channon-trained mare. The five-year-old was bred by Yeomanstown Stud, which is where her sire Dark Angel (by Acclamation) stands. Her siblings include her seven-times winning full-brother Alejandro and her dam is Carallia (by Common Grounds), a stakes-placed half-sister to the Group 1 Prix de la Foret scorer Caradak (by Desert Style).Three-year-old Attendu beat the star older horses Esoterique and Territories to take the Group 3 Prix du Palais-Royal over the straight seven furlongs at Deauville. The Wertheimer brothers' homebred son of Rathbarry Stud stallion Acclamation (by Royal Applause) is trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias. His dam was a blacktype scorer over five furlongs and a mile, and she, Gwenseb (by Green Tune), is also responsible for the dual Group 2-winning miler Impassable (by Invincible Spirit) and for that filly's stakes-winning full-sister Foreign Tune.Epsom Icon impressed in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by Investec) over eight and a half furlongs at Epsom, a third win in eight starts for the Mick Channon-trained three-year-old and her second blacktype success. She was bred by Norman Court Stud, which is where her classic-winning sire Sixties Icon (by Galileo) stands, and she is the second foal out of the winning mare Hairspray (by Bahamian Bounty). Her grandam, Quickstyx (by Night Shift), is a winning half-sister to the blacktype scorers Red Carnation (by Polar Falcon) and Red Fort (by Green Desert).The filly provided the first leg of an international big-race double for her connections as Norman Court Stud's homebred three-year-old Czabo, who was fourth in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas last month, earned her first piece of blacktype with victory in the Listed Prix des Lilas over a mile at Deauville. The Mick Channon-trained daughter of Sixties Icon is out of Fiumicino (by Danehill Dancer), a stakes-placed descendant of the Group 1 Irish St Leger heroine Dark Lomond (by Lomond).
I reviewed Czabo's pedigree in detail in the 30th April 2016 edition of The Irish Field.
Portage held off the strong late challenge of Chemical Charge to take the Listed TRI Equestrian Silver Stakes over 10 furlongs at the Curragh. The Michael Halford-trained four-year-old was bred by Barbara Prendergast, he is a son of Kildangan Stud stallion Teofilo (by Galileo) and he is a half-brother to the 10-furlong listed scorer Cape Magic (by Cape Cross). His relations include recent stakes-winning two-year-old Vona (by Dark Angel) and he comes from the immediate family of the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Rail Link (by Dansili).-----
FRIDAY
Minding is the Group 1 Investec Oaks heroine of 2016, the first to complete the 1000 Guineas-Oaks double since Kazzia in 2002. The Aidan O'Brien-trained daughter of prolific champion sire Galileo (by Sadler's Wells) was bred by the partnership of Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt. She is out of the mile Group 1 winner Lillie Langtry (by Danehill Dancer), she is a full-sister to mile Group 3 scorer Kissed By Angels, and I reviewed her pedigree in detail in the 19th September 2015 edition of The Irish Field.Tullius came out best in a three-way finish for the Group 3 Investec Diomed Stakes over eight and a half furlongs at Epsom, a fourth pattern success for the Andrew Balding-trained gelding. The eight-year-old was bred by Scuderia Archi Romani, he is a son of the late Le Vie Dei Colori (by Efisio), and he is out of Whipped Queen (by Kingmambo), a half-sister to the blacktype-winning pair Monsagem (by Nureyev) and Pie In Your Eye (by Spend A Buck).Legendary Lunch held on to win the Listed Investec Woodcote Stakes over six furlongs at Epsom, giving the Irish National Stud's freshman sire Dragon Pulse (by Kyllachy) his first stakes winner. The Richard Hannon-trained juvenile was bred by Johnston King, he is out of Taalluf (by Hansel), he is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Middleham (by Best Of The Bests) and also to the nine-times scorer Talent Scout (by Exceed And Excel).Smuggler's Moon made it two from two this season with victory in the Listed Investec Surrey Stakes over seven furlongs at Epsom. The Brian Meehan-trained gelding is a son of retired Coolmore Stud veteran Danehill Dancer (by Danehill) and he was bred by Bugley Stud (alchemilla) Partnership. He is out of Alchemilla (by Dubai Destination), which makes him a half-brother to the multiple winner Stardrifter (by Rock Of Gibraltar), and his dam, a half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Strategic Prince (by Dansili), is out of Ausherra (by Diesis). That listed scorer is a full-sister to the Group 1 Oaks heroine Ramruma.Order Of St George, runaway winner of the Group 1 Irish St Leger in 2015, won the Listed Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes over 14 furlongs at Leopardstown. The Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old was bred by Paget Bloodstock, he is a son of multiple champion sire Galileo (by Sadler's Wells), and his blacktype siblings include US Grade 3 scorer Angel Terrace (by Ghostzapper). His grandam is the Grade 1 star and US champion Storm Song (by Summer Squall).I reviewed Order Of St George's pedigree in detail in the 29th August 2015 edition of The Irish Field.
The Major General sprang an 11/1 surprise in the Listed King George V Cup over 12 furlongs at Leopardstown. The Aidan O'Brien-trained three-year-old has now won two of his five starts, he is a yet another blacktype scorer for Galileo (by Sadler's Wells), and he was bred by Jim Bolger. He is out of Scribonia (by Danehill) and so is a full-brother to the classic-placed pattern winner Cuis Ghaire, to classic-placed Gile Na Greine, to Group 3 scorer Scintiulla, and to multiple blacktype-placed Claoimh Solais who just missed out on a classic placing when fourth behind Misty For Me in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas.-----
WEDNESDAY
Newsells Park Stud stallion Mount Nelson (by Rock Of Gibraltar) has been enjoying something a purple patch recently and his latest stakes winner is David Taylor's homebred mare Elbereth who won the Listed EBF Stallions ToteExacta Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes over an extended 10 furlongs. The five-year-old is trained by Andrew Balding, she is a half-sister to a winner, and her dam, Masandra (by Desert Prince), is a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Irish Cambridgeshire winner Beverly Green (by Indian Ridge).-----
MONDAY
Maximum Aurelius won the Listed Prix Matchem over nine furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte, a second blacktype success for the second-crop son of Whitsbury Manor Stud stallion Showcasing (by Oasis Dream). The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained three-year-old was bred by Pontchatrain Stud, he is out of Feld Marechale (by Deputy Minister), and his dam is a 12-furlong winner whose siblings include dual stakes-winning sprinter Fred Lalloupet (by Elusive City) and pattern-placed sprint stakes winner Mon Pote Le Gitan (by Thunder Gulch). His grandam, Firm Friend (by Affirmed), won a listed contest over six and a half furlongs at a juvenile and was only beaten by half a length when runner-up in the Group 2 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1000 Guineas).