SUNDAY
The Gurkha was an impressive winner the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains over a mile at Deauville, a second easy win from three starts for the son of Coolmore Stud's prolific champion sire Galileo (by Sadler's Wells). The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt was bred by the Chintz Syndicate, he is a full-brother to the pattern-placed filly Queen Nefertiti, and his dam, Chintz (by Danehill Dancer), is a Group 3 winner from the family of recent Group 1 stars Solemia (by Poliglote) and Silasol (by Monsun).La Cressonniere extended her unbeaten record to six with victory in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) over the straight mile at Deauville, making her a second winner of that classic for Haras de la Cauviniere stallion Le Havre (by Noverre). She was bred by Franklin Finance, she is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, and she is out of Absolute Lady (by Galileo). The mare is a full-sister to the Group 2-placed Paris Winds, she is out of the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Lil's Jessy (by Kris), and she comes from a branch of the famous Highclere (by Queen's Hussar) family.I reviewed La Cressonniere's pedigree in detail in the 26th March 2016 edition of The Irish Field.
Mekhtaal advertised his classic potential with a six-length victory in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart over 10 furlongs at Deauville. The chesnut son of Gilltown Stud stallion Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross) was bred by the partnership of Haras Du Mezeray and Skymarc Farm, he is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, and he is out of the Group 3 Prix Fille de l'Air scorer Aiglonne (by Silver Hawk). That makes him a half-brother to four blacktype earners, including the pattern scorers Aigue Marine (by Galileo) and Democrate (by Dalakhani). It is the family of Group 1 winners White Muzzle (by Dancing Brave) and Almutawakel (by Machiavellian).Bondi Beach (by Galileo) beat two rivals to take the Group 3 Coolmore Vintage Crop Stakes over 14 furlongs at Navan. The Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old was bred by the One Moment In Time Syndicate, he is out of the mare who shares that name, and she is a full-sister to the Group 1-winning miler Simply Perfect (by Danehill). His grandam Hotelgenie Dot Com (by Selkirk) is a half-sister to the Group 1 scorer Bianca Nera (by Salse).I reviewed Bondi Beach's pedigree in detail in the 19th September 2015 edition of The Irish Field.
Wasir sprang a 16/1 surprise in the Group 3 Comer Group International Oleander-Rennen over two miles at Hoppegarten, a first pattern success for the four-year-old son of Haras de Cercy stallion Rail Link (by Dansili). The Andreas Wohler-trained colt was bred by Gestut Rottgen, he is out of the Group 3-placed Wellola (by Lomitas), and his dam's siblings include the Group 1 Preis von Europa scorer Well Made (by Mondrian).Washington DC won the Listed Coolmore Stud Power Stakes over a few yards short of six furlongs at Navan, a third blacktype success for the first-crop son of Coolmore Stud stallion Zoffany (by Dansili). The three-year-old is trained by Aidan O'Brien, he was bred by the partnership of Paul Hyland with Chris and James McHale, and he is out of the stakes-placed seven-times sprint winner How's She Cuttin' (by Shinko Forest). He is descended from the Coronation Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Magic Flute (by Tudor Melody), and I reviewed his pedigree in detail in the 9th April 2016 edition of The Irish Field.-----
SATURDAY
Wake Forest won the Grade 1 Man O' War Stakes over 11 furlongs on turf at Belmont Park, giving Lanwades Stud stallion and Derby hero Sir Percy (by Mark Of Esteem) his first winner at the highest level as a stallion. A six-year-old who was bred by Gestut Fahrhof, Wake Forest is trained by Chad Brown, he was a dual 10 furlong Group 3 winner in Germany before crossing the Atlantic, and his siblings include the pattern-placed filly Wildfahrte (by Mark Of Esteem), dam of recent German mile listed scorer Wildpark (by Shamardal).His dam Wurfspiel (by Lomitas) was relegated to second place in a 10 furlong listed event at Gelsenkirchen in 2000, and her siblings include the multiple pattern scorers Wurfscheibe (by Tiger Hill) and Wurftaube (by Acatenango). The latter is the dam of the Group 1 Deutsches Derby winner Waldpark (by Dubawi) and her Group 2-placed daughter Waldmark (by Mark Of Esteem) is the dam of Group 1 St Leger hero Masked Marvel (by Montjeu).
Belardo won the Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (British Champions Series) over a mile at Newbury, a second win at the highest level for the first-crop son of Ballylinch Stud stallion Lope De Vega (by Shamardal). The stallion also supplied the third place runner Endless Drama who was having his first outing since being runner-up in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas 12 months ago. Belardo is trained by Roger Varian, he was bred by Ballylinch Stud and he is a half-brother to the dual pattern scorer Berling (by Montjeu). His pattern-placed dam Danaskaya (by Danehill) is a half-sister to the triple seven furlong stakes winner Modeeroch (by Mozart).I reviewed Belardo's pedigree in detail in the 25th October 2014 edition of The Irish Field.
Astronereus sprang a 14/1 surprise in the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes (registered as the Aston Park Stakes) over 12 furlongs at Newbury, a second blacktype success for the Amanda Perrett-trained chesnut and his first at pattern level. The five-year-old was bred by Team Hogdala Ab, he is a son of Gilltown Stud stallion Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross) and he is out of Marie Rheinberg (by Surako), which makes him a half-brother to classic star and leading French sire Le Havre (by Noverre). His dam is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner and successful sire Polar Falcon (by Nureyev).Log Out Island made all for an easy win in the Listed Toronado Carnarvon Stakes over six furlongs at Newbury, a second blacktype success for the Richard Hannon-trained three-year-old. He was bred by Yeomanstown Stud, which is where his sire Dark Angel (by Acclamation) stands, he is a £95,000 Doncaster graduate, he is out of White Daffodil (by Footstepsinthesand) and his dam's blacktype siblings include dual stakes-winning sprinter Lady Links (by Bahamian Bounty). His grandam is a half-sister to the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest scorer Bold Edge (by Beveled).Thikriyaat extended his unbeaten record to three with victory in the Listed Betfair Cash Out King Charles II Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket. The three-year-old was bred by Kildaragh Stud, he is trained by Sir Michael Stoute, and he is a son of late Gilltown Stud stallion Azamour (by Night Shift). He is out of Malaspina (by Whipper), who is a half-sister to the pattern scorers Albisola (by Montjeu) and Johnny Barnes (by Acclamation) and also to Tonnara (by Linamix), the unraced dam of Group 1 stars Most Improved (by Lawman) and Ectot (by Hurricane Run).We Are Ninety sprang a 12/1 surprise the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial Stakes over 10 furlongs at Newbury, a third win from four starts for the daughter of Thewayyouare (by Kingmambo), a former Coolmore stallion who is now at Gestut Romerhof in Germany. This was her turf debut. The Hugo Palmer-trained three-year-old was bred by the partnership of Minch Bloodstock & Brittas Stud, she is out of Brigids Cross and so is inbred 3x2 to that mare's sire Sadler's Wells (by Northern Dancer). Her dam is an unraced full-sister to the Group 1 winners Listen and Sequoyah, the latter also having the distinction of being the dam of Group 1 star and sire Henrythenavigator (by Kingmambo).-----
FRIDAY
Clever Cookie narrowly won the Group 2 Betway Yorkshire Cup (British Champions Series) over one and three-quarter miles at York, a second pattern success for the Peter Niven-trained eight-year-old. The gelding was bred by Mrs J A Niven, he is a son of former Yorton Farm Stud stallion Primo Valentino (by Primo Dominie) and he is out of Mystic Memory (by Ela-Mana-Mou), a triple flat winner who won eight times over hurdles.Ross Castle won the Group 3 Prix Texanita over five and a half furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte, giving his former Tally-Ho Stud-based sire Bushranger (by Danetime) a fourth individual stakes winner of the season. Matthieu Palussiere owns and trains the three-year-old, a colt who was bred by Bluegate Stud. He is the second foal out of Bulrushes (by Byron) and his dam is an unraced half-sister to the Group 2 scorer Tariq (by Kyllachy).Vona sprang a 33/1 surprise in the Listed Langleys Solicitors EBF Marygate Fillies' Stakes over five furlongs at York, the first blacktype event of the year for juveniles. Winning for the first time in three starts, the Richard Fahey-trained bay was bred by Colm McEvoy, she is a €15,000 graduate of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, and she is a daughter of Yeomanstown Stud stallion Dark Angel (by Acclamation). She is out of Trading Places (by Dansili) who is an unraced half-sister to the dams of the Group 1 winners Rail Link (by Dansili) and Linda's Lad (by Sadler's Wells).Nemoralia was an impressive winner of the Listed Longines Irish Champions Weekend Fillies' Stakes (registered as Michael Seely Memorial) over a mile at York, a first blacktype success for the dual Grade 1-placed daughter of WinStar Farm stallion More Than Ready (by Southern Halo). She was bred by Alberta Davies, she is trained by Jeremy Noseda, and she is out of the Grade 2-placed triple US stakes winner Alina (by Came Home). Her grandam's siblings include dual blacktype scorer The Cynic (by Leo Castelli) and she is also related to the dual Grade 2 winner American Royale (by American Standard).------
THURSDAY
Wings of Desire, who is not yet entered in the Group 1 Investec Derby, won the Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes over 10 and a half furlongs at York, his second win from three starts. Lady Bamford's homebred chesnut is a son of Cheveley Park Stud stallion Pivotal (by Polar Falcon), he is trained by John Gosden and his prior win was over 12 furlongs at Wolverhampton. He is a full-brother to Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes winner and Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes runner-up Eagle Top and also to the Group 1 Oaks-placed Group 2 Park Hill Stakes heroine The Lark. His dam, Gull Wing (by In The Wings), is a 14-furlong stakes-winning half-sister to the dual Group 1 Oaks heroine Sariska (by Pivotal).Beautiful Romance, a Group 1-placed stakes winner in 2015, made a winning reappearance in the Group 2 Betfred Middleton Stakes over 10 and a half furlongs at York. The four-year-old daughter of Dalham Hall Stud stallion New Approach (by Galileo) was bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd, she is trained by Saeed bin Suroor, and she is out of the Group 3 Princess Royal Stakes winner Mazuna (by Cape Cross). The top winners in her family include the Group 1 stars Sakhee (by Bahri), Pressing (by Soviet Star) and Mastercraftsman (by Danehill Dancer).Always Smile won the Listed Betfred TV Hambleton Stakes, a mile handicap at York, taking her record to four wins from five starts. Her only defeat was by a nose in a similar contest at Ascot 11 months ago. The Darley-bred four-year-old is trained by Saeed bin Suroor and she is a daughter of Kildangan Stud stallion Cape Cross (by Green Desert). She is out of Eastern Joy (by Dubai Destination) and that makes her a half-sister to classic-placed Group 2 scorer Ihtimal (by Shamardal) and to last year's Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes winner First Victory (by Teofilo). It is the family of Group 1 Irish Derby heroine Balanchine (by Storm Bird).Easton Angel, who was twice Group 2-placed as a juvenile, won the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes over five furlongs at York. The Michael Dods-trained three-year-old was bred by James Waldron, she is a daughter of Yeomanstown Stud stallion Dark Angel (by Acclamation) and she is out of Staceymac (by Elnadim). Her dam is a half-sister to stakes winner Kalahari Gold (by Trans Island).Launched won the Listed Prix Bedel over 12 furlongs on very soft ground at Lyon Parilly, a first blacktype success for the Niarchos Family's homebred son of prolific champion sire Galileo (by Sadler's Wells). The four-year-old is trained by Pascal Bary, he is a half-brother to the ill-fated Group 2 scorer Curtain Call (by Sadler's Wells) and also to the stakes-winning middle-distance filly Nature Spirits (by Beat Hollow). His dam, Aspara (by Darshaan), is out of the talented Whakilyric (by Miswaki), which makes her a half-sister to the Group 1 stars Hernando (by Niniski) and Johann Quatz (by Sadler's Wells).-----
WEDNESDAY
Magical Memory made it two from two for the season with victory in the Group 2 Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes over six furlongs at York. The four-year-old is a first-crop son of Tally-Ho Stud stallion Zebedee (by Invincible Spirit), he was bred by Wardstown Stud Ltd and he is trained by Charles Hills. He is the best among a string of winners out of Marasem (by Cadeaux Genereux) and his dam's siblings include the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes scorer Sayedah (by Darshaan).I reviewed Magical Memory's pedigree in detail in the 23rd April 2016 edition of The Irish Field.
So Mi Dar extended her unbeaten record to three with an impressive win in the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes over 10 and a half furlongs at York. Lord Lloyd-Webber's homebred three-year-old is trained by John Gosden, she is a daughter of Dalham Hall Stud stallion Dubawi (by Dubai Millennium), she is a half-sister to the multiple pattern-placed colt De Treville (by Oasis Dream) and she is the second foal out of the multiple Group 1 heroine Dar Re Mi (by Singspiel). Her dam's siblings include the Group 1 winners Rewilding (by Tiger Hill), Darazari (by Sadler's Wells) and River Dancer (previously Diaghilev) (by Sadler's Wells), and her grandam is Darara (by Top Ville), the Group 1-winning half-sister to Group 1 star and influential stallion Darshaan (by Shirley Heights).Zhukova easily won the Group 3 Irish National Stud European Breeders Fund Blue Wind Stakes over 10 furlongs at Naas, a third consecutive blacktype success for the four-year-old daughter of Coolmore Stud's shuttle sire Fastnet Rock (by Danehill). The Dermot Weld-trained filly was by the late Marguerite Weld. She is out of the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (by Galileo), a daughter of the mile stakes winner Caumshinaun (by Indian Ridge).I reviewed Zhukova's pedigree in detail in the 9th April 2016 edition of The Irish Field.
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TUESDAY
Almanzor, a first-crop son of Haras d'Etreham's Group 1 scorer Wootton Bassett (by Iffraaj), won the Group 3 Prix de Guiche over nine furlongs at Chantilly. The three-year-old is trained by Jean-Claude Routet, he was bred by Haras d'Etreham, and he was a listed scorer as a juvenile. He is the first foal out of Darkova (by Maria's Mon), an unraced mare from the immediate family of triple mile Group 1 star Darjina (by Zamindar).The Juliet Rose, who was runner-up in the Group 3 Prix Penelope last month, justified favouritism in the Listed Prix de la Seine over 11 furlongs at Chantilly. The Nicolas Clement-trained three-year-old was bred by Guy Heald, she is a daughter of the late Gestut Schlenderhan stallion Monsun (by Konigsstuhl) and she is the second foal out of Listed Swiss Derby heroine Dubai Rose (by Dubai Destination). The mare's siblings include Group 2 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Hanami (by Hernando) and German listed scorer Soho Rose (by Hernando), and they are out of the winning stayer Russian Rose (by Soviet Lad).-----
MONDAY
Volta became the latest stakes winner for Haras de Bonneval stallion Siyouni (by Pivotal) when taking the Listed Prix Volterra over a mile at Chantilly. The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained three-year-old was bred by T De La Heronniere et al, she is out of Persian Belle (by Machiavellian) and that makes her a half-sister to the high-earning dual pattern scorer Calvados Blues (by Lando). Her dam is an unraced full-sister to the mile Grade 2 scorer Beautyandthebeast and half-sister to the 10 furlong Group 1 winner Neatico (by Medicean), who stands at Gestut Hof Ittlingen.Bolting made it three wins from five starts when springing a 14/1 surprise in the Listed Prix du Pont-Neuf over seven furlongs at Chantilly. Flaxman Holdings Ltd's homebred three-year-old is a son of Claiborne Farm stallion War Front (by Danzig), he is the first foal out Beta Leo (by A.P. Indy), and his Group 1-winning grandam Denebola (by Storm Cat) is out of Coup De Genie (by Mr Prospector), the Group 1-winning full-sister to Group 1 star and influential stallion Machiavellian.