KILDANGAN Stud’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Raven’s Pass (by Elusive Quality) had an excellent year with his juveniles in 2014, and one of those blacktype scorers enhanced her record at Goodwood recently.

The Mick Channon-trained Malabar won the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at that summer festival last year before finishing fourth in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and also in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac - Criterium des Pouliches, performances that advertised her potential as a classic contender for 2015.

She finished fourth behind Legatissimo in the Group 1 1000 Guineas on her return to action in the spring, and was out of the frame in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas and again in the Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks), but, in a first-time visor, she bounced back with an impressive three-length defeat of Kool Kompany in the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.

Victory in this mile contest has her connections considering a trip across the Atlantic, where the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes could be on the agenda.

The Raven’s Pass three-year-olds also include Kataniya, an Aga Khan homebred who was unraced at two but, from five starts, is a Group 3 and listed scorer who was runner-up in the Group 2 Prix de Mallaret at Saint-Cloud six weeks ago.

The Italian colt Greg Pass, who won a listed contest at San Siro in April, is another, and his latest batch of juveniles features the Mark Johnston-trained Riflescope, winner of the Listed Dragon Stakes over five furlongs at Sandown 15 days after finishing fourth in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Malabar, who was bred by Woodcote Stud Ltd, is the best of several multiple winners out of the stakes-placed five-times scorer Whirly Bird (by Nashwan), a half-sister to the 14-furlong pattern winner and Group 1 St Leger fourth Ursa Major (by Galileo).

Their half-sister Inchiri (by Sadler’s Wells), who won the Listed Galtres Stakes, is the dam of the South African Group 3 scorer Hawk’s Eye (by Hawk Wing), and they are all out of Inchyre (by Shirley Heights), a winning daughter of Inchmurrin (by Lomond).

She won the Listed Harry Rosebery Challenge Trophy at Ayr as a juvenile and went on to take the Group 2 Child Stakes (now Falmouth Stakes) by five lengths at Newmarket, shortly after chasing home Magic Of Life in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Ascot.

A half-sister to the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes winner Welney (by Habitat), Inchmurrin became both successful and influential at stud.

Inchkeith (by Reference Point), who won twice, is dam of the French juvenile stakes winner Ingeburg (by Hector Protector), and the winner Inchmahome (by Galileo) is responsible for Venus De Milo (by Duke Of Marmalade).

That Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes heroine was a half-length runner-up to Chicquita in the Group 1 Irish Oaks and chased home The Fugue in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks before returning at four to add the Group 3 Munster Oaks Stakes and collect additional Group 1 placings in the Pretty Polly Stakes and Nassau Stakes.

The most successful of Inchmurrin’s daughters is the listed scorer Ingozi (by Warning) as she is the dam of the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes winner Miss Keller (by Montjeu), grandam of the Group/Grade 2 winners Hatta Fort (by Cape Cross) and Fantastic Pick (by Fantastic Light), and third dam of the German Group 3 scorer Ayaar (by Rock Of Gibraltar).

Of course, Inchmurrin was also the dam of the Group 1-placed triple Group 3 scorer Inchinor (by Ahonoora) who died young but was the sire of the Group 1 stars Cape Of Good Hope, Latice, Notnowcato and Summoner.

Malabar is one of the best early representatives of Raven’s Pass, she comes from a top family, and it is possible that she could win at higher levels before going on to what could be a notable career at stud.