Arqana €2M Sensation Snags TDN Rising Star In Haydock Debut

Godolphin's Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}–Golden Valentine {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) turned heads when selling for €2-million at last year's Arqana August fixture, and he was back in the limelight with a highly polished debut display in Friday's GPW Recruitment Carl Foster Memorial EBF Novice S. at Haydock. The well-supported 6-5 favourite hit the line powerfully and finished clear of Under The Sun (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status in the seven-furlong heat with an impressive five-length triumph.

Ancient Wisdom settled into a comfortable rhythm behind the leaders in fourth after a sharp exit from an outer stall. Bounding forward in the straight to launch his bid on the bridle passing the quarter-mile marker, he quickened in style to settle the contest in a matter of strides approaching the final furlong and surged clear in taking fashion to rout his rivals by daylight. The April-foaled bay took several furlongs to gear down and was halfway along the backstraight before doing so. His sire's 33 previous Rising Stars include Friday's GI Just A Game S. heroine In Italian (GB).

“We were expecting him to run a good race and he's done that and a bit more,” said James Doyle. “He's still a bit babyish in his action, but he really learnt on the job and I'm delighted with him. He broke smartly and it was nice to get a lead, but he went to sleep a little bit around the turn. Once we straightened up and I asked him to show a bit of interest, he jumped straight into the bridle. He took me along good, he showed a good kick and he hit the line good and galloped out strong. His performance had everything you look for in the debut of a pretty smart horse. He has plenty of size and substance about him and he's one to be excited about.”

Ancient Wisdom, half to a yearling colt by Lope De Vega (Ire), is the third of four reported foals and second scorer produced by G3 Prix Minerve winner Golden Valentine (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), herself one of seven stakes performers out of G3 Prix Cleopatre victrix Gold Round (Ire) (Caerleon). Golden Valentine's siblings include her G3 Prix du Lys-winning full-brother Goldwaki (Ger), GIII Robert J Frankel S. victrix and GI Rodeo Drive S. runner-up Luck (Kitten's Joy) and the dam of G3 Prix Vanteaux winner and GI E P Taylor S. third Platane (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}). Gold Round, in turn, is a half-sister to storied multiple champion and three-time GI Breeders' Cup Mile heroine Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), G1 Prix Vermeille victrix Galikova (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) and multiple Group 1-placed sire Anodin (Ire) (Anabaa). It was a significant result for co-breeder LNJ Foxwoods with Gold Round being the operation's first international purchase, carrying Golden Valentine, as a 15-year-old mare at Arqana's 2012 December Broodmare fixture. Her €520,000 price tag was the sale's fourth highest.

5th-Haydock, £10,000, Mdn, 5-9, 2yo, 6f 212yT, 1:27.07, g/f.
ANCIENT WISDOM (FR), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Golden Valentine (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $125,200), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Gold Round (Ire), by Caerleon
3rd Dam: Born Gold, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
(€2,000,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £5,400. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Godolphin; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & LNJ Foxwoods (FR); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle.

Now then …..

Dubawi colt Ancient Wisdom – who fetched just the €2m as a yearling – sluices to victory on debut in the @BritishEBF Novice Stakes @haydockraces 👀

There were some wonderfully-bred horses on show here, but @godolphin's inmate was much, much too good ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/gGmovFMYff

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 9, 2023