By Sean Cronin
TDN Rising Star Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) suffered his lone career defeat when fourth in the 2008 renewal of the Curragh's Juddmonte Chaldean Irish EBF Maiden and his son The Lion In Winter (Ire), a €375,000 Goffs Orby yearling, restored family honour in the seven-furlong contest by delivering a stunning closing burst to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette of his own in this year's edition.
The 11-2 chance tracked the leaders from off the pace, racing eighth, through the early stages of this debut. Cajoled closer with three furlongs remaining, he quickened to go third entering the final furlong and went up through the gears in the closing stages to win, going away, by a mightily impressive 2 1/4 lengths from Currawood (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). The Lion In Winter becomes the 20th Rising Star for his sire.
“He's been working lovely and you would have to be very happy with him,” commented Aidan O'Brien. “He has plenty of class and would have no trouble going up in trip. He was a bit green, but finished out very well and looks a quality colt. Ryan [Moore] said his horse [eventual third Ides Of March] is more speed than stamina, so he might go back in trip. Wayne [Lordan] and Ryan said the ground is just on the slow side of good.”
The Lion In Winter, whose victory yielded a €50,000 Goffs Orby bonus, is the second of three foals and first scorer produced by G3 Pinnacle Stakes third What A Home (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), herself a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner and G1 Irish Oaks, G1 Yorkshire Oaks, G1 Pretty Polly Stakes and G1 Nassau Stakes placegetter Venus De Milo (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}). Venus De Milo, in turn, is the dam of G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup victor Cleveland (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). The Lion In Winter's second dam Inchmahome (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-placed sire Inchinor (GB) (Ahonoora {GB}) out of G2 Child Stakes victrix Inchmurrin (Ire) (Lomond). Inchmurrin is also the ancestress of GI E. P. Taylor Stakes winner Miss Keller (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), G1 St Leger hero Harbour Law (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes-winning sire victor Poet's Word (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}). The January-foaled bay is full to a weanling filly.
1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 7-20, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:25.38, gd.
THE LION IN WINTER (IRE), c, 2, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: What A Home (Ire) (GSP-Eng & SP-Fr), by Lope De Vega (Ire)
2nd Dam: Inchmahome (GB), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Inchmurrin (Ire), by Lomond
Sales history: €375,000 Ylg '23 GOFORB. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €11,800. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Sunderland Holding Inc (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Wayne Lordan.
2YO #GoffsGrad The Lion In Winter came with a late winning run on debut @curraghrace and earned a €50,000 #GoffsBonus
The son of @AgaKhanStuds Sea The Stars ✨was sold at #GoffsOrby Book 1 by @TheCastlebridge to MV Magnier 👏pic.twitter.com/GwkrN3514F
— Goffs (@Goffs1866) July 20, 2024
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