By Sean Cronin
Saeed Suhail's hitherto untried 280,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 acquisition Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) was let go at 11-1 for division one of Wednesday's MansionBet Bet £10 Get £20 EBF Maiden S. at Nottingham and, while still a diamond in the rough, came home stylishly to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. The eventual winner accepted a tow in third after breaking on the front end in an extended one-mile heat won in 2019 by MG1SW globetrotter Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and in 2018 by MG1SW speedster Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Looming large on the bridle approaching the quarter-mile marker, he quickened smartly to gain control passing the eighth pole and went through an impressive array of gears to go 5 1/2 lengths clear of Schmilsson (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in a matter of strides.
Desert Crown is the fifth foal and scorer produced by a winning granddaughter of stakes-winning G3 Prix de Psyche runner-up Binary (GB) (Rainbow Quest), whose descendants include MGISW distaffer Proviso (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Binary is also the ancestress of G1 Prince of Wales's S.-winning sire Byword (GB) (Peintre Celebre) and MG1SP G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor Finche (GB) (Frankel {GB}). The March-foaled bay is a half-brother to Hong Kong's G3 Premier Cup victor Flying Thunder (GB) (Archipenko), who raced in Europe as Archie McKellar (GB), a yearling filly by Al Kazeem (GB) and a weanling colt by Study of Man (Ire).
2nd-Nottingham, £9,500, Mdn, 11-3, 2yo, 8f 75yT, 1:47.26, sf.
DESERT CROWN (GB), c, 2, by Nathaniel (Ire)
1st Dam: Desert Berry (GB), by Green Desert
2nd Dam: Foreign Language, by Distant View
3rd Dam: Binary (GB), by Rainbow Quest
(280,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). 1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,985. O-Saeed Suhail; B-Strawberry Fields Stud (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video
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