By Tom Frary
Aptly-named, Laurence Holder's 2-year-old Royal Ascot-bound debutante Born To Rock (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}–Love To Rock {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) burned up Yarmouth's ever-drying turf on Wednesday to become the latest TDN Rising Star. Prepared for the five-furlong British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' S. by Jane Chapple-Hyam having been purchased for 110,000gns at the Tatts Guineas Breeze Up Sale, the bay fitted with the stable's white bridle and reins showed key early pace under Robert Tart racing away from the main pack towards the far side. Always in command on the front end, the 7-2 second favourite opened up passing two out and was being eased late as she registered a 4 1/4-length defeat of the Gosdens' newcomer Jiwin (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), with 3/4 of a length back to the Michael Bell-trained Mirroring (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}).
Really impressive debut! Soldier's Call filly Born To Rock makes a big impression at @GTYarmouthRaces for @Rob_tart and @JaneChappleHyam… pic.twitter.com/TVTZggZxbd
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 24, 2023
Ballyhane Stud-based Soldier's Call's first TDN Rising Star from his first crop, the winner is on target for the G2 Queen Mary S. according to Chapple-Hyam. “She's worked with the horse in the previous race and with the colt that won last week and they've all been thereabouts in the gallops, but she's turned it on this afternoon,” she said. “We have to go for the Queen Mary, definitely.”
“She was a gorgeous physical as a yearling,” Derryconnor Stud's Katie Mcgivern told TDN Europe. “She had a huge walk, great use of herself with strength and size.”
Mcgivern purchased the filly for €17,000 at the Goffs Sportsman's Sale and subsequently sold her for 110,000gns to Amanda Skiffington (agent for Laurence Holder) at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up Sale.
“She toed out a little which reflected her €17,000 price tag but my husband Tom and I couldn't leave her behind. She was always such an athlete,” she said.
“She was easy to break and prep for the breeze-up sales throughout the winter. We knew we had something special as she not only had the pace but she had this huge stride to go with it and loved her work.”
“We were very excited about her heading to the Guineas Sale but Soldier's Call only had one winner at that stage so knew there was going to be a limit to what she was worth.”
The Ballyhane stallion has since had a flurry of winners taking his total to nine.
“She's a filly with a very exciting future as she's not just a sharp 2-year-old type. She has size and scope and more developing still to do so we look forward to how she progresses throughout the season. We very much look forward to her lining up in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot with a fighting chance.”
One of nine winners from the first crop of the speedy and accomplished son of Showcasing (GB), Born To Rock is a grandson of the GIII Athenia H. runner-up I'm In Love (Zafonic) who produced the G3 Stockholms Stora Pris scorer Match Maker (Ire) (Declaration Of War) and the GIII Miesque S. winner More Than Love (More Than Ready). A distant relative of the sire Weldnaas, the moderate performer Love To Rock has just the sole progeny to date.
4th-Great Yarmouth, £30,000, Mdn, 5-24, 2yo, f, 5f 42yT, 1:00.57, g/f.
BORN TO ROCK (IRE), f, 2, by Soldier's Call (GB)
1st Dam: Love To Rock (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: I'm in Love, by Zafonic
3rd Dam: Bank On Her, by Rahy
(€17,000 Ylg '22 GOFSPT; 110,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRG). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $19,196. O-Mr Laurence Holder; B-Equos Ltd & Troy Cullen (IRE); T-Jane Chapple-Hyam. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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