Cracksman (GB)

Ecuries Serge Stempniak's hitherto undefeated Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}--Absolutly Me {F}, by Anabaa Blue {GB}) posted a third straight win when annexing last month's Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly and returned to that Paris venue for Classic glory in Sunday's €1,500,000 G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club. Preceding his black-type breakthrough with impressive early-season wins at Cagnes-sur-Mer and Bordeaux-Le Bouscat, the 19-2 chance extended trainer Jean-Claude Rouget's record to six wins in the contest after defeating 17-10 favourite Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) by an impressive...

Handed his chance at black-type after impressive wins over 10 furlongs at Cagnes-sur-Mer in January and over 9 1/2 furlongs at Bordeaux-le-Bouscat last month, Ecuries Serge Stempniak's Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}--Absolutly Me {Fr}, by Anabaa Blue {Ire}) showed his Classic hand in Thursday's 10-furlong Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly. Again exhibiting early keenness as Cristian Demuro sought cover towards the rear, the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris entry was far from compromised by that initial expenditure of energy as he swamped the leaders...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a pair of TDN Rising Stars.  14.25 Parislongchamp, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, 2150mT SILVER CRACK (FR) (Cracksman {GB}) is one of two TDN Rising Stars along with Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}) to line up in this Prix de Ferrieres which could serve as a G1...

Providing it survives a morning inspection, with the ground currently heavy and more rain forecast, Leopardstown's intriguing Sunday fixture will see a trio of Classic trials flooded with a big Ballydoyle presence including the exciting 'TDN Rising Star' Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Due to make his eagerly-awaited second career start in the G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax S., the centre of much attention at Rosegreen oozed class when beating his talented stablemate and eventual G1 Criterium International runner-up Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the extended mile maiden at Galway...

With the prospect of the initial progeny of Cracksman (GB) encountering middle-distances and testing ground in their second seasons, the signs were strong that the Dalham Hall resident would come to the fore and Thursday's early Spring meeting at Saint-Cloud proved early confirmation as the newcomer Silver Crack (Fr) stormed to TDN Rising Star status. Anchored behind the early leaders by Cristian Demuro, the well-supported 9-10 favourite for the 10-furlong Prix Suave Dancer for 3-year-old colts and geldings moved to the front well in hand with 300 metres remaining before...

Continuing our series on the profitability of stallions, this week we are looking at those who stood between £20,000 and £49,999 in 2020. Three of the top four in this table have subsequently graduated to the higher-fee bracket outlined in Part I of this series last Thursday.  As previously stated, we will be examining sires in four key price brackets according to their yearling sales returns of 2022 set against their fees at the time of covering. The average profit has been determined by the stallion's fee plus a figure...

First job in the Thoroughbred industry? Mucking out at Guirys 1 in Coolmore Ireland on my year out from University. I think there were 20 foals in the barn - 18 by Sadler's Wells and two by Danehill. Biggest influence on your career? Ultimately, my father, who introduced both my brother William and I to racing. He loved his National Hunt and we spent many a happy afternoon at Huntingdon and Towcester. Later in life, both Richard Henry and Simon Mockridge played major roles in my experience and development. Favourite...

A native of upstate New York, Kelsey Lupo spent summers at Saratoga learning to read the Form. With a degree in Animal Science from the University of Massachusetts, she has lived all of over the world working for stud farms in places like Kentucky, Ireland, Australia, England, and France. Bolstering her resume, she completed the Kentucky Equine Management Internship and the Irish National Stud Breeding Course. As the principal for Atlas Bloodstock, she advises on a wide range of services, while utilizing her extensive experience with all things bloodstock. Racing...

Tom Malone Bloodstock purchased Media Naranja (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) (lot 48) for 110,000gns and take top honours during the Tattersalls Online December Sale, which ended on Thursday. A winner of her only start, at Craon on Dec. 4, the bay filly was offered by trainer Hugo Merienne. She is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Mossy Fen (Ire) (Milan {GB}). Merienne "Media Naranja was very impressive on her first run, and I am sure she will have a brilliant future. She is jumping like a stag and she showed her...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to QIPCO British Champions Day hero Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}).   17.20 Kempton, Mdn, £6,800, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) James Wigan's hitherto unraced homebred STORMY SEA (GB) (Territories {Ire}) is a Sir Michael Stoute-conditioned half-sister to last month's G1 Champion S.-winning stablemate...

Aloa (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) gave her Darley-based first-season sire his second stakes winner with a 1 3/4-length victory in Milan's Listed Premio Coolmore over 1500 metres on Saturday. A debut winner locally in May, Aloa dropped to second in the Listed Premio Gino E Luciano Mantovani on June 25. Kept at 1400 metres, she won an allowance at Milan when she returned on Sept. 11 and was 9-2 in this step up in class and distance. Glued to the fence while covered up through the early stages, the blaze-faced chestnut...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a daughter of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Dank (GB) (Dansili {GB}). 1.58 Chantilly, Cond, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 9fT SILAWI (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a son of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Silasol (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), who was...