Darley

William Haggas had already annexed the Listed Prix Saraca, courtesy of Yaroogh (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), earlier on Chantilly's Saturday card and made it an afternoon stakes double by taking the feature event, the €190,000 G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, with the hitherto unbeaten Sky Majesty (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}--Majestic Alexander {Ire}, by Bushranger {Ire}), who maintained her perfect record with a gutsy display in heavy conditions. The March-foaled bay, who backed up an Aug. 19 debut score at Newbury with a neck victory in Ayr's Sept. 21 G3 Firth of Clyde...

Juddmonte's Lead Artist (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--Obligate {GB}, by Frankel {GB}), runner-up to the revitalised Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in last month's G2 Park Stakes at Doncaster, added to his G3 Thoroughbred Stakes victory at Goodwood in August with a determined effort in Saturday's G3 Space Blues Darley Stakes at Newmarket. The John and Thady Gosden trainee, who was the sole 3-year-old in this straight nine-furlong test, tracked the leaders in a handy fourth through the initial fractions of this first attempt beyond the one-mile trip. Making headway under pressure to...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Miriam's Fire in New York.   Showcasing Filly On Fire In Debut Pura Vida Investments' Miriam's Fire (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) clawed out a neck victory in her racetrack bow at Belmont at the Big A (video). Trained by Mike Maker, she was bred by Charlotte Greenway. A frequent visitor to the sales ring, the bay was a 30,000gns foal buy at Tattersalls in...

As most of us can attest from painful experience, this business will always be an exception to the axiom that "a rising tide floats all boats." Even a record, boomtime sale like the one just completed at Keeneland will inevitably have left many a vessel beached or taking on water. As usual, the September Sale extended a wide spectrum even among the losers, never mind between losers and winners, from the single colt that changed hands for as little as $1,000, to the granddaughter of Take Charge Lady who fell...

Unless you've been under a rock recently, you are well aware Darley's Nyquist has been the buzz horse the last few weeks. It's for good reason. Just two Grade I races for 2-year-old fillies on dirt have been contested in North America so far this year, the Aug. 31 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga and the Sept. 7 Del Mar Debutante Stakes in California. Daughters of Nyquist--Immersive and Tenma--won both. Logically, success on the track should beget success in the sales ring. No where was that more evident than at the...

It's early, but maybe not too early to start dreaming of the GI Kentucky Derby. At least it's not for owner Richard Rigney. Rigney is the owner of 'TDN Rising Star' Jonathan's Way (Vekoma), the winner of last Saturday's GIII Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, the first of many races that award Derby points to the top five finishers. Making his second career start after overcoming trouble to win a maiden at Saratoga, Jonathan's Way was an impressive winner, suggesting there could be bigger and better triumphs in his future....

Sir Michael Stoute, who announced his impending retirement earlier in the day, was very much in business-as-usual mode as 'TDN Rising Star' Formal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--Veracious {GB}, by Frankel {GB}) added to her impressive debut success at Newbury in July with an equally taking 2 1/2-length tally in Tuesday's British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Leicester. 3rd-Leicester, £9,000, Nov, 9-10, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:29.82, sf. FORMAL (GB) (f, 2, Dubawi {Ire}--Veracious {GB} {G1SW-Eng, $597,607}, by Frankel {GB}), who attained 'TDN Rising Star' status in her July 25 debut over this...

Blu Racing's Louisiana-bred Jovialite (Medaglia D'Oro--Juanita, by Mineshaft), a $225,000 OBS March Breeze-Up graduate, went postward at double-digit odds for Monday's Prix Fast Fox at Saint-Cloud and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette after turning the 6 1/2-furlong contest into a procession. The Fabrice Chappet trainee was well away from an outer stall and stalked the pace in second through halfway. Inching ahead soon after turning for home, the 127-10 chance quickened clear in style approaching the final furlong and extended her margin of superiority under minimal urging...

The Montassib Partnership's selectively campaigned 6-year-old gelding Montassib (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}--Felwah {GB}, by Aqlaam {GB}) notched a first pattern-race triumph in June's G3 Chipchase Stakes and outstripped all prior form to claim a career high in a thrilling renewal of Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock. The 25-1 outsider found a modicum of cover after an alert getaway and occupied a slot in rear through the initial fractions of this straight six-furlong contest. Nudged closer once past halfway, he came under sterner urging when moving into contention...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Ballet Slippers (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the first foal produced by multiple Group 1-winning distaffer Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), shed maiden status at the third attempt in Friday's Wesco Anixter EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Ascot. She had previously encountered the 'TDN Rising Star' displays of Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Falling Snow (Ire) (Justify) in outings at the Curragh in July and August and, without anything of that calibre in opposition, justified 1-4 favouritism with a one-length defeat of Music Piece (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the...

Recent Japanese transplant Palace Malice covered 262 mares in his first season at Darley Japan, the stud announced. The 2013 GI Belmont Stakes-winning son of Curlin has already enjoyed success in the Land of the Rising Sun with his progeny. Jantar Mantar (Jpn) is a winner of the G1 NHK Mile Cup this year and the 2023 G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes the same term he was crowned Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt. Palace Malice, who stood for ¥3,500,000 (€22,139) in 2024, also has the Japanese Group 3 winner Noble Roger...

Godolphin's €1.25-million Arqana August graduate Silver Peak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Pretty Spirit {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) backed up a debut fourth at Kempton last month to shed maiden status in Thursday's Watch On Racing TV EBF Novice Stakes at Haydock. The eventual winner trailed all four rivals through halfway in the one-mile contest. Coaxed closer in the straight, the 11-8 favourite quickened to the front approaching the furlong pole and was pushed out to assert by an ultimately comfortable two lengths from Sir Dinadan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Silver Peak, a...