Darley

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...

His grandfather managed studs for the late Queen Elizabeth II and his father has a notable track record as a bloodstock agent, so for Conor Norris a life in racing was perhaps inevitable. But he has gone his own way to a degree, and combines his role on Darley's nominations team with his hobby of running the syndicate Keep Kicking Racing. How did you first become involved/interested in racing and bloodstock? I was born and raised around a family passionate about racehorses and heavily involved in the industry. My grandfather,...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Officer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Hydrangea {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) justified market support with a snug victory in Saturday's Coolmore Stud The Antarctic Irish EBF Maiden at The Curragh. The eventual winner was positioned in a prominent third after the initial strides of this debut. Rowed along to launch his bid with a quarter-mile remaining, the 7-4 favourite gained an edge approaching the final furlong and kept on strongly in the closing stages to prevail by a half-length from Storm Piece (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).   🇮🇪 Coolmore...

Clive Cox trainee Diligently (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}--Anna Of Lorraine {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) had failed to strike in five prior outings, but timed his breakthrough success to perfection and swooped late to garner Thursday's £626,462 Harry's Half Million By Goffs Premier Yearling Stakes at York. The February-foaled bay, a 30,000gns Tattersalls December foal turned £100,000 Goffs UK Premier yearling, was positioned in a handy seventh after an alert getaway in this six-furlong contest. Inching closer from halfway, the 22-1 chance was bustled along to go fourth entering the...

Ralph Beckett trainee Stanhope Gardens (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}--Pure Art {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) shaped with a great deal of promise when third behind the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of Ruling Court (Justify) at Sandown last month and became his freshman sire's first winner by dominating Wednesday's New 911 EBF Maiden Stakes at Beverley. Positioned second for most of this extended seven-furlong test, the 4-7 favourite seized control in the home straight and was beyond recall once hitting the front to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths from High Season (GB)...

The colt crowned Cartier Horse of the Year in 2021 when he retired as a five-time Group 1 winner; an elite miler who also won five races at the top level, notably at Royal Ascot in both 2020 and 2021; and the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero of 2021, speedy enough to win the previous year's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs. Those three summations alone should give some idea of the calibre of racehorse we're dealing with when it comes to the 2025 crop...