Fonteyn (GB)

It is simply wonderful that there is a Group 1 winning filly called Fonteyn. The name has such a life of its own that a quick look at pedigrees from the near and distant past shows at least 20 other horses so baptized, all over the world. Why is that? When the great Northern Dancer (1961, bay, by Nearctic out of Natalma) ruled the Thoroughbred world, the names of his sons arrived fast and furious with solid connections to the stars of ballet, especially the Russian ones--a very rich vein....

Newmarket's G1 Royal Bahrain Sun Chariot S. can throw up a surprise from time to time and Saturday's renewal was responsible for one of the biggest of that kind as Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's 16-1 shot Fonteyn (GB) (Farhh {GB}) denied TDN Rising Star Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in a 3-year-old domination. Reserved early off the strong pace by Neil Callan, the Kevin Ryan-trained homebred whose previous best success had come in the Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies' S. at York May 13 enjoyed a run up the stand's...