Star Of Mystery (GB)

Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is hoping to add another GI Breeders' Cup Turf to his resume, after trainer Charlie Appleby gave a positive update on the 6-year-old gelding. A winner of the 2022 edition, the star has won every start this year barring a third to Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. After prevailing at Group 3 level in Qatar, he added the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, and the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup in Hong...

Sunday's GII Franklin Stakes was a tale of two trips. On one hand, Larry Johnson's Future Is Now (Great Notion), exiting post 5, benefitted from a rail-hugging trip that blossomed into a well-timed opening that propelled her to the front in early stretch and on to victory. On the other end, Godolphin's Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) didn't appear a touch sluggish while leaving post 1 and gradually got shuffled to the back of the 12-horse field, necessitating a giant run if there was any hope to even get...

Godolphin's Star of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) leads an oversubscribed renewal of the GII Franklin Stakes at Keeneland Sunday. With 12 listed in the body of the field and an additional four waiting on the A/E list, the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint offers contenders an opportunity to earn their way into one of a few options during next month's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar. The Charlie Appleby runner certainly hasn't been ducking anyone since embarking on her 3-year-old campaign, having made all six prior starts this season against...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream in the Belmont Oaks.   Slipper Fits For Godolphin Miss Flawless in her first four starts in England and Dubai prior to a seventh in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) handed breeder Godolphin and Charlie Appleby a victory in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes during the final days of the Belmont at the Big A meeting...

Saturday's G1 Al Quoz Sprint resulted in a track record-setting victory for Hong Kong, with one of their star gallopers--CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (IRE) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}--Pearlitas Passion {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire})--running out an emotional winner in more ways than one. Originally racing for Howard Liang, the Michael Enright-bred 6-year-old gelding now races for Liang's estate, as he died several months ago. It was also the first victory for Hong Kong in the race since Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) captured a 1000-metre version 10 years previously. The winner cruised...

Just two races after her half-brother Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) won the G2 Al Fahidi Fort, Godolphin's STAR OF MYSTERY (GB) (f, 3, Kodiac {GB}--Mistrusting {Ire}, by Shamardal) picked up strongly in the closing stages to take the AED850,000 G2 Blue Point Sprint Presented by Longines by 1 3/4 lengths. Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}) ran second, with Tajalla (Ire) (Kessaar {Ire}) a neck back in third. The race was delayed for several minutes when both Tajalla and Thunder Of Niagara (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) broke through the...

Backing up the impression of her 11-length Haydock novice success last month, Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}--Mistrusting {Ire}, by Shamardal) turned Newmarket's Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' S. into another procession on Saturday. Travelling strongly for William Buick throughout the first half of the six-furlong contest, the Charlie Appleby-trained half-sister to Dark Angel's GI Summer S. winner Mysterious Night (Ire) and GI Just a Game S. and GI Diana S. heroine Althiqa (GB) was allowed to stride to the front before two out and...

Very few elite contests are won in the style that Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) displayed in last month's G2 Dahlia S., but Becky Hillen's star mare has to do it again at the next level in Saturday's G1 Yulong Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh. Granted more ease in the ground, trainer George Boughey is intent on pitching her against the best of the Irish in the 10-furlong test. "I've never seen her look so well and she's been training super, so it's all systems go as long...

Hot property at 1-3 for Thursday's Broad Oak Fillies' Novice S. at Haydock, Godolphin's Star Of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}--Mistrusting {Ire}, by Shamardal) made even those odds look generous as she registered a TDN Rising Star performance when breaking her maiden by 11 lengths. Having met a potentially top-class peer in the Crisfords' Carla's Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) on debut over nearly 6 1/2-furlongs at Doncaster 12 days previously, the Charlie Appleby-trained half-sister to Dark Angel's GI Summer S. winner Mysterious Night (Ire) and GI Just a Game S. and...