TDN Rising Star

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...

Saturday's G3 Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud looked a deep race for its type so early in the season, but Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd's TDN Rising Star Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Painter's Pride {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) tackled the third quick examination of her fledgling career with a degree of comfort to provide Andre Fabre with a 10th renewal of the 10 1/2-furlong Diane trial. In front from the outset but kept company by Ballydoyle's Library (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the 2-5 favourite began to turn the screw from the top of...

Ireland's Flat action may have already started and France's has been rumbling on for several days, but for many the real beginning to the season on the level is Doncaster's Lincoln H. on a Saturday which wrests the attention from the national hunt in no uncertain terms. Whether there is a horse of the calibre of Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) lurking in the prestigious mile handicap remains to be seen, but there is a strong vibe surrounding another member of the William Haggas tribe in 'TDN Rising Star' Al Mubhir...

7th-Oaklawn, $103,000, Alw, 3-30, (NW1RX), 3yo, 1m, 1:37.94, ft, 1 1/4 lengths. ECHO AGAIN (c, 3, Gun Runner--Teardrop {SP}, by Tapit) earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with a commanding 6 3/4-length debut win at Saratoga last summer. Tested for class, he faded to seventh in the GIII Iroquois S. against a stacked field led by Curly Jack (Good Magic), Jace's Road (Quality Road), and Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}). Third in the Remington Springboard Mile S. to cap his juvenile season, he returned to be sixth after setting the pace...

Favoured at 9-10 for Tuesday's informative Prix Kizil Kourgan at Saint-Cloud, the Wertheimers' TDN Rising Star Algolia (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) read the script perfectly to double her career tally and add another string to Andre Fabre's Classic bow. Despite being only a conditions event, the mile contest featured another TDN Rising Star in Ecurie des Monceaux's Snowpark (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), the half-sister to the Arc and Prix du Jockey Club-winning luminary Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and the champion Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) from the Jean-Claude Rouget stable, and all eyes...

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. Tuesday's Observations features the eagerly-awaited seasonal debut of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 2.25 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €28,000, 3yo, c/g, 8fT VALIMI (FR) (Teofilo {Ire}) has already flashed talent last term and makes his 3-year-old bow for The Aga Khan and Jean-Claude Rouget in this Prix Comrade won 12 months ago...

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 not returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) as well as the daughter of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 3.45 Naas, Hcp, €45,000, 3yo, 7fT PADDINGTON (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) will be one of the key attractions if Naas's card evades...

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...

Bishops Bay (c, 3, Uncle Mo--Catch My Drift, {SW & GISP, $280,540}, by Pioneerof the Nile) posted a noteworthy 97 Beyer Speed Figure on debut Feb. 18 at the Fair Grounds, defeating next-out 'Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense) in the process and showed his own 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy determination Sunday at the venue in his first trip at two-turns. Breaking in line with First Defender (Quality Road) and keen to go with that one, the Triple Crown-nominated bay was forced to take back when that early leader crossed over...

Root Cause (f, 3, Into Mischief--Vertical Vision {MSW, $202,979), by Pollard's Vision), second at Saratoga Aug. 14 last season in a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden which yielded SP Towhead (Malibu Moon), SP Beauitfulnavigator (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}), and SP Forever Dixie (Quality Road), made it look effortless here en route to 'TDN Rising Star'-dom at 1-5 favoritism in her 2023 bow over Gulfstream Park grass. Breaking well but in no hurry to challenge the eager early speed, Root Cause stalked from the two path in third through the first bend....

First Mission (c, 3, Street Sense--Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro), a strong second on debut behind his highly regarded Brad Cox-trained stablemate Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) with a gaudy 96 Beyer sprinting at Fair Grounds Feb. 18, ran to the money as the 1-5 favorite with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance in his two-turn debut in New Orleans Saturday. Fractious in the gate, the Godolphin homebred shot out to front and bobbled slightly shortly after the start. The blinkered dark bay recovered nicely and tracked in the garden spot in second....

8th-Oaklawn, $106,000, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($50,000), 3-16, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:48.95, sy, 1 1/4 lengths. SMILE HAPPY (c, 4, Runhappy--Pleasant Smile, by Pleasant Tap) was a force on last year's GI Kentucky Derby trail as a 'TDN Rising Star', winning the GII Kentucky Jockey Cup S. in just his second start before checking in second twice--to Eclipse champion Epicenter (Not This Time) in the GII Risen Star S. and Zandon (Upstart) in Keeneland's GI Blue Grass S. Last seen beating more than half the field home in eighth under the...