TDN Rising Star

Lighting up Salisbury on Friday evening, Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) dominated the Listed Longines Irish Champions Weekend 10-11 September EBF Stonehenge S. as he had his July 27 Sandown novice to suggest he will be a leading light for next year's Derby. Always travelling comfortably under James Doyle taking a lead, the 4-11 favourite was allowed to cruise to Stormbuster (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and when let loose quickly overwhelmed that rival with over a furlong remaining en route to a 5 1/2-length success....

Godolphin's 525,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 acquisition Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}--Eartha Kitt {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) earned 'TDN Rising Star' status when debuting with elan over five furlongs at Ascot in May, but skipped Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S. before confirming his wellbeing when upped to six for his July 29 return at Newmarket last time. Sent postward as the 3-1 third choice for a stellar renewal of Friday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. at York, he produced a display of raw power and claimed a career...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. A week before unveiling Justique (Justify) to a jaw-dropping 'TDN Rising Star' performance at Del Mar--more on her in a bit--Lee Searing's C R K Stable and John Shirreffs debuted another 2-year-old with plenty of upside at the seaside track. Skinner (c, 2, Curlin--Winding Way, by Malibu Moon), a $40,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $510,000 OBS April breezer (:10 1/5), came rolling home to finish an encouraging fifth...

Leaving a deep impression on debut at Deauville on Thursday, the Wertheimers' Left Sea (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Left Hand {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status with a five-length success in the Prix de la Reboursiere over a mile. A daughter of their G1 Prix Vermeille heroine from the family of Plumania (GB) (Anabaa), the Carlos Laffon-Parias trained bay was nobody's secret as the 8-5 favourite and was allowed to establish an instant lead by Maxime Guyon. Kicking in early straight, the homebred registered a penultimate sectional of 11.19...

Fresh from the high of Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) annexing Monday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville, the in-form team of Al Shaqab Racing, Jean-Claude Rouget and Cristian Demuro was back in the winner's circle once more after the hitherto untried 2-year-old colt Beylerbeyi (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}--Gherdaiya {GB}, by Shamardal) unleashed a 'TDN Rising Star' performance in Tuesday's Prix de Vernon over 6 1/2 furlongs at the Normandy venue. Bowling along on the front end after a swift getaway, the 9-10 favourite held sway throughout and kept on...

Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman and trainer Bob Baffert unveiled a potentially important juvenile in Saturday's seventh race from Del Mar, as Cave Rock (c, 2, Arrogate--Georgie's Angel, by Bellamy Road) took the race by the scruff of the neck not long after the start and scampered clear to become the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star'. Heavily backed as the 6-5 chalk in a strong-looking group on paper, the dark bay shot through to take up the running as the field linked up with the track proper and...

No secret on the board as the betting public poured into him to the tune of $1.65-1 favoritism, I'm Very Busy (c, 2, Cloud Computing--Two Kisses, by Kissin Kris) was given the most confident of confident steers by Flavien Prat and finished like a freight train to garner the 'TDN Rising Star' badge on career debut in the Saturday opener from Saratoga. Taken hold of soon after the start, the $50,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Yearling turned $135,000 OBS March breezer (:10 2/5) lagged back with just two rivals behind him for...

Coolmore has reached an agreement with the partnership that owns runaway Bashford Manor S. winner Gulfport (Uncle Mo--Fame and Fortune, by Unbridled's Song) to stand the undefeated 2-year-old colt at Ashford Stud upon his retirement. Gulfport is owned by L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, and Whispering Oaks Farm LLC. Bred in Kentucky by Diamond Creek Farm, Gulfport fetched $275,000 from Pick View as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling. He debuted for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen June 10 at Churchill Downs with a scintillating seven-length score to earn...

e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Pink Hue (f, 2, Mendelssohn--Involved, by Speightstown) was a bit short of running room when push was about to come to shove in Sunday's sixth race going two turns over the Saratoga turf course, but once the daylight came, the $310,000 Keeneland September graduate went through her gears and ran up the score to defeat the well-meant Xigera (Nyquist) by 2 3/4 resounding lengths. Guided down onto the fence after brushing with a rival at the break, Pink Hue got a foothold at the fence from...

Disarm (c, 2, Gun Runner--Easy Tap, by Tapit), a visually impressive rallying third behind subsequent GIII Sanford S. winner Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) going 5 1/2 furlongs on debut at Churchill Downs June 19, took a big step forward to earn 'TDN Rising Star' honors in his second trip to the post at Saratoga Saturday. Drawn on the fence in this seven-furlong affair, the Winchell homebred traveled nicely on the inside in fifth through an opening quarter in :22.77. The 9-5 second-choice was tipped out three deep leaving the quarter...

Jace's Road (c, 2, Quality Road--Out Post, by Silver Deputy), a $510,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, put on a show at Ellis Park Saturday afternoon en route to 'TDN Rising Star' honors. The bay worked four furlongs in :48 2/5 (2/90) at Brad Cox's Churchill Downs base July 29 and was hammered down to 7-5 favoritism while drawn on the outside in post nine against this deep-looking bunch. He chased on the outside in third though an opening quarter in :22.47, loomed boldly under confident handling while three-wide on the...

Not even favourite for Saturday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S., it is no wild statement that TDN Rising Star Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) could be the best juvenile Aidan O'Brien has had though his hands after a display of power to scintillate the Curragh faithful. Always in his comfort zone on the front under Ryan Moore as chief rival Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) blew the start, the June 15 Listed Windsor Castle S. and July 16 G3 Anglesey S. winner was shaken up by Ryan Moore to put...