TDN Rising Star

The seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden staged on Leopardstown's Thursday evening card has often played host to a future luminary and the latest renewal could have thrown up another as Ballydoyle's Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Mecca's Angel {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) earned instant TDN Rising Star status. Settled in mid-division early by Wayne Lordan, the 5-1 shot enjoyed an untroubled run down the outer in the straight as the stable's 8-11 favourite Giselle (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) became ensnared in traffic deeper towards the rail. Surging ahead from...

1st-SAR, $100K, Msw, 3yo/up, 7f, 12:20 p.m. The second day of the Belmont at Saratoga festival continues with a strong opening race featuring China Horse Club homebred TRULLI WARRIOR (Curlin). Dam Alberobello, who CHC purchased as a yearling for $475,000, is related to a trio of 'TDN Rising Stars' in half-sisters MGSW/GISP Jojo Warrior (Pioneerof the Nile) and MSW/GSP J Z Warrior (Harlan's Holiday) along with full-sister GISW A Z Warrior. The 'Rising Star'-quality continues through the family with Jojo Warrior's son Under Oath (Speightstown) and A Z Warrior's daughter...

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. Monday's Observations features 'TDN Rising Star' Ocean of Dreams on his bid to get his season back on track as well as the debuting full-brother to four-time Group 1-winning Ghaiyyath. 15.35 Gowran, Cond, €200,000, 3yo, 9f 100yT OCEAN OF DREAMS (IRE) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) bids to get back on...

MGISW Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) broke her maiden at first asking under the Twin Spires by just over three lengths and that is how her younger 3-year-old half-brother Star of Wonder (Uncle Mo--Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats) tackled a sloppy Sunday afternoon at Churchill Downs. For his efforts, the homebred rose into the 'TDN Rising Star' heavens. Well-backed as the 2-1 second choice here, he bided his time toward the back as the frontrunners set a hot pace of :22.65 for the first quarter mile and :45.35 for the initial half-mile. Keeping off...

Juddmonte homebred SCYLLA (f, 4, Tapit--Close Hatches, by First Defence) gave notice she'll be one to watch in the older mare division this year with a facile score in Churchill's GIII Shawnee S. Saturday. It marked the first stakes victory for the 'TDN Rising Star' following a seven-length blowout and 93 Beyer figure in a one-mile optional allowance over the surface on GI Kentucky Derby day. Last year's GII Mother Goose S. and GIII Falls City S. winner Xigera (Nyquist), fifth behind Juddmonte's champion Idiomatic (Curlin) in the May 3...

After the excitement of the Derby, there was a moment of futurity at the start of Doncaster's evening meeting on Saturday as Twafeeg (Ire) (Far Above {Ire}--Disko {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) became the latest TDN Rising Star with her impresive success in the 6 1/2-furlong maiden. Sent off at 18-1, the Archie Watson-trained newcomer from the first crop of Starfield Stud's resident tanked her way to the front soon after the start under Connor Beasley. Sent clear passing the two-furlong pole, Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum's 65,000gns Tattersalls Book 3...

After all the speculation leading up to Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, TDN Rising Star City Of Troy (Justify--Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) gave an emphatic and euphoric answer to grace Epsom's Blue Riband with one of its finest displays. In huge contrast to Newmarket, where Ryan Moore became embroiled in a half-mile drag race, the champion juvenile of 2023 was in a hack-canter from stall one so often a disadvantage but which for this talented colt turned out a blessing. Able to let the pace play out in front...

7th-Churchill Downs, $138,210, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 5-30, 3yo/up, 7f, 1:21.54, ft, 3 1/2 lengths. EXTRA ANEJO (c, 4, Into Mischief--Superioritycomplex {Ire}, by Hard Spun), unseen since a well-beaten fourth in last year's GI Haskell S., returned to the races with authority Thursday night for trainer Steve Asmussen and Winchell Thoroughbreds. Dubbed a 'TDN Rising Star' first out, the $1.35m Keeneland September yearling buy won two of his first three, yielding the win only once behind another Grade I-runner in Federal Judge (Constitution) in his 3-year-old unveiling at Churchill last...

Almost certainly bred for further than the five furlongs she started over on Tuesday evening, Ballydoyle's regally-bred Truly Enchanting (Ire) (No Nay Never--Alluringly, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) duly overcame in the style of a top-class prospect to earn TDN Rising Star status in the Visit Tipperary Fillies Maiden at the Limerick Junction track. Niggled along early by Ryan Moore to keep tabs on more precocious rivals, the daughter of the Oaks third Alluringly and half-sister to the G2 Kilboy Estate S. winner Lily Pond (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) really began to...

Being a half-brother to undefeated Horse of the Year Flightline (Tapit, Horse of the Year, Ch. Older Dirt Male, MGISW, $4,514,800), the expectations were naturally high and the pressure certainly on, and Hronis Racing, Summer Wind Equine and William S. Farish's Eagles Flight (c, 3, Curlin--Feathered, by Indian Charlie) proved equal to the task, overcoming something of a tricky trip to join Flightline as 'TDN Rising Stars.' Beyond the obvious pedigree appeal, Eagles Flight had displayed plenty of ability in the mornings, with three consecutive black-letter works heading into the...

A seven-digit yearling turned new 'TDN Rising Star', Prides Crossing (Quality Road) left her rivals in her wake en route to a stylish unveiling at Churchill Downs Saturday. The newest 'Rising Star' came into this contest riding a three-strong string of bullet five-furlong works at The Thoroughbred Center with her last four of five being the fastest on the morning. The most recent was a May 17 move clocked in 1:01.00. Stalking the pace from third as She's It (Omaha Beach) put up :22.63 and :46.30 early splits, the 3-1...

'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) will have a new running mate in the GI Belmont S. at Saratoga Race Course on June 8. After watching the GI Kentucky Derby runner-up work five furlongs in 1:02.64 (5/6) on the Oklahoma Training Track Saturday morning, Brown said he was making a rider change. Tyler Gaffalione is out; Flavien Prat is in. Sierra Leone lost the Derby by a nose to Mystik Dan (Goldencents) and finished a nose ahead of Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}). Sierra Leone is owned by...