By Tom Frary
Thirty minutes after Ballydoyle's Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) earned TDN Rising Star status at The Curragh, there was another who filled the eye at that venue to also gain that tag in Peter Brant's newcomer Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Sent off the 5-2 second favourite for the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race, the Ger Lyons-trained grey who cost 420,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 travelled with distinct ease in rear under Colin Keane with the pace hot throughout the early stages. Cruising between rivals to join the 7-4 favourite Elliptic (Ire) (Caravaggio) a furlong out, the son of the G3 Prix Eclipse winner Souvenir Delondres (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) drew away to inflict an impressive 2 1/4-length defeat on that filly who had been such a taking winner on debut at Tipperary in April. The experienced Joseph O'Brien-trained Hadman (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was third. The winner is the third TDN Rising Star for his sire.
Colin Keane said, “He looks to be a nice horse and we were hoping he'd do something like that. He was very professional and very relaxed and I was struggling to pull him up after the line, which is usually a good sign. They went good and hard and it was all hands and heels from a furlong from home–I just like the performance in general. He had shown plenty at home, to be fair, and the boss has been patient with him, stopping and starting, but the horse was getting bored and so we decided to run him. He is very relaxed and I'd say that will sharpen him up a good bit as he's so quiet.”
Shane Lyons, assistant to Ger, added, “He's a lovely horse and is after doing that very well. He took it in very well beforehand and during the race he was very professional. We'll take him home and see how he comes out of the race. He will improve, as today was his first day seeing grass. Most likely the next race will be the [June 26 G2] Railway Stakes–the Siskin route.”
Dr Zempf is the third foal out of the aforementioned Souvenir Delondres, who was also successful in the Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge and third in the G3 Prix d'Arenberg as a 2-year-old. Her first was Dancin Inthestreet (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) who was third in last year's Palace of Holyroodhouse H. at Royal Ascot, while she also has a yearling filly by Kingman (GB). A half to the Listed Land O'Burns Fillies' S. third I'm So Glad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}), she is connected to the dual listed scorer and G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise runner-up Terroir (Ire) (Fairy King) and the GII Schuylerville S. and GIII Astoria Breeders' Cup S. winner Distinct Habit (Distinctive Pro).
2nd-Curragh, €22,000, Cond, 6-2, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.92, yl.
DR ZEMPF (GB), c, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Souvenir Delondres (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $138,754), by Siyouni (Fr)
2nd Dam: Dilag (Ire), by Almutawakel (GB)
3rd Dam: Terracotta Hut (Ire), by Habitat
Sales history: 420,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $16,122. O-Peter M Brant; B-Stratford Place Stud (GB); T-Ger Lyons. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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