TDN Rising Stars: Notes on the Noteworthy

By what standard is the success of this publication's signature TDN Rising Stars measured; is there an answer? Achieving black-type, at the very least, is a given in any consideration, but tweaks are necessary, as our recent “The Ones That Got Away” article demonstrates. As it happens, last season's vintage managed a sizeable haul of elite-level contests to make 2022 a relative success. Four European Classic triumphs–courtesy of Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}), Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})–were the obvious highlights.

There were others to strike in Group 1 company too, including Classic contenders Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Bolstered by G2 Mill Reef S. scorer Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and G2 Gimcrack S. victor Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}), last term's juvenile band is one of some strength. Depth is provided by G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), G3 Zukunfts-Rennen victrix Habana (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) and G3 Somerville Tattersall S. victor and G1 Dewhurst S. third Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

Statistically, 59 individuals were elevated to 'Rising Star' status in Europe last year, kicking off with subsequent black-type winner and G2 Prix Niel runner-up Lassaut (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) at Chantilly in March. It'll come as no shock to learn that Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was numerically dominant, notching eight 'Rising Stars' during the course of the season. He was comfortably clear of Dubawi (Ire) (Dubai Millennium {GB}), Frankel {GB}) (Galileo {Ire}) and No Nay Never (Scat Daddy), who all registered four. Galileo (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) were next in line on three.

Tasked with formulating a Top 10 to look forward to in 2023, plumping for those already on the black-type register would be an exercise in stating the obvious, so the net has been cast further in attempt to identify untapped potential of those yet to make their mark at a higher level. Listed in alphabetical order below, five are by sires who became 'Rising Stars' in their own right on the racecourse and the nominations, by sire, are headed by Dubawi and Siyouni with two each. It's an almost even split by jurisdiction, with France and Ireland home to three apiece. Britain and Germany are tied at two while the gender bias is six to four in favour of the colts. Aidan O'Brien accounts for Ireland's tranche and is numerically the strongest trainer. Markus Klug and Jean-Claude Rouget also make the countdown more than once.

ALEXANDROUPOLIS (IRE) (c, 3, Camelot {GB}–Jazz Cat {Ire}, by Tamayuz {GB})

Multiple Group 1 entrant Alexandroupolis, a 240,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 graduate, encountered soft ground when introduced at Galway in early September and displayed a rare turn of foot in the latter stages of the extended one-mile maiden to subdue his rivals, defeating G1 Criterium International runner-up and fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Aidan O'Brien stablemate Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won this race in 2020. He is from the family of G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 St Leger hero Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Irish Derby placegetter Wordsworth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and a distance of ground awaits.

ALIA'S ROSE (FR) (f, 3, Lope De Vega {Ire}–Quanzhou {Fr}, by Dubawi {Ire})

Jaber Abdullah's Alia's Rose had a trio of black-type performers nine lengths and more in arrears when powering to a breathtaking six-length rout over seven furlongs at Chantilly in July. The Andreas Schutz trainee's victims included Tigrais (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), who subsequently defeated G1 Prix Jean Luc-Lagardere third Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) in September's G3 Prix La Rochette. The January-foaled bay is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to G1 Prix du Cadran hero Mille Et Mille (GB) (Muhtathir {GB}), but has not been seen since her stunning debut.

ASPIRANT (GER) (c, 3, Protectionist {Ger}–Aussicht {Ger}, by Haafhd {GB})

Prior to 2022, just one horse since 2014 G1 Deutsches Derby-winning sire Sea The Moon (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) had been elevated to the 'TDN Rising Star' ranks in Germany, but last year was a departure from normality and witnessed a first ever hat-trick of rosettes for the country. Gestut Fahrhof's G3 Zukunfts-Rennen victrix Habana (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) set the ball rolling, plugging a 5-year gap opened by subsequent stakes winner Diaphora (Ger) (Pivotal {GB}) in April 2017, and Aspirant joined her when slamming runaway G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen winner Alpenjager (Ger) (Nutan {Ire}) by 3 1/2 lengths over one mile at Dusseldorf in September. Gestut Rottgen's bay finished just under 17 lengths adrift of that rival in Krefeld's November rematch, having become upset in the stalls during an elongated loading process and posting a sub-par fifth. A half-brother to G2 Diana-Trial victrix Akribie (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) and G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen second Ariolo (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}), he can be forgiven that blip for now and remains an exciting prospect for July's G1 Deutsches Derby.

BEGINNINGS (f, 3, Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}–Winter {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire})

Ballydoyle's Beginnings, a slow-starting debut fourth over six furlongs at Naas in September, summoned the required improvement when making all in taking fashion to garner a seven-furlong Dundalk maiden in November, becoming a first European 'Rising Star' for her sire. That form received a welcome boost when 10th-place finisher Anann (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) snagged a maiden at same track last Friday. Beginnings is the second foal produced by Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who shed her maiden status over the same Dundalk course and distance in 2016 before embarking on a dual Classic-winning Group 1 spree the following year. She is quoted at ante-post odds of 25-1 for the 1000 Guineas and that's just too tempting to resist.

IMPERIAL EMPEROR (IRE) (c, 3, Dubawi {Ire}–Zhukova {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus})

Jean-Claude Rouget is a fully paid-up member of the Dubawi fan club (see “Snowpark”), but nobody knows better than Charlie Appleby when it comes to conditioning offspring of the recently crowned champion sire. Step forward Imperial Emperor (Ire), whose introduction over the Rowley Mile on Arc weekend was one of abundant promise. The son of GI Man O' War S. victrix Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), herself a half-sister to sire Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), recovered from a tardy getaway and powered home majestically to earn his badge by daylight. “He is one we would try to pop out early in the spring in another novice event, then hopefully look at a Derby trial after that,” Appleby revealed afterwards and it would be wise to pay heed to a trainer festooned with another embarrassment of sophomore riches. Imperial Emperor is quoted at 20-1 for the Derby, for those that way inclined.

INTINSO (GB) (c, 3, Siyouni {Fr}–Rose Of Miracles {GB}, by Dalakhani {Ire})

Imad Al Sagar's famed Blue Diamond Stud silks of Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) were again in focus when the Gosden-trained Intinso was unveiled in a one-mile Newcastle test won in 2020 by Godolphin's GI Breeders' Cup Turf and dual German Group 1 scorer Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Justifying odds-on favouritism, he left his rivals trailing en route to an impressive 3 1/4-length win. He hails from a family featuring storied champion Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Galikova (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) and multiple Group 1-placed sire Anodin (Ire) (Anabaa). Yet to receive any fancy engagements, he is quoted at high prices for both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, with the former the likelier destination if good enough.

NAILA (FR) (f, 3, Adlerflug {Ger}–Naomia {Ger}, by Monsun {Ger})

Germany's sophomore Class of 2023 may be one for the ages with the calibre of Quantanamera (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Alpenjager (Ger) (Nutan {Ire}) and Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), to name but three, adding lustre to a trio of 'TDN Rising Stars'. One of two Gestut Rottgen homebreds on this list, Naila surfaced with a scintillating display over 9 1/4 furlongs at Cologne in October, pouncing in the home straight to win unchallenged and eased down, by an impressive 10 lengths. The March-foaled bay is a half-sister to G3 Zukunfts-Rennen scorer Narella (Ire) (Reliable Man {GB}), produced by a stakes-winning daughter of G1 Oaks d'Italia victrix Nagoya (Ger) (Goofalik), and a path to August's G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) must be on the map.

PADDINGTON (GB) (c, 3, Siyouni {Fr}–Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire})

Coolmore and Westerberg's Paddington was the joint second-highest priced lot when fetching €420,000 at Arqana's 2021 October sale, but failed to fire on debut when starting slowly and racing greenly over seven furlongs at Ascot in September. However, he was a completely different animal six weeks later and downed a hot field by five lengths and more over the same trip at the Curragh to earn his stripes in style. Post-breakthrough, Aidan O'Brien indicated an intention to start off the upcoming campaign in a 2000 Guineas trial. Bred on the same Siyouni/Montjeu cross as the dual Grade I-placed Sacred Life (Fr), he is a grandson of G1 Prix de Diane second Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). She is a half-sister to G1 Dewhurst S. runner-up Fencing Master (GB) (Oratorio {Ire}), out of G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Moonlight Dance (Alysheba), and the family also features G1 Melbourne Cup second Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}). His optimum may not necessarily be the one-mile trip, but it's an obvious starting point.

PADISHAKH (FR) (c, 3, Wootton Bassett {GB}–Penny Lane {Ger}, by Lord Of England {Ger})

Nurlan Bizakov's €130,000 Arqana August yearling Padishakh unboxed his 'TDN Rising Star' effort in a nine-furlong newcomers' heat at ParisLongchamp, offering a glimpse of what was to come with an imperious 2 1/2-length win in September. One of three career 'Rising Stars' for his Coolmore-based sire, the Jean-Claude Rouget representative was even more spectacular next time, saluting by 5 1/2 lengths tackling the same distance at Chantilly in October. He is a son of stakes-winning G3 Prix Cleopatre third Penny Lane (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}), herself a full-sister to G1 Preis der Diana heroine Palmas (Ger), and could be anything.

SNOWPARK (FR) (f, 3, Dubawi {Ire}–Starlet's Sister {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire})

Ecurie des Monceaux homebred Snowpark, whose year-younger half-brother by Siyouni (Fr) fetched a sale-topping €2.1-million at the latest Arqana August fixture, created a stir of her own when delivering in a one-mile debutantes' heat at Deauville in October. Having negotiated traffic in the straight, the Jean-Claude Rouget trainee hit top gear late in proceedings and won going away to justify the pre-race hype. “I expected her to perform well, but to also improve in the future,” Rouget explained. “She has an aptitude for soft ground and it's extraordinary when you have progeny of Dubawi in the stable. They never show anything in the morning, but in the afternoon, wow. I love these horses.” The April-foaled filly has a page to die for and is a half-sister to Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}). All options are on the table at present.