TDN RISING STARS

September 17, 2008 - SANDOWN PARK, Race , Cond, GBP £13,000, 7f 16y, 3.3000

Wingwalker (GB), C, 2008, by Dansili (GB)

1st Dam: Emplane, by Irish River (Fr)
2nd Dam: Peplum, by Nijinsky II
3rd Dam: Chain Store, by Nodouble

Owner: Khalid Abdullah
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: Henry Cecil

Wingwalker caught the eye when beating subsequent "TDN Rising Star"  Delegator (GB) on debut at Newmarket Aug. 8 and earned the accolade in his own right with a stirring display in this, despite still exhibiting signs of inexperience. Racing keenly through the early stages of this second go, the 1-2 favorite was caught in a pocket, all dressed up with nowhere to go passing the quarter-mile marker. Angled outside and into the clear approaching the final furlong, he settled the contest in a matter of strides with a telling burst of acceleration and coasted to the line in hand to comfortably best Rileskeepingfaith (GB) (Hunting Lion {Ire}) by 1 1/2 lengths. "He needs to learn to settle, but he's going the right way and he came through quite nicely in the end to score well," said winning rider Tom Queally. Regarding future plans, racing manager Lord Grimthorpe added, "The G1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket [Oct. 18] will feature in our plans, although he might run again beforehand at the Cambridgeshire meeting." The winner is a full brother to Early March (GB) (GSW & MG1SP-Fr, $208,014). Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £13,281.