TDN RISING STARS

May 17, 2018 - SALISBURY, Race 4, Alw, GBP £7,400, 9.9F, .0000

Sun Maiden (GB), f, 3, 2015 by Frankel (GB)

1st Dam: Midsummer (GB) (SP-Eng), by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Modena, by Roberto
3rd Dam: Mofida (GB), by Right Tack (GB)

Owner: Khalid Abdullah
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute

Sun Maiden sported the same Juddmonte silks as her famed half-sister Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who saluted six times at the highest level, and received immediate ante-post quotes of 12-1 and lower to go one better than that illustrious sibling in the June 1 G1 Epsom Oaks after following up a low-key debut fourth at Wolverhampton in December with a stunning dissection of this sophomore bow. Stalking the pace in second for the most part, the 4-5 favourite was allowed an inch of rein with three furlongs remaining and bounded ever clear once taking over approaching the final quarter mile to hit the line 12 lengths in advance of White Light (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). “She was very green on her debut and still pretty green today–at one stage she jumped a leaf or something,� said Teddy Grimthorpe. “We couldn’t be happier with how she did it and she has a really nice stride on her. All options are possible at this stage, but in an ideal world you’d love to get another run into her before the [June 1 G1 Epsom] Oaks. I’d need to talk to Sir Michael [Stoute] before we get too carried away as it was only a novice race, but she could go the [June 21 G2] Ribblesdale – [July 21 G1] Irish Oaks route. We’ll have to see how she comes out of this and what Prince Khalid wants to do.� Sun Maiden becomes the seventh individual scorer produced by Listed Oaks Trial second Midsummer (GB) (Kingmambo) and the homebred bay is a half-sister to MGSP stakes winner Midsummer Sun (GB) (Monsun {Ger}), G3 Nell Gwyn S. victress and G1 Nassau S. third Hot Snap (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and the aforementioned MG1SW dual British highweight Midday, who in turn is the dam of G3 Classic Trial winner Midterm (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and stakes-winning G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Mori (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Midsummer, whose latest offspring is a yearling filly by Siyouni (Fr), is herself kin to eight stakes performers headed by MG1SW highweights Elmaamul (Diesis {GB}) and Reams of Verse (Nureyev). Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $6,783.
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute.