TDN RISING STARS

April 16, 2023 - CURRAGH, Msw, EUR €17,000, 6.0F, .0000

Democracy (Ire), C, 2, 2021 by No Nay Never

1st Dam: Ruby Tuesday (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Jude (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr)

Owner: Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg
Breeder: Premier Bloodstock (IRE)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never-Ruby Tuesday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) gave the perfect audition for Royal Ascot and outwitted his four rivals to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Sunday's Irish Racehorse Experience At INS Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh. The even-money favourite broke on the lead before settling in a close-up third after the initial strides of this six-furlong contest. Inching forward on the bridle to launch his challenge going well at the quarter-mile marker, he was shaken up to seize control soon after and quickened clear in impressive fashion inside the final furlong to easily account for Jalaybee (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) by 2 3/4 lengths. No Nay Never's quintet of earlier Rising Stars includes dual Group 1-winning sire Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and last year's G1 Phoenix S. hero Little Big Bear (Ire), the latter posting a debut second in this contest last year.

"You'd have to be very happy with that on very deep ground," said Aidan O'Brien. "He travelled very well and, when Wayne [Lordan] dropped him down to go, he was a little bit lost on the ground, but he would never have seen that [heavy] ground before. It was a good education for him, he has plenty of speed and I'd say he's a classy horse. He's big and he's strong and very laid back." Looking ahead to immediate targets, the trainer added, "There is the Listed [First Flier S.] back here in a few weeks and we could look at that."

Democracy, the latest of four reported foals, is the second scorer produced by a granddaughter of Lanwades Stud matriarch Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}) and the March-foaled bay is a full-brother to last term's G3 Oh So Sharp S. victrix Midnight Mile (Ire). His dam Ruby Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is kin to six stakes performers headed by G1 Moyglare Stud S. victrix Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and G1 Oaks and G1 Irish Oaks third All My Loving (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Quarter Moon produced G1 Pretty Polly S. victrix Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and G1 Fillies' Mile S. third You'll Be Mine (Kingmambo), with the latter being the dam of MGSW G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Ranvet S. placegetter Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and stakes-winning G1 Tancred S. third King Frankel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).