TDN RISING STARS

May 27, 2023 - CURRAGH, Msw, EUR €20,000, 6.0F, .0000

Unquestionable (Fr), C, 2, 2021 by Wootton Bassett (GB)

1st Dam: Strawberry Lace (GB), by Sea the Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Crying Lightening (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
3rd Dam: Auction Room, by Chester House

Owner: Al Shaqab Racing, Coolmore & Westerberg
Breeder: Mme Camille Vitse, Mme Axelle Vitse, Mme Valentine Vitse & Guillaume Vitse (FR)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Team Ballydoyle got off to a perfect start on Irish 2000 Guineas day when the once-raced Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}-Strawberry Lace {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) powered clear of his five rivals in Saturday's Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at the Curragh for a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette.

The July 2 G2 Railway S. entry lined up as the 4-6 favourite coming back off a promising debut third in this month's Listed First Flier S. and broke sharply to seize an immediate lead upped to six furlongs for this test. In command throughout, he was asked to stretch passing the quarter-mile marker and, with the benefit of the stands' side rail, quickened clear in taking fashion inside the final 150 yards to hit the line with an impressive 4 1/4-length buffer back to Mr Saturday (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}). Unquestionable becomes the fifth Rising Star for his sire (by Iffraaj {GB}), and second this term, following in the hoofprints of stablemate River Tiber (Ire).

"It was big ask to throw him in over five [furlongs] first time in a stakes race and we felt he'd appreciate the step up [in trip]," said Aidan O'Brien. "We're delighted with him and he's going to get even further than this. Ryan [Moore] was very happy with him and he went to the line very strong. It's very hard to beat a run and he had a good run. He looks like a [G2] Coventry horse."