TDN RISING STARS

August 15, 2024 - DEAUVILLE, Race 2, Mdn, EUR €160,000, 7f, 84.0100, 2yo

Maranoa Charlie (Fr), C, 2, 2022 by Wootton Bassett (GB)

1st Dam: Koubalibre (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Kheleyf's Silver (Ire), by Kheleyf
3rd Dam: Silver Arrow, by Shadeed

Owner: Peter Maher, Carl Fitzgerald & John Baxter
Breeder: Haras d'Etreham, Riviera Equine SARL & Gestut Zur Kuste AG (Fr)
Trainer: Christopher Head

Making an instant impact in Thursday's Arqana Series Des Poulains at Deauville, Peter Maher, Carl Fitzgerald and John Baxter's Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}-Koubalibre {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) became his sire's ninth TDN Rising Star. Out of a half-sister to the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the EUR220,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate soon had control on the front end under Aurelien Lemaitre. Sent into the clear passing the furlong pole, the Christopher Head-trained 23-10 favourite registered an impressive 3 1/2-length success from Mighty Boy (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). He joins the sire's burgeoning TDN Rising Star haul which includes the top-level performers Unquestionable (Fr) and River Tiber (Ire).

Laurent Benoit bought the winner at Arqana last year and was on hand to say, "It is a good cross with Wootton Bassett and Galileo and he has always showed good quality so Christopher was convinced he would run a good race. There is speed in the pedigree and he ought to have a nice future."

Christopher Head added, "He has a lot of speed and he's done very well recently so this was a good opportunity. He is a nice horse with a good stride and he was quite green in the stalls, but it doesn't worry me that much and that will come with time and racing. Stamina-wise, he should be able to get a mile. He'll come on for the run and was very good on the straight course."