By Tom Frary
On pedigree, Ballydoyle's Haffner (Justify) has no right winning over seven furlongs but that's exactly what he was able to do in a key Newmarket maiden as he became his sire's 13th TDN Rising Star, Presented by Hagyard.
Having chased home the Superlative-bound Abraham Lincoln at The Curragh over an inadequate six-furlong trip last month, the 5-4 favourite was able to enjoy an easy time setting moderate fractions in front here. Always comfortable, the relative of the operation's multiple Group 1-winning stayer Order Of St George was cajoled clear by Ryan Moore to score by 1 1/2 lengths from Godolphin's unraced Al Wathba (Wootton Bassett), a €900,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate with the same margin back to another newcomer in the Hugo Palmer-trained Velociraptor (Lope Y Fernandez) in third.
With Aidan O'Brien still on his way to the July Course, Paul Smith was on hand to give the post-race lowdown. “He did it very well, he ran a nice race behind Abraham Lincoln first time and Ryan said it was very smooth,” he said. “He loved the ground and has a nice temperament, so there's a lot to like about him.”
Justify's Rising Stars include City Of Troy, who mastered the two-year-old feature on this card, the 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court and star mare Ramatuelle, as well as the recent Chesham winner Nola Soul. This is the old “Strutt & Parker Maiden” won by Alhaarth, Bahhare, Dubai Destination, Rio De La Plata and Field Of Gold. Twelve months ago, Distant Storm edged Constitution River in a photo.
“He enjoyed the seven furlongs and he will get further in time, but those better races are all open to him now,” Smith added. “It looks like he is a stakes horse going forward. He has got a bit of a way until he gets to Constitution River's level, but that was a nice run.”
Smart prospect ✅
Haffner, a colt by Justify, wins what is traditionally a strong @NewmarketRace maiden.
Team @Ballydoyle are off to a flyer on July Cup day! pic.twitter.com/Y6q0BI8pdU
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 11, 2026
Pedigree Notes
Haffner is the second foal out of the Stakes-placed Earth Strike (Zoffany), a granddaughter of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Frizette Stakes-winning champion two-year-old filly Storm Song (Summer Squall). Her dam Another Storm (Gone West) produced five other Stakes performers headed by the aforementioned Order Of St George, hero of two renewals of the Irish St Leger, a Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and a British Champions Long Distance Cup and third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Also connected to Deep Impact's Group 1-placed sibings Fierce Pride and Soft Fruit and their Flora Stakes-winning half-sister Midsummer Fair (Tanino Gimlet), Earth Strike's yearling filly is by Not This Time while she also has a foal full-sister to the winner.
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