Making Waves: Breeders' Cup Bonanza For Team Europe

Auguste Rodin | Benoit Photography

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   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victories of Team Europe at the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.

 

Auguste Rodin Carves BC Masterpiece

Already a four-time Group 1 winner including both the Derby and the Irish version, Coolmore partners' Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) delivered another win in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf last Saturday (video) for Aidan O'Brien.

The 'TDN Rising Star' had been bred by Coolmore, and he is the first foal out of triple Group 1 winner Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). His weanling half-brother is by Dubawi (Ire). Rhododendron is a full-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the duo are out of Broodmare of the Year Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), herself a decorated runner and winner of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and two other top-flight races.

Shadai Stallion Station's late Deep Impact has sired five winners from just 10 runners (50%) in the U.S. Two of that quintet are Grade I winners, with Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Loves Only You (Jpn) his first in America.

 

 

 

Cheveley Park's Inspiral Best At Santa Anita

Cheveley Park Stud homebred Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), racing beyond a mile for the first time in her career, won the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last weekend for trainers John and Thady Gosden (video).

The six-time Grade/Group 1-winning daughter of Starscope (GB) (Selkirk) is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Celestran (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Starscope, herself a half-sister to stakes winner Solar Magic (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), was second in both the G1 1000 Guineas and the G1 Coronation S. Her latest produce are colts by Siyouni (Fr) and Ulysses (Ire)–named Megastar (GB) and Stetchworth Friend (GB), respectively–and a weanling full-sister to the winner. Stetchworth Friend was a 160,000gns buy by Stetchworth and Middle Park Studs out of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Juddmonte's Frankel has sired 26 winners from 50 runners (52%) in America. Of his 11 stakes winners there (22%), Inspiral is his second Grade I winner after McKulick (GB).

 

 

 

Godolphin One-Two In BC Mile

Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a Godolphin homebred for trainer Charlie Appleby, got the bob to win the GI Fanduel Breeders' Cup Mile over fellow Godolphin runner Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) last weekend (video).

Already a Grade I winner in Canada, the gelding was also second in the G1 2000 Guineas in 2021. A half-brother to a trio of stakes winners including the UAE Oaks heroine Falls Of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), herself the dam of two Group 1/Grade I winners in Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Master Of The Seas is also related to Classic winner Dupont (GB) (Zafonic). Firth Of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill)'s last foal is the winning Dark Angel (Ire) 3-year-old filly Sithchean (Ire).

On an international scale, Dubawi has 266 stakes winners (175 group/graded) to his credit. The gelding counts as one of 57 top-draw winners worldwide.

 

 

Unquestionable Stars In Juvenile Turf

Al Shaqab Racing and the Coolmore partners' Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) earned his first black-type victory in style when taking the GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Saturday for Aidan O'Brien (video).

The 'TDN Rising Star' was bred by Guillaume and Camille Vitse with their two daughters, and he brought €340,000 as a yearling at the Arqana August Sale. His dam, Strawberry Lace (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), has Almanzor (Fr) colts born in 2022 and 2023 as her latest produce. This is the extended family of Group 2 winner and sire Bated Breath (GB).

Coolmore sires sired the winners of three of the five Breeders' Cup races on Friday, and Wootton Bassett now has 15 winners of 23 (65%) runners in the U.S. Of his seven American stakes winners, Unquestionable is his second Grade I winner and Breeders' Cup winner after Audarya (Fr) won the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in 2020.

 

 

Blue Point Colt Fastest In The Land At Breeders' Cup

Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), raced by RP Racing, Ltd. from the yard of Mick Appleby, returned to the form that saw him win the G3 Molecomb S. in the summer with a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in Arcadia (video).

A product of the storied Rabbah Bloodstock breeding programme, the son of Hana Lina (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) brought just 50,000gns from breeze-up pinhooker Mickey Cleere out of Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Consigned to the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, Big Evs was then withdrawn and sold privately. His placed dam has a yearling filly by Ribchester (Ire) to come and a weanling colt by another son of Shamardal in Earthlight (Ire).

Off to a bright start with his first crop of juveniles, Darley's Blue Point has 44 winners internationally. Already the sire of French Group 1 winner Rosallion (Ire), the bay has an additional five black-type winners worldwide. Big Evs was his first runner in America.

 

 

Have I Got A Deal For You

On the Breeders' Cup Saturday undercard, Salesman (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) demolished the G2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance S. by 8 1/4 lengths for trainer Richard Mandella and owner/breeder Wertheimer et Frere (video).

The son of High Maintenance (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) is a fourth generation Wertheimer et Frere homebred. Listed-placed in France, Saturday's win was his first stakes. His G3 Prix Gladiateur-placed dam is also responsible for the five-time Group 1 winner Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) and the stakes winner Lunch Lady (GB) (Shamardal), who was also twice third in a pair of French Group 3s. Second dam Fabulous Hostess (Fabulous Dancer) is best known as the winner of the G2 Prix de Royallieu.

One of 21 stakes winners (27%) and 16 graded winners (21%) in the U.S. for his Darley sire, Salesman is also part of a 39-strong battalion of winners (51%) there for Dubawi. The son of Dubai Millennium (GB) has been represented by 77 runners in the U.S.

 

 

 

Dandy Man Gelding Strikes At Del Mar

Dandy Man Shines (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) won his second race in a row for Red Baron's Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal, LLC at Del Mar on Thursday for trainer Jeff Mullins (video). Placed at the graded level in 2022, the Let It Ride S. was his first stakes win.

Bred by John Frances Keegan in Ireland, the 3-year-old gelding was a €75,000 Goffs November foal turned €90,000 Goffs Orby yearling. He brought 105,000gns from his owners out of the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale. In two European starts, he was unplaced for Rancho Temescal's Tim Cohen and trainer William Jarvis before traveling Stateside.

The son of Zehrah (Ire) (Raven's Pass) is a half-brother to Scandinavian champion Mystery Night (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), and his second dam won at listed level in England besides taking third in the G2 Cherry Hinton S. A juvenile filly by Kodiac (GB) and a weanling filly by Bated Breath (GB) are Zehrah's latest foals.

Dandy Man, who stands at Ballyhane Stud, has now sired two stakes winners from 25 runners in America (8%). His first is GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. hero River Boyne (Ire), who is a stallion at Tara Stud. Dandy Man Shines is one of 13 winners (52%) in that jurisdiction.

 

 

Night Of Thunder Filly Proves Dynamic in NY

Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown combined to take a maiden race at Aqueduct last weekend with first-time starter Dynamic Pricing (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) (video).

The Epona Bloodstock-bred filly was a 170,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase by Mike Ryan on behalf of her current connections. She is the third–and last–known foal and second winner out of Shemda (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}). This is the female family of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}).

Her Darley sire has tallied eight winners from 14 runners (57%) in the U.S. His three American stakes winners are anchored by Grade III winners Sopran Basilea (Ire) and Pocket Square (GB).

 

 

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