Dark Angel (Ire)

   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 victory of new 'TDN Rising Star' The Big Con at Presque Isle Downs. 'TDN Rising Star' Nod For Dark Angel Colt Trainer Miguel Clement unveiled The Big Con (Dark Angel) at Presque Isle Downs on September 17, and the juvenile colt galloped his way to 'TDN Rising Stardom' after winning by 8 1/2-lengths (video). Bred by St Albans Bloodstock, the roan colt is owned by...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a pricy sales grad. 4.10 Sandown, Mdn, 2yo, f, 7fT ACT OF KINDNESS (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) was the third-highest-priced yearling sold at last year's Tattersalls October Book 1 bonanza at 3.7million gns by virtue of the fact that she is a half-sister to the Fillies' Mile...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a seven-figure auction darling. 6.35 Kempton, Novice, 2yo, 7f (AWT) NATIONAL HISTORY (Maxfield) debuts for Godolphin in the race which played host to Silver Knott in 2022 and is the subject of much intrigue having fetched €1 million at the Arqana May Breeze Up. Charlie Appleby...

The Goffs Orby Book 1 catalogue is now available online with 466 lots to be offered across the two-day sale set to commence on Monday, September 29. Beginning a day earlier than its traditional Tuesday start, the change was made following feedback from clients who had commitments later in the week, including the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe meeting in France. All yearlings offered in both Orby Book 1 and Book 2 are eligible for prize-money of €2,000,000 in the 2026 Goffs Two Million Series. Included in that sequence is...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a daughter of Venus De Milo. 5.00 Leopardstown, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT AMELIA EARHART (IRE) (Camelot) is an intriguing newcomer for Ballydoyle in the maiden won last year by the stable's Group 1 performer Exactly and in 2021 by the eventual Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine...

Nothing like coming 10-wide on your return to the races, but if you're going to make a comeback, why not do it big? Dynamic Pricing (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) kicked off her 2025 campaign by overcoming drama she likely won't see again, and took home the trophy for the GIII Beaugay Stakes to boot. Given a freshening after back-to-back third-place efforts in the Listed Winter Memories Sept. 13 and GII Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 17, she had not been to the winner's enclosure since her victory this...

English invader Choisya (GB) ( Night Of Thunder {Ire}) survived an objection to claim her first elite victory in Saturday's GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland, and according to her trainers, will now point to the GI Just A Game Stakes June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga. The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained mare registered a 100 Beyer in that victory, and with the race offering a fees-waived berth into the Just A Game, Ed Crisford reports that they will be taking advantage of their winnings. Until then,...

Coolmore stallion The Antarctic (Ire) sired his first reported foal last weekend. The Sepoy (Aus) mare Ibiza (GB) foaled a bay filly at Alne Park Stud. Ibiza is out of G2 Park Hill Stakes heroine Hi Calypso (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}) from the family of Arc heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}). "We are delighted with our filly by The Antarctic," said Alne Park's stud director Grace Skelton. "She is a fine, strong and athletic foal." The Antarctic, a full-brother to three-time champion sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), won...

Clipper Logistics' Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a winner of the Listed Golden Rose Stakes last out, has, for now at least, been ruled out of a trip to Dubai, according to trainer Karl Burke. Both the G2 Duke Of York and the G2 Temple Stakes in May are local options for the 4-year-old. A winner of his first two trips to the post last year, Night Raider was tried in the G1 2000 Guineas, but ran unplaced, and the result was the same in the G3 Jersey Stakes...

Dear Sir/Madam, Maybe it is just tradition, but can someone please advise if there is a justifiable reason for the stallion statistics and championships for Britain and Ireland to be combined? This is at odds with other championships such as trainer, owner and jockey statistics. This situation was highlighted to me when Camelot received scant praise for being European champion sire, but Dark Angel had many column inches written about his achievement of being champion sire in Britain and Ireland. My suggestion is that stallion statistics should be reported for...

Without a doubt, one of the great privileges of working in racing journalism is being able to get close to the equine stars and hear first hand from the people who bred, own, train, or ride them, as well as the countless people who look after retired racehorses and give them a meaningful life long after their last race is run. At TDN, we try to bring our readers a wide range of stories, from the paddocks, breeding sheds, sales rings, training grounds and racecourses around Europe and beyond. We...

"He's been everything to us," was the sign-off from Gay O'Callaghan in this must-read TDN feature from Emma Berry, who had a golden opportunity during the Tattersalls December Sale to sit down with the Yeomanstown Stud patriarch, as well as his sons David, Guy and Robert, to discuss the remarkable story of their homegrown hero, Dark Angel (Ire). If you're one of the few who haven't read the piece already, then I urge you to correct that misdemeanour before we see in the new year, but first stick with me...