Etoile

Undefeated on American soil, No Nay Mets showed promise on debut in taking Gulfstream's Royal Palm Juvenile S. May 13 to earn a spot in the gate for Royal Ascot's G2 Norfolk S. After selling for £800,000 at Goff's London Sale just before the Ascot meet, he was soundly beaten in the Norfolk. The Irish-bred then returned to the East Coast with a dominant win as the heavy favorite in Monmouth's Tyro S. last time out July 30. Despite running over his fourth track in as many starts, No Nay...

An upset winner at 10-1 in his Gulfstream debut tackling the Royal Palm Juvenile S., No Nay Mets rebounded from a poor performance at Royal Ascot in the G2 Norfolk S. with a nice showing in Sunday's Tyro S. stateside on the Jersey Shore. The popular wagering choice at 4-5, the 2-year-old looked to repeat his Florida effort by again going straight out for the early advantage, quickly opening up a length on the field in this five-furlong sprint despite a minor bobble at the gate. Showing the way under...

When the market determines the value of something, they call it "the going rate." In the case of George Weaver's two juvenile winners at Gulfstream last Saturday, however, a recent pricing had meant that neither was going anywhere. No Nay Mets (Ire) (No Nay Never) was staying in the same ownership; and Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) was staying in the same barn. And now both, from going nowhere, are on their way to Royal Ascot next month. No Nay Mets, in particular, has had an extraordinary month. On Apr. 17, he...

Breeders' Cup winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}--Matauri Pearl {Ire}, by Hurricane Run {Ire}) has been retired and will be entered in the Nov. 9 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, according to a release from Elite Sales, who will consign the 3-year-old filly. Campaigned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber, and The Elkstone Group, Aunt Pearl was undefeated in three starts at two, beginning with her five-length 'TDN Rising Star' debut in a Churchill Downs maiden special weight and continuing in the GII...

Just as the illustrious Pivotal (GB) was retiring from stud duties at the age of 28, Siyouni (Fr), who can certainly now be regarded as his most significant sire son, was reaching the peak of his powers with his first French championship. He finished last season by adding a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner to his burgeoning CV, and this year Siyouni is currently responsible for the joint-top-rated horse in the world in the dual French Classic and Eclipse S. winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr). At the age of...

As of now, the only trainer to win four straight renewals of the GI Coolmore Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland is the late Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel. Saturday, Frankel's future Hall of Fame protege Chad Brown will have a chance to equal his feat with a pair of contenders in the 1 1/16-mile turf test. Capturing the Jenny Wiley with Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) in 2018 and Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) in 2019 and 2020, Brown will be represented by Tamahere (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Etoile (Fr)...

Etoile, a beaten favorite in her two prior North American starts after being transferred to Chad Brown, came through with a victory in Sunday's GI E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine, giving red-hot Siyouni (Fr) another top-level success in the same Peter Brant colors as that stallion's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sottsass (Fr). Two-for-two to open her account for Jean-Claude Rouget last winter at Cagnes-sur-Mer, the bay was a neck runner-up in Longchamp's G3 Prix Vanteaux before annexing the G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud. A close fourth in...

The top three finishers in this summer's GII Dance Smartly S. regroup in Sunday's GI E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine. Leading the fray in the Aug. 15 event, Augustin Stable's Theodora B. (Ghostzapper) used the 10-furlong test as a stepping stone to a front-running victory in the 10 1/2-panel TVG S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 15. Three for four this season--the sole off-the-board finish was registered on Woodbine's synthetic surface--the 5-year-old is trained Michael Dickinson. Peter Brant, Mrs. M V Magnier and Mrs. Paul Shanahan's Etoile (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) finished...

The GI Gamely S. looks like a face off between Chad Brown and Richard Baltas as they each saddle a strong pair of runners in this Memorial Day event at Santa Anita. Baltas has the home court advantage and he sends out GI American Oaks victress Lady Prancealot (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) with East Coast-based rider John Velazquez in the irons. Also victorious in Keeneland's GIII Valley View S. last October, she was most recently fourth to the reopposing Keeper Ofthe Stars (Midnight Lute) in the GII Buena Vista S....