Soldier's Call (GB)

"The grey colours, there's a big plan behind all that. Eventually my daughter will take over. I'm doing this for my family when I'm no longer here." Those were the words of owner-breeder Steve Parkin in a TDN interview penned in September last year, revealing all about his ambition to stand stallions at Dullingham Park Stud, plus the succession plan which he hopes will guarantee the long-term future of a racing and bloodstock empire he's spent the last two decades building. Five months on and the wheels are now firmly...

Exciting young sires A'Ali (Ire), Caturra (Ire) and Stradivarius (Ire) will feature among the galaxy of stars on show at the 2024 Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Flat Stallion Parade at Tattersalls in Newmarket on Thursday, February 1. The parade is typically limited to first- and second-year stallions, but breeders will have a wider range of sires to view this year with the invitation being extended to those whose advertised fee sits at £15,000 or less. Breeders who purchase a nomination will also be entered into a free prize draw thanks to...

Ballyhane Stud were able to tick an important box for their first-crop sire Soldier's Call (GB) on Saturday as his daughter Dawn Charger (Ire) captured Chantilly's G3 Prix Eclipse. Runner-up in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix d'Arenberg over five furlongs last month, Saif Mohammad Alketbi and Elaine Burke's €40,000 Tatts Ireland September graduate travelled easily for Pierre-Louis Jamin close to the early pace. In front before two out, the 9-2 shot had first run on the strong-staying Laulne (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and found the line a neck ahead of that rival to...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features 'TDN Rising Star' Born To Rock (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}). 14.30 Sandown, Listed, £40,000, 2yo, 5f 10yT BORN TO ROCK (IRE) (Soldier's Call {GB}) was denied the chance to sport her TDN Rising Star badge in the G2 Queen Mary S., but is back in action...

Aptly-named, Laurence Holder's 2-year-old Royal Ascot-bound debutante Born To Rock (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}--Love To Rock {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) burned up Yarmouth's ever-drying turf on Wednesday to become the latest TDN Rising Star. Prepared for the five-furlong British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' S. by Jane Chapple-Hyam having been purchased for 110,000gns at the Tatts Guineas Breeze Up Sale, the bay fitted with the stable's white bridle and reins showed key early pace under Robert Tart racing away from the main pack towards the far side. Always in...

Minutes after freshman sire Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) notched his first winner at Leicester, Ballyhane Stud incumbent Soldier's Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) repeated the feat when Archie Watson trainee Dreadpirateroberts (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}--Gangster Squad {Fr}, by Astronomer Royal) graduated in Saturday's Black-A-Moor Inn Half A Mile Away EBF Restricted Novice S. at Ripon. The 85-40 favourite ran second in his Brighton debut last week and broke sharply to seize an immediate lead in this return. In command throughout, he was last to come off the...