TDN Rising Star

Such an eye-catcher when fourth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at ParisLongchamp in May, Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Sweepstake {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) who failed to stay the mile and a half of Royal Ascot's G2 King Edward VII Stakes roared back to form dropping to nine furlongs in Thursday's G3 Meld Stakes at Leopardstown. Kept wide early by Ryan Moore, the 8-11 favourite took up a prominent position and when sent for home two out stretched his rivals to breaking point en route...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher promised that he would enter three of his horses for Saturday's $1 million NYRA Bets GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. And that he did on Wednesday as a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' in Fierceness (City of Light) and Mindframe (Constitution), plus Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso) were three of the eight 3-year-olds signed on to run in the signature race at the Monmouth. It remains to be seen how many of them actually take the trip from the Spa City to...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream in the Belmont Oaks.   Slipper Fits For Godolphin Miss Flawless in her first four starts in England and Dubai prior to a seventh in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) handed breeder Godolphin and Charlie Appleby a victory in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes during the final days of the Belmont at the Big A meeting...

In a season that has seen Ambiente Friendly (Ire), Calandagan (GB) and Mill Stream (GB) fly his flag, Gleneagles (Ire) looks a sire coming good and Monday's card at Killarney witnessed one who could easily enhance his reputation further in the Joseph O'Brien trainee Galen (GB). Off the mark by nine lengths in a mile maiden that looked to lack depth at The Curragh last month, the flashy chestnut looked in a hurry to prove that he is the real deal with an emphatic 11-length follow-up to earn TDN Rising...

Scratched as the morning-line favorite from Friday's Coronation Cup against her own gender in favor of taking on the boys Sunday, 'TDN Rising Star' Star of Mystery (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) responded in kind with an easy win in the GIII Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga. A Godolphin runner from the Charlie Appleby barn, the 3-year-old filly began her racing in 'Rising Star' style, winning at second asking by 11 lengths in her native England just over a year ago. A stakes runner now in three countries, Star of Mystery placed...

His Highness The Aga Khan's hitherto unraced 2-year-old-filly Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Zarkamiya {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}), a granddaughter of the storied Zarkava, produced a stunning performance in Sunday's Prix de la Butte Blanche over seven furlongs at Chantilly and emulated her illustrious second dam by securing 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. The well-backed 11-10 favourite settled into a smooth rhythm and tracked the leaders in fifth after the opening exchanges. Angled off the rail for a clear passage approaching the quarter-mile marker, she settled the contest in an instant...

When GIII Sanford Stakes morning-line choice Mentee (City of Light) was scratched Saturday morning, it might have been assumed the race had lost some of its luster, but apparently no one told Mo Plex (c, 2, Complexity--Mo Joy, by Uncle Mo), who was featured in TDN's Saratoga Notebook Friday. The New York-bred Jeremiah Englehart trainee went gate to wire to stay undefeated and give his freshman sire (by Maclean's Music) his first graded win. Studlydoright (Nyquist) and Three Echos (Echo Town) each suffered bumps at the break, but kicked on...

Saturday's GIII Kelso Stakes lost a fair bit of its intrigue when Godolphin's Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was declared from the race, and it was eFive Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) who proved the chief beneficiary, defeating Talk of the Nation (Quality Road) in what more or less amounted to an eight-furlong match race.    Call Me Harry (Street Sense), easily the longest shot in the field of four, led under the wire for the first time, but was content to let...

It was a case of business as usual at Newmarket on Saturday with Charlie Appleby saddling his fifth G2 Superlative Stakes winner in TDN Rising Star Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Beyond Reason {Ire}, by Australia {GB}). Having won on debut over six furlongs on the Rowley Mile in May and over this seven-furlong trip and course last month, the 4-6 favourite faced a depleted field with three non-runners and had to wait behind rivals early as William Buick anchored him under cover. Picking up impressively to take control approaching the...

Newmarket's G1 July Cup card began in style when Godolphin's hitherto unraced Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Promising Run, by Hard Spun) powered away from nine rivals to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Saturday's £21,000 Rossdales British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes over seven furlongs. The homebred daughter of four-time Group 2 victrix Promising Run (Hard Spun) was a touch hesitant at the break and chased the leaders in fourth through the initial fractions. Nudged along soon after passing halfway, the 5-2 second favourite bounded to the fore...

Juddmonte's €530,000 Goffs November foal Field Of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}--Princess De Lune {Ire}, by Shamardal) was compromised by inexperience when a debut third at Doncaster last month and overpowered one dozen rivals to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' tackling the same seven-furlong trip in Thursday's £21,000 Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes at Newmarket. The well-backed 9-4 favourite broke smartly from the centre stall and was under a firm grip racing in a prominent fifth until tanking forward to draw alongside the front rank with three furlongs remaining. Emerging out...

Cheveley Park Stud's homebred Chancellor (GB) (Kingman {GB}), the second foal out of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}), was an absentee from last year's October Book 1 fixture, but made his presence felt in Thursday's Napoleons Casino & Restaurant EBF Maiden Stakes at Doncaster and collected a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette with a taking 4 3/4-length tally in the six-furlong contest. The 16-5 favourite was slowly into stride and trailed all 10 rivals through the early fractions of this debut. Taking forward...