Watership Down Stud

Godolphin's hitherto unraced Kalidasa (GB) (Frankel {GB}--So Mi Dar {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) hit the heights at 2022's Tattersalls October Book 1 fixture when knocked down for a sale-topping 2.8-million guineas, but missed his intended debut at Kempton last month with a foot infection. Sent off at prohibitive odds of 1-3 for his belated unveiling in a low-key affair at Wolverhampton, Friday evening, he made no mistake and registered a 1 1/2-length triumph in the extended one-mile contest. The March-foaled bay is out of G3 Musidora S.-winning G1 Prix de...

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin NEWMARKET, UK--A Frankel (GB) filly out of the brilliant G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) provided a sprinkling of stardust on the final day of the Tattersalls Book 1 October Yearling Sale when selling to Shadwell for 1.6 million gns. Sheikha Hissa has been a notable presence on the sales ground all week and, according to Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold, it was her determination that helped see off the attention of underbidder Kieran Lalor for the first foal out of...

Lot 492, a chestnut daughter of Frankel (GB) consigned by Watership Down Stud, was knocked down for 1.6 million gns on the bid of Shadwell during the third and final session of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale on Thursday. Out of G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), the yearling is from the same family as multiple group winner and G1 Windsor Park Plate third Gino Severini (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).   👸Shadwell Stud give 1.6 million gns for a daughter of Frankel at #TattsOctober...

NEWMARKET, UK--Whether up top or down below, the consignors at Park Paddocks all agree that the major redevelopment work that has been carried out by Tattersalls over the last few years has been a huge boost. The extended yards of R, S and T in the Somerville Paddock seem to have almost doubled in size during the levelling-up process, with extra rubber runways making the business of showing and viewing horses that bit easier. Gerry Meehan, the yearling manager of Blue Diamond Stud, is delighted with the position for his...

Trainer Karl Burke's banner season continued apace on the opening day of Doncaster's St Leger Festival after G3 Prestige S. victrix Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Monday Monday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) added lustre to her palmares with a clear-cut triumph in Thursday's G2 Betfred May Hill S. over a straight mile at the Town Moor track. Newtown Anner Stud's homebred, who registered a 10-length tally at Thirsk in her penultimate start, bounded along behind a steady tempo and raced third through the initial fractions. Taking closer order once past...

Gallop Racing's G3 Sweet Solera S. fifth Carolina Reaper (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Dark Promise {GB}, by Shamardal) lined up as the 9-5 favourite for Wednesday's 150th Renate & Albrecht Woeste Zukunfts-Rennen at Baden-Baden, Germany's first juvenile Group-race contest of the year, and became the third pattern-race winner for her freshman sire (by Dubawi {Ire}) with a last-gasp triumph in the seven-furlong Iffezheim feature. The March-foaled bay had earlier registered a sixth over the same trip in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S., before breaking through at Newmarket in her penultimate...

NEWMARKET, UK--A marker in bloodstock history was plunged firmly into the ground at Tattersalls on Wednesday, when those present at Park Paddocks bore witness to the highest-grossing day of horse trade that has ever taken place in Europe. An eye-watering sum of 49,545,000gns was spent on 144 yearlings throughout the eight-hour session, including the most expensive yearling in the world this year--a colt by Frankel (GB) sold for 2.8 million gns. He was one of eight bought for seven-figure sums, bringing the number of million-plus youngsters from the first two...

Watership Down Stud has swopped to secure a 50% interest in Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), runner-up in the Cazoo Oaks at Epsom when last seen.  Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Emily Upjohn was given a Timeform rating of 119p following her narrow defeat in the Oaks 10 days ago, where she overcame a slow start to go down fighting behind Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo). Emily Upjohn has a number of intriguing entries, including the Irish Oaks and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.  Wherever she...

In partnership with Watership Down Stud, sponsors of next Saturday's G3 Watership Down Too Darn Hot Greenham S., Newbury has launched a competition to name one of the stud's most recent arrivals, a bay filly born Mar. 10 by champion Frankel (GB), out of the group winning mare, So Mi Dar. A Group 3 winner, So Mi Dar also finished third in the G1 Prix de l'Opera. She is out of the Watership Down Stud-campaigned MG1SW Dar Re Mi (GB), who has produced four group performers, including European Champion 2-year-old...

By Emma Berry and Kelsey Riley NEWMARKET, UK--Watership Down Stud's signature family of Darara (Ire) brought yet more success for breeders Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber when their Sea The Stars (Ire) colt out of So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) sold to Bill Farish for 1.2 million gns at Tattersalls. As the bidding progressed, Andrew Lloyd Webber appeared in the ring seconds before Anthony Stroud and the Godolphin team gave way to Charlie Gordon-Watson, who was bidding on behalf of the American owner of Lane's End Farm. "We don't...

One of the also rans when Coolmore's Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) posted her 16-length rout in the G1 Epsom Oaks, Ali Saeed's 3-year-old filly Teona (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) enjoyed a confidence-boosting score in last month's Listed August S. at Windsor and the 18-1 chance caused a major upset to down the reopposoing 1-5 favourite in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp. The 280,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling raced in third for most of this 12-furlong contest as Snowfall's stablemate La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) set...

With the drying ground ruling out the G1 Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}), Friday's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York was teed up perfectly for Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) to register an inspiring third success in this marathon. Open to questioning following his fourth in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot June 17, Bjorn Nielsen's staying star was settled in second early by Frankie Dettori as The Grand Visir (GB) (Frankel {GB}) set off in isolation. Joined by Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) approaching...