Wink

He may not be flashiest sire on the Darley stud roster, but the quietly efficacious Midshipman (Unbridled's Song- Fleet Lady, by Avenue of Flags) might just be the most consistent. He ranks second amongst his studmates, behind Jonabell's elder statesman Medaglia d'Oro, in terms of blacktype runners to named foals at over a 12% clip, and his $7,500 stud fee this year only adds to his appeal. "I think the area where Midshipman really excels, and it's a very easy selling point, is that everyone has a mare that would...

Andrew Balding is looking forward to saddling Jeff Smith's Newbury novice scorer Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) in Thursday's G3 Shadwell Dick Poole Fillies' S. at Salisbury. One of 14 juvenile fillies set to line up for the six-furlong contest, for which she is due to break from the outside stall, the bay is held in high regard by her Kingsclere handler. "The filly has huge potential," he said. "The draw could have been a little kinder. We're stuck out on the wing again, but she's a filly we...

Wink, a debut winner at this trip over the Belmont lawn June 12, made it two-for-two with a front-running victory at Monmouth Sunday. The chestnut filly sprinted right out to the early lead and raced keenly through an opening quarter in :21.12. In front by three lengths entering the straight, the favorite held sway over her late-closing stablemate Flying Aletha. "We liked her as soon as we got her on the grass," said winning trainer Wesley Ward. "You put her on the turf and she flies. She's all go and...