Yeomanstown Stud

DONCASTER, England--Clive Cox might not have a degree in mechanical engineering, but it's fair to say that there have been few better trainers than him over the years when it comes to masterminding the career trajectory of a 'Donny Rocket'. Think Harry Angel (Ire), the July Cup and Sprint Cup scorer bought by Cox for just £44,000 at the 2015 edition of the Goffs UK Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale, or the Prix de l'Abbaye heroine Gilt Edge Girl (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}), his very first Group 1 winner who he'd...

Sunday's €380,000 G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest shares this weekend's European top billing with Dusseldorf's 166th G1 Henkel-Preis der Diana (German Oaks) and, while the field for that Classic was finalised on Wednesday, declarations for the Deauville highlight were not confirmed until Friday morning. There were no defectors from the overnight set of 16 nominees as all main characters--G1 Prix Jean Prat victor Puchkine (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), G1 July Cup hero Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire} and dual G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel...

Shadwell's Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Adhwaa {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) was highly tried after posting a career high in last term's G2 Sky Bet York Stakes, finishing just off the podium behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in September's G1 Irish Champion Stakes and last month's G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes on seasonal return, and secured back-to-back renewals in a tactical affair on the Knavesmire. The Owen Burrows trainee employed patient tactics and raced under a firm hold, behind all three opponents, through the initial fractions as King's...

It has been the season of all seasons for the ever-young Dark Angel (Ire). So much so that Gay O'Callaghan has agreed to go in front of the camera to talk about the horse he describes as "part of the family".  The master of Yeomanstown Stud speaks about Dark Angel like a father of his favourite son. But when the 19-year-old stallion comes up trumps year after year with genuine top-notchers like Battaash (Ire), Harry Angel (Ire) and now Charyn (Ire), it's hard not to dote over the loveable grey. ...

1st-Capannelle, €7,700, Vnd., 5-17, 2yo, 1200m (AWT), 1:15.90. LA PORTOGHESE (IRE) (f, Shaman {Ire}--Madame Cherie, by First Samurai) jumped well in this unveiling and briefly led before perching in a stalking second on the bend. Given her cue at the 600-metre mark, the race was over in a matter of strides, as she drew farther and farther clear down the lane to win by a geared down 10 lengths. Tindi Of Malindi (Ire) (National Defense {Ire}) was a distant second. Consigned by Baroda Stud to the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale,...

1st-Hipodromo de la Zarzuela, €13,600, Mdn., 2yo, 1200mT, 1:15.16. GOLDEN FURIUS (IRE) (c, 2, Shaman {Ire}--Nefetari {GB}, by Kodiac {GB}), making his debut, broke on top, but was soon relegated to third. Sneaking up the rail with 400 metres left to travel, he kicked away from his foes by the 300-metre mark. He won with his ears pricked by 1 3/4 lengths over Capdepera (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}). Golden Furius is the first winner for his multiple group-winning sire (by Shamardal), who stands for €5,000 this year at Yeomanstown Stud in...

It is the most wonderful time of the year. No, I'm not talking about Christmas, but the upcoming foal sales.  What is it that we all love about this time of year? Surely much of the attraction about the foal sales revolves around seeing the progeny of first-season sires and predicting who is here to stay and who will be banished to the memory banks in the years to come.  The best part of the whole thing is you get to put your money where your mouth is and there...

Yeomanstown Stud's flagship sire Dark Angel (Ire), who reached a landmark 100 individual stakes winners in 2023, will remain at a fee of €60,000 in 2024. His top performers of the year have included Khaadem (Ire) and Art Power (Ire), whose victories at Royal Ascot and on Champions Day brought Dark Angel's total of Group 1 winners to 15, while his six-year-old son Alfareeq (Ire) won his second consecutive G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan in March. The G2 Prix d'Harcourt winner Shaman (Ire) will have his first runners next season...

St Albans Bloodstock's 4-year-old homebred filly Heredia (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Nakuti {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) took seven attempts to make a stakes breakthrough, doing so in last month's Listed Dick Hern Fillies' S. at Haydock, and continued her belated rise up the ladder with a career high in Saturday's G3 Virgin Bet Atalanta S. at Sandown. The Richard Hannon trainee settled into a smooth rhythm after breaking from the outside stall and raced in rear for most of this one-mile test. Making eyecatching headway out wide once into the straight,...

It was fitting that Dark Angel's 100th stakes winner should have come in the Dick Hern S. at Haydock, a milestone which the ultra-reliable Yeomanstown Stud-based stallion reached thanks to the victory of the St. Albans Bloodstock home-bred filly Heredia (GB). Dick Hern, who sent out 16 British Classic winners including three winners of the Derby as well as his best horse Brigadier Gerard (GB), would have thoroughly approved of Dark Angel. Hern was an archetypal 'old-school' trainer who excelled with every type of horse. Late in his career he...

Marc Chan's 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Cercle De La Vie {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had been in and out of form in eight outings since registering those career highlights as a juvenile and backed up a fourth in last month's G2 Summer Mile with a last-gasp win in Saturday's G2 William Hill Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Fourth through halfway and scrubbed along approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 9-2 chance was afforded a dream seam underneath the stands' side rail...

Shadwell's ultra-consistent Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Adhwaa {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) had not been sighted since annexing October's G3 Darley S. at Newmarket, but was ready, willing and able to deliver a decisive burst for a career best in Saturday's G2 Sky Bet York S. on the Knavesmire. The Owen Burrows trainee, who also saluted in last term's G3 Strensall S. at this venue, employed patient tactics from flagfall and settled into a smooth rhythm with just one rival behind until turning for home. Taking closer order in the...