Five for Ardrossan
New winners
Ardrossan (pictured above) – Ardee Boy (2 g ex Dee I Why by Zabeel) had looked a handy prospect when winning a Foxton trial last month and the youngster lived up to his reputation with an eye-catching debut victory over 1100 metres at Awapuni, becoming the fifth individual winner for Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice) in the process. A $50,000 purchase by his trainer Peter Didham from the Waikato Stud draft at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka, Ardee Boy is out of the Zabeel (Sir Tristram) mare Dee I Why, who is also the dam of the six-time winner Shoshone (Sacred Falls). Dee I Why is listed as Lot 13 in the New Zealand Bloodstock National Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus that closes on Wednesday. Ardrossan will stand the upcoming breeding season at Waikato Stud, where his book is already full, for a fee of NZ$10,000 (plus GST). He has had 12 starters.
Blue Point – Storm Miami (2 f ex Cosmic Love by Sea The Stars) became the 16th individual winner for Darley’s first-season sire Blue Point (Shamardal) when she made a winning debut in a maiden over five furlongs at Naas. A €300,000 buy from Goffs Orby Sale as a yearling, Storm Miami is the first foal out of the Canadian Listed placegetter Cosmic Love (Sea The Stars). Blue Point, who has had 49 starters, will stand for an unchanged fee of $44,000 (inc GST) at Darley’s Victoria base this upcoming breeding season.
Magna Grecia – Indication Spirit (2 f ex Guessing by Kingmambo) built on her promising debut when she landed a maiden over five furlongs at Musselburgh and in the process became the fifth individual winner for Coolmore’s former shuttler Magna Grecia (Invincible Spirit). Bought for just €10,000 as a yearling, Indication Spirit is the seventh foal out of Guessing (Kingmambo), a once-raced half-sister to juvenile Group 1 winners Horatio Nelson (Danehill) and Van Gogh (American Pharoah), who is out of Epsom Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f) winner Imagine (Sadler’s Wells). Magna Grecia, who has had 24 starters, stood the 2023 northern hemisphere breeding season for a fee of €15,000 (approx. AU$24,485).
Written By – Written Melody (2 f ex Amthaal by Lonhro) earned her sire Written By (Written Tycoon) a fourth individual first-crop winner when running away with a two-year-old plate over 1000 metres on debut at Belmont. A $60,000 buy for her trainers Grant and Alana Williams from the Misty Valley Thoroughbreds draft at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Written Melody is the first foal out of the four-time winning mare Amthaal (Lonhro), herself a daughter of the stakes-placed winning juvenile Jalsah (Elusive Quality). Written By, who has had 25 individual runners, will stand the 2023 breeding season at Widden Stud for a fee of $27,500 (inc GST).
New Group / Grade 1 winners
English Channel – Far Bridge (3 c ex Fitpitcher by Kitten’s Joy) denied a late run from British challenger The Foxes (Churchill) to win the Belmont Derby (Gr 1, 10f) and become the 14th individual elite-level winner and 69th individual stakes winner for his sire English Channel (Smart Strike). Far Bridge is the third foal out of Fitpitcher, and becomes the first stakes winner within his first two dams. English Channel, who has had 761 starters, stood the 2023 season for a fee of US$27,500 (approx. AU$41,112) at Calumet Farm.
Justify – Coolmore shuttle sire Justify (Scat Daddy) earned a second individual elite-level winner when Aspen Grove (3 f ex Data Dependent by More Than Ready), a filly out of a stakes-placed mare by More Than Ready (Southern Halo), won the Belmont Oaks (Gr 1, 10f). Aspen Grove, who won a Group 3 in Ireland as a juvenile, is the first foal out of winning mare Data Dependent, herself a half-sister to Irish Group 1 winner Skitter Skatter (Scat Daddy) and Listed scorer Victory Dance (Dubawi). Justify, who has had 146 starters, will stand the upcoming breeding season in Australia for a fee of $77,000 (inc GST).
Kodiac – Good Guess (3 c ex Zykina by Pivotal) claimed an emphatic win in the Prix Jean Prat (Gr 1, 1400m) to become the seventh individual elite-level winner for his sire Kodiac (Danehill). Good Guess, who won at odds of 40-1, took his record to four wins from eight starts since his 420,000gns buy at Tattersalls. He is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Spangled (Starspangledbanner), being the sixth foal out of the unraced Zykina, herself a daughter of four-time Group 1 winner Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo). Kodiac, who has had 1558 starters, stood the 2023 season for a fee of €40,000 (approx. AU$65,540) at Tally-Ho Stud.
New stakes winners
Daiwa Major – Don Frankie (4 c ex Weemissfrankie by Sunriver) became the 44th individual stakes winner for his sire Daiwa Major (Sunday Silence) when winning the Procyon Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Chukyo. Trained by Takashi Saito, Don Frankie took his race record to six wins from 12 starts. He is the sixth foal out of dual US Grade 1 winner Weemissfrankie. Daiwa Major stands at Shadai Stallion Station and has had 1285 starters.
Equiano – Equality (5 g ex Penny Drops by Invincible Spirit) proved superior to his rivals when coming home clear in the Sprint Stakes (Gr 3, 5f) at Sandown, providing Equiano (Acclamation) with a 20th individual stakes winner in the process. Bought for £50,000 as a yearling, Equality is the second foal out of the multiple Listed-placed winning mare Penny Drops (Invincible Spirit). Equiano, who has had 819 starters, stood the 2023 northern hemisphere breeding season at Ireland’s National Stud for a fee of €2,000 (approx. AU$3,285).
Galileo – Espionage (3 c ex Even Song by Mastercraftsman) made his belated three-year-old debut a winning one when he took out the Lenebane Stakes (Listed, 1m 3.5f) at Roscommon and in the process became the 367th individual stakes winner for the late Galileo (Sadler’s Wells). A homebred for Coolmore, Espionage is the third foal out of the Group 2 winner Even Song (Mastercaftsman), herself a half-sister to English St Leger (Gr 1, 1m 6.5f) winner Simple Verse (Duke Of Marmalade). Galileo has had 2472 starters.
Giant’s Causeway – Giant Game (4 c ex Game For More by More Than Ready) edged his late sire Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat) closer to a double century of stakes winners when landing the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (Gr 3, 9f). The Dale Romans-trained four-year-old, who finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Gr 1, 8.5) in 2021, was a US$500,000 buy from Fasig-Tipton and became black type winner number 196 for Giant’s Causeway. He is the eighth foal out of the stakes-placed More Than Ready mare Game For More. Giant’s Causeway has had 2051 starters.
God Has Spoken – God Has Spoken (Blackfriars) sired his first stakes winner when Ghost Who Walks (5 g ex Death Knock by Lonhro) won the Beaufine Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Belmont. Owned by Cockatoo Ridge, Ghost Who Walks is one of four winners from as many to race out of the Lonhro (Octagonal) mare Death Knock, herself a half-sister to Listed winner Raido (Husson). God Has Spoken stands at Rivercrest Park for a fee of $3,300 (inc GST) and has had 87 starters.
Invincible Spirit – Irish National Stud stallion Invincible Spirit (Green Desert) sired a stakes double last week, taking his tally to 148. Kylian (2 c ex Hikmaa by Roderic O’Connor) became the 147th individual stakes winner for the sire when he bolted up in the Dragon Stakes (Listed, 5f) at Sandown. Trained by Karl Burke, Kylian is the first foal out of the Listed-winning mare Hikmaa (Roderic O’Connor). Mystic Pearl (3 f ex Ertiyad by Dark Angel) flew home late and wide to post a shock win in the Coral Distaff (Listed, 1m) at Sandown and become the 148th individual stakes winner for Invincible Spirit. The William Haggas-trained filly was taking a notable step up in grade but left her previous from well behind as she scored at odds of 22-1. Mystic Pearl is the first foal out of the winning juvenile Ertiyad (Dark Angel). Invincible Spirit, who has had 1851 starters, stood the 2023 northern hemisphere breeding season at the Irish National Stud for an undisclosed fee.
Isfahan – Bukhara (4 c ex Baila Morena by Samum) handed his sire Isfahan (Lord Of England) a third individual stakes winner when he claimed the Preis von Magdeburg (Gr 3, 2050m) in Germany. Bukhara, who claimed just his second win in ten starts, was a €30,000 buy at the BBAG Yearling Sale in Baden-Baden. He is the fifth foal out of Baila Morena, herself a sister to Group 1 winners Baila Me and Be Fabulous. Isfahan stood the 2023 breeding season at Gestut Ohlerweiherhof for a fee of €7,500 (approx. AU$12,288) and has had 69 starters.
Justify – Three-year-old colt Verifying (3 c ex Diva Delite by Repent) provided Coolmore’s shuttle stallion Justify with a 13th individual stakes winner when claiming the Indiana Derby (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Indiana Grand. Verifying, who has twice finished runner-up at Grade 1 level, was a US$775,000 buy for Coolmore’s MV Magnier at Keeneland. He is the ninth foal out of Grade 3 winner Diva Delite and a half-brother to elite-level winner Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) and stakes winner Stage Left (Congrats).
Lope De Vega – Beauvatier (2 c ex Enchanting Skies by Sea The Stars) became the 88th individual stakes winner for his former shuttle sire Lope De Vega (Shamardal) when winning the Prix Roland de Chambure (Listed, 1400m) at Deauville. The Yann Barberot-trained colt is the first foal out of the stakes-placed winner Enchanting Skies, herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Empoli (Halling) and two further stakes placegetters. Lope De Vega, who has had 1158 starters, stood the 2023 season at Ballylinch Stud for a fee of €125,000 (approx. AU$204,812).
New Bay – Savvy Victory (4 c ex Highlands Queen by Mount Nelson) got the better of his three more fancied rivals when running out a surprise winner of the Gala Stakes (Listed, 1m 2f) at Sandown. Sent off the 17-2 outsider of the party, the Sean Woods-trained four-year-old became the ninth individual stakes winner for New Bay (Dubawi). Bought for £240,000 as a yearling at the Goffs Orby Sale, Savvy Victory is the second foal out of French Group 2 winner Highlands Queen (Mount Nelson). New Bay stood the 2023 northern hemisphere breeding season at Ballylinch Stud for a fee of €75,000 (approx. AU$122,900) and has had 193 starters.
No Nay Never – Sigh (4 m ex Fantasize by Authorized) became the 52nd individual stakes winner, and eighth bred in the southern hemisphere, for Coolmore’s former shuttle sire No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) when winning the Sir John Monash Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Caulfield. The Peter Moody-trained four-year-old was an $85,000 weanling buy for his owners Yulong from the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions National sale. Sigh is the first foal out of the three-time-winning Authorized (Montjeu) mare Fantasize. No Nay Never, who has now had 949 runners, stood the 2023 season at Coolmore for a fee of €175,000 (approx. AU$287,575).
Raven’s Pass – Son Of Corballis (2 c ex Equanimity by Exceed And Excel) ran out a surprise 25-1 winner of the Tipperary Stakes (Listed, 5f) and in the process became the 39th individual stakes winner for Raven’s Pass (Elusive Quality). Son Of Corballis is the first foal out of the unraced Equanimity (Exceed And Excel) who is a half-sister to UAE Oaks (Listed, 1800m) winner Devotee (Elusive Quality). Raven’s Pass, who has had 493 starters, stood the 2023 northern hemisphere breeding season at Kildangan Stud for a fee of €7,500 (approx. AU$12,215).
Sioux Nation – Sioux Life (2 f ex Ninepins by Rip Van Winkle) became the ninth individual stakes winner for former Swettenham Stud shuttler Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy) when she landed the Premio Gino E Luciano Mantovani (Listed, 1400m) at the San Siro. Bought for €43,000 as a yearling, Sioux Life is out of the winning mare Ninepins (Rip Van Winkle). Sioux Nation, who has had 152 starters, stood the 2023 northern hemisphere breeding season at Coolmore in Ireland for a fee of €17,500 (approx, AU$28,575).
Siyouni – Aga Khan stallion Siyouni (Pivotal) earned a 70th individual stakes winner when his daughter Sikva Burka (3 f ex Dynadin by Giant’s Causeway) claimed the Prix Amandine (Listed, 1400m) at Deauville. Trained by Fabrice Chappett, Sikva Burka is the third foal out of Dynadin, herself a daughter of dual US Grade 1 winner Dynaforce (Dynaformer). Siyouni, who is available for covers to southern hemisphere time, stood the 2023 season for a fee of €150,000 (approx. AU$245,775). He has had 880 starters.
Starspangledbanner – Maturlo (2 c ex Purlain by Camelot) came out on top in a tight finish to the Premio Giuseppe de Montel (Listed, 1400m) at the San Siro to become the 32nd individual stakes winner for Starspangledbanner (Choisir). The colt’s dam Purlain (Camelot) was bought for just 8,000gns at the Tattersalls July Sale in 2018, when she was offered as a two-year-old out of training from the Juddmonte draft. Coolmore’s Starspangledbanner will stand the upcoming breeding season in Australia for a fee of $33,000 (inc GST) and has had 583 starters.