PartialLogo
News

First runner for Taghrooda heads beanfeast of blueblooded newcomers

Almighwar represents John Gosden and Hamdan Al Maktoum on Wednesday

John Gosden with Taghrooda in her racing days
John Gosden with Taghrooda in her racing daysCredit: Edward Whitaker

One pedigree in particular stands out in Newmarket's card dedicated to two-year-old racing on Wednesday: the Dubawi colt who is the second foal out of Taghrooda and will be the first racecourse representative of his exceptional dam.

Almighwar – like Taghrooda, trained by John Gosden for owner-breeder Hamdan Al Maktoum – is one of 13 horses declared for the Matchbook EBF Future Stayers Novice Stakes, restricted to horses whose sire or dam won at 12 furlongs or further, over a mile at 4.45.

Taghrooda, by Sea The Stars out of the multiple Listed scorer and Lancashire Oaks runner-up Ezima, lit up the summer of 2014 by winning the Oaks by a wide margin and taking the scalps of Telescope and Mukhadram to land the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes by three lengths.

She met with a surprise defeat by Tapestry on her next start in the Yorkshire Oaks but signed off her racing career with a creditable third to Treve and Flintshire in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Taghrooda's first foal, the three-year-old Kingman filly Jahafil, has not run.

The mare has a yearling colt by Muhaarar and was covered this year by Dubawi.

Almighwar is not the only well-bred newcomer in the race.

English King, trained by Ed Walker for Bjorn Nielsen, is a son of Camelot out of breeder Ecurie des Monceaux's influential foundation mare Platonic, making him a half-brother to Prudenzia, the Listed-winning dam of Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita, multiple Group 1-placed Magic Wand and exciting two-year-old Enemy.

The colt was bought by Jeremy Brummitt for €210,000 from the Monceaux draft at last year's Arqana October Yearling Sale.

Nevendon is a Nathaniel half-brother to Pretty Pollyanna, winner of the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and Prix Morny last year and runner-up in the Irish 1,000 Guineas this season.

He is trained by Michael Bell on behalf of owner-breeders Bill and Tim Gredley.

Solar Screen is a Golden Horn half-brother to Cheveley Park Stakes winner and Challenge Stakes runner-up Lumiere trained by Roger Varian for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.

Varian gave 210,000gns for the grey colt, bred by Ballylinch Stud, at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Finally, Almighwar is not the only debut runner for a Group 1-winning mare in the contest either, as David Simcock takes the wraps off Kirsten Rausing's homebred filly Oriental Mystique, a daughter of Kingman and Madame Chiang.

Madame Chiang, by late Lanwades resident Archipenko, was a four-length winner on her first start in the autumn of her two-year-old season and went on to carry Rausing's silks to victory in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes in 2014.

Other two-year-old debutants with prestigious pedigrees on Wednesday include:

  • Mostly (Newmarket 1.20); a Makfi three-parts sister to Journey, winner of the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, out of the Group 1-winning Montjeu mare Montare. Trained by John Gosden for owner-breeder George Strawbridge.
  • Al Zaraqaan (Newmarket 1.55); a Golden Horn half-brother to Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Awtaad. Trained by William Haggas for Hamdan Al Maktoum.
  • Angelic Time (Newmarket 2.30); a Dark Angel brother to dual Group 2-winning two-year-old Estidhkaar and half-brother to champion juvenile Toormore. Trained by Ed Vaughan for Phoenix Thorougbreds, who paid 500,000gns for the colt at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
  • Long Haired Lover (Kempton 6.10); a Night Of Thunder half-sister to dual Northern Dancer Turf Stakes winner Wigmore Hall. Trained by James Fanshawe for a syndicate including David Redvers, who paid 85,000gns for the filly at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale.
  • Indie Angel (Kempton 6.40); a Dark Angel filly out of the Listed-winning Sir Percy mare Indigo Lady bought for 600,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. Trained by John Gosden for Cheveley Park Stud.
  • Satono Japan (Kempton 7.10); a Deep Impact colt out of Dubawi Heights, a dual Grade 1-winning three-parts sister to Classic hero Make Believe, bought for 180 million yen (£1.37m/€1.52m) at the JRHA Yearling Sale last year. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute for Satomi Horse Company.

If you enjoyed reading this, you might also like...

Striking debut success for Tasleet's two-year-old sister Lady Light

New Year's Day arrives at Shadai ahead of continuing career in Japan

Sprinter Sacre and Douvan siblings to be offered at Arqana Autumn Sale

Martin StevensBloodstock journalist

Published on 22 October 2019inNews

Last updated 21:55, 22 October 2019

iconCopy