First top-level winner for Bated Breath as Viadera strikes in Matriarch Stakes

Juddmonte homebred Viadera provided Banstead Manor Stud resident Bated Breath with his first top-level winner when defeating Blowout and Juliet Foxtrot in a thrilling finish to the Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar on Sunday.

The 13-year-old Bated Breath, who has sired 38 stakes performers, including ten Group winners, had previously come close to Group/Grade 1 success with Makaloun finishing third in this year's Criterium de Saint-Cloud, while Daahyeh was runner-up in last year's Moyglare and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Viadera, who was trained by Ger Lyons in Ireland before switching to Chad Brown's American barn this summer, had posted a career-best when landing the Grade 3 Noble Damsel Stakes on her second stateside start at Belmont in September, beating Blowout by a neck there, with the margin on Sunday just a nose.

Bated Breath: the sire of 38 stakes performers to dateCredit: Juddmonte

The four-year-old is the fourth foal out of Beat Hollow mare Sacred Shield - the winner of two races for Sir Henry Cecil - and is a three-parts sister to dual Listed scorer Crossed Baton. She is also a half-sibling to winners John Locke and The Begum.

Sacred Shield is closely related to Clepsydra, a daughter of Sadler's Wells and the dam of four stakes winners, including Group 1 scorers Timepiece and Passage Of Time, the latter producing the high-class Time Test.

The now 12-year-old Sacred Shield is also a half-sister to Lingfield Oaks Trial victress Double Crossed, the dam of multiple top-level winner Twice Over.

The Matriarch was a landslide race for Juddmonte stallions past and present as Blowout and Juliet Foxtrot - who like the winner is a Juddmonte homebred - are both by Bated Breath's retired sire Dansili.

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