Royal Ascot filly? Explosive Tenebrism gives Caravaggio first winner at Naas

Coolmore's exciting first-season sire Caravaggio was provided with his first winner when Tenebrism ran out an impressive scorer of the opening five-furlong maiden at Naas.

Caravaggio, a son of the late Scat Daddy, had stood his first three seasons at Coolmore's Irish base before transferring to Ashford Stud in Kentucky last winter.

An unbeaten two-year-old, which included victories in the Phoenix and Coventry Stakes, the grey had returned at three to defeat Harry Angel and Blue Point in the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot before adding the Flying Five to his record later on in the season.

Out of the Holy Bull mare Mekko Hokte - and a half-brother to Grade winner My Jen - Caravaggio was always fancied to get off to a quick start with his first juvenile crop, having debuted in the April of his juvenile year himself.

His first runner, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Silver Surfer, finished a respectable fourth at the Curragh last Sunday.

Caravaggio: dual Group 1 winner and exciting first-season sireCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Caravaggio is the 5-2 favourite with Sky Bet to be crowned leading first-season sire by number of individual winners in Britain and Ireland up until December 31.

Tenebrism is bred to be a quality performer, being the fourth foal out of Immortal Verse, a daughter of the mighty Pivotal who struck in the Coronation Stakes and defeated the brilliant Goldikova in the Prix Jacques le Marois.

Immortal Verse, who hails from a family that includes Last Tycoon and Astronef, made a staggering 4,700,000gns when selling from Mount Coote Stud to BBA Ireland at the 2013 Tattersalls December Mare Sale. The 13-year-old has produced three winners to date.

An excellent day for Ballydoyle concluded when Empress Josephine, a full-sister to dual Classic heroine and seven-time Group 1 victress Minding, struck in the mile fillies maiden.

The three-year-old, who was partnered by Seamie Heffernan, was initially caught for a little racing room but went on to score by a length and a quarter.

Read more

So You Think and Sea The Moon on the board at Rosehill

Meet Goffs' new signing stateside

Balko Des Flos tops Goffs sale at £110,000

The breeding legacy of the great Sheikh Hamdan

Listed-winning We Are Ninety tops Tattersalls Online March Sale at 75,000gns

'It gives us great pleasure' - meet the keen young couple behind Ashbrooke Stud