'She’s let down into a gorgeous broodmare' - Denford Stud reveals mating plans

The familiar colours of Prince Faisal's Denford Stud have been carried to victory by dual Group 1 heroine Coronet and Royal Ascot winner Illuminate, and the operation's burgeoning broodmare band offers hope of plenty more big-race triumphs to come.

Coronet has arguably been the operation's flagbearer thus far, winning the Ribblesdale Stakes at three and adding the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Prix Jean Romanet at five to her remarkably consistent and durable race record.

The daughter of Dubawi and wonderful producer Approach was retired in 2019, for a covering with Frankel last year, and is once again set to visit Banstead Manor's superstar.

Denford Stud's Richard Evans said of the seven-year-old: "She was an absolute star on the racecourse for Prince Faisal and has let down into a gorgeous broodmare with a lovely temperament.

"She's in foal to Frankel and returns to him this year, it seems the obvious mating on paper."

Coronet's half-sister Fly The Flag, a winning daughter of Australia, is also booked in for a visit to Banstead Manor, in her case to the venerable Oasis Dream. The five-year-old was originally due to visit Zoffany but sadly plans had to be changed as a result of his untimely death.

Evans explained: "She's in foal to Lope De Vega and should be a very good addition to the broodmare band. She was previously booked to Zoffany - who is a sad loss to Coolmore and the breeding industry as a whole - and will visit Oasis Dream. He's a sire who's still producing winners and is real value for money."

Love So Deep (far left): the daughter of Deep Impact struck at Listed level and is booked in for KingmanCredit: Patrick McCann

The Deep Impact mare Love So Deep was purchased privately by Prince Faisal after finishing fifth in the Ribblesdale Stakes and went on to score at Listed level and finish Group 2-placed for Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Now five, the Prix de Pomone runner-up holds considerable value, being out of a three-parts sister to Derby hero Ruler Of The World, and she is set to be covered by Kingman.

Evans said: "Prince Faisal always wanted to acquire a Deep Impact mare and she will hopefully be a worthwhile acquisition to the broodmare band having gone on to win at Listed level and finish Group 2-placed. She’s not overly big but is very tough. She’s in foal to Kingman and will revisit him this year."

It would be remiss not to mention Last Second, the foundation mare of Prince Faisal's operation, and the dual Group 2-winning mare has two daughters in active service in Intrigued and Timely.

Intrigued, a stakes-placed daughter of Darshaan, has produced two stakes winners in Cocked Hat victors Michelangelo - also third in the St Leger - and Private Secretary, both trained by John Gosden.

The 19-year-old has been pencilled in on Too Darn Hot's dance card, while her half-sister Timely - an unraced daughter of Pivotal - will be covered by Sea The Moon.

Evans said: "Being one of the early daughters from Prince Faisal’s foundation mare, Last Second, Intrigued has been a fantastic servant and has the most lovely Dubawi yearling filly.

"Having done so well with Dubawi it makes sense to continue down the same route, being in foal to Night Of Thunder and visiting Too Darn Hot."

He added of Timely: "She's the last daughter of Last Second and has a quality two-year-old Iffraaj colt heading to John Gosden, plus a Caravaggio yearling colt.

"She’s not carrying this year due to a late foaling in 2020, so she'll hopefully have an early start with Sea The Moon, a mating on similar lines to that which has produced the likes of Love and Magical."

In a broodmare band packed full of quality, another with an exciting cover lined up is Duchess of Cambridge winner and Cheveley Park runner-up Illuminate.

Illuminate: daughter of Zoffany will visit Wootton Bassett

A £95,000 purchase as a yearling from the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, the eight-year-old daughter of Zoffany will visit Coolmore sensation Wootton Bassett.

Also in line for a trip across the Irish Sea is new addition and Italian Group 3 victress Wordless, who has a date with Lope De Vega.

Evans added: "She has a two-year-old colt by Gleneagles who has gone into training with Andrew Balding. He’s a neat good-looking sort and has been doing everything that’s been asked of him to date.

"She has a cracking yearling filly by Sea The Stars, is back in foal to him, and will now visit Lope De Vega. She's an exciting prospect and has it all before her."

Invincible Spirit mare Promising is another high-class recruit from the racecourse, having placed twice in Group 3 company, and will be covered by Iffraaj.

"Having been Group-placed, we had high hopes of her achieving more had it not been for minor injuries," said Evans.

"She has a very nice two-year-old Nathaniel filly with Richard Hannon and an attractive sharp-looking yearling filly by Dark Angel. She's another mare very early on in her breeding career and the Iffraaj mating should suit well."

The winning and stakes-placed Ebony is another who Evans has high hopes for, with the daughter of Le Havre set to travel to the United States for a mating with Kitten's Joy.

He continued: "She was a very convincing winner as a two-year-old for Jean-Claude Rouget and looked to be a very good filly in the making. She continued her racing in the US, but unfortunately didn’t train on and now visits Kitten's Joy."

Among the stud's mares set to visit upwardly mobile sires are Lillie Langtry Stakes scorer California, whose Gleneagles son Top Brass shed his maiden tag at Chelmsford in October for Gosden. The daughter of Azamour will be covered by Night Of Thunder, while the winning Galileo mare Gala is also Ireland-bound for a date with exciting second-season sire New Bay.

Evans said of Gala: "Her three-year-old is with John Gosden and looks promising after her first run. Her juvenile filly by Make Believe is with Sir Mark Prescott and will need time to mature. She’s in foal to Too Darn Hot and this mating is on a similar line to that which yielded Ghaiyyath and Night Of Thunder."

Oasis Dream mare Rimth won at Group 3 level before finishing runner-up in the Cheveley Park and has produced four winners to date. The 13-year-old, who is out of a half-sister to King's Stand scorer Dominica, will visit Kodiac.

Cheveley Park runner-up Rimth will visit top sire KodiacCredit: Amy Lanigan/Tally-Ho Stud

Evans said: "She was a very fast filly, winning at Group 3 level and placing in the Cheveley Park. Having produced a run of six colts she has now produced two fillies, a Dark Angel two-year-old with Richard Hannon - who looks all speed - and a strong Wootton Bassett yearling, so at least we have two fillies to carry on the line."

Jack Naylor, who struck in the Silver Flash Stakes, and placed behind Found and Covert Love in the Prix Marcel Boussac and Irish Oaks respectively, has been pencilled in for Saxon Warrior, while All The Rage, a winning daughter of Dubawi, will be covered by Almanzor.

Evans said of Jack Naylor: "She was a very good race filly and it's very much early days with her breeding career. She's throwing some nice horses with plenty of quality.

"She's in foal to Sea The Stars and visits Saxon Warrior. His sales results were very positive and I’m sure he will continue to be well supported. Similar mating lines have produced the likes of Magic Wand and Minding."

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