Classic hopes and blossoming broodmare band gives Denford Stud plenty of spring in its step

Prince Faisal's Denford Stud has two live Classic prospects to look forward to this year and hopes will be high that Pinatique and Falconer's efforts can be backed up by the operation's broodmare band. 

Having seen his green and yellow silks carried to Group 1 success by the top-class Coronet - now into her second career at stud - Prince Faisal could yet taste Classic success with Arqana purchase Pinatique. 

A daughter of Pinatubo, the unbeaten Pinatique made it two wins from as many starts for Jean-Claude Rouget when comfortably striking at Bordeaux last month. 

The Ecurie des Monceaux and Skymarc Farm-bred filly is bred to be special.  

She is out of the Group 3-winning Montjeu mare Pacifique, a half-sister to Monceaux's mighty mare Prudenzia, the dam of Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita, Australian Group 1 winner Magic Wand and Prix de Diane runner-up Philomene, among others.

Pinatique was bought by Rouget for €210,000 from Arqana's October Yearling Sale and is a sister to another Group 3 winner in Paix. 

Richard Evans, Denford Stud's manager, said: "She looks an exciting prospect and is from a lovely family. The trainer has been very patient with her and she’s been worth the wait. She won nicely first time out and her second win, coming from off the pace, was even more impressive.

"I believe the trainer has a Listed race at Toulouse earmarked and she still has an entry in the Prix de Diane. All being well she'll be a lovely addition to Prince Faisal’s broodmare band."

Meanwhile, the homebred Falconer has plenty of big-race entries after winning on his debut at Nottingham in October for Andrew Balding.

On the New Bay colt's prospects, Evans added: "He's wintered well and is another exciting prospect based on his two-year-old winning debut at Nottingham. He holds entries for the Dante in May and the English and Irish Derby. His return to the racecourse as a three-year-old old in mid-April should give the owner and trainer a good indication of his ability. 

"By New Bay and with plenty of stamina on the dam’s side, I would have no concerns about distance, but he’s a big horse with a long stride and it will be interesting to see where the trainer chooses to go with him."

Fraise Des Bois could yet make up into a third Classic performer for Prince Faisal. 

Another Arqana October Sale graduate trained by Rouget, the daughter of Zelzel won her first four starts at two, culminating in a seven-length romp to secure her first stakes success in the Listed Criterium du Bequet last July. Her final two starts last season yielded Group placings, including when second to Simmering in the Prix du Calvados at Deauville.

"She was kept busy last year, running six times, and her best performance was when she finished second to Simmering in the Prix du Calvados. She's declared for the Prix Imprudence at Deauville [on Tuesday] and if all goes well, she still has an entry in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches," Evans said.

There is also the matter of the broodmares, with some new additions to the team as well as granddaughters of Prince Faisal’s blue hen foundation mare Last Second. 

Coronet, a granddaughter of Last Second through her Listed-winning Darshaan dam Approach, has some promising youngsters coming through the ranks. 

"She has an attractive three-year-old Frankel colt in training with John and Thady Gosden called Ashmolean. He had a minor setback in the spring, but he’s in the right place to be given time," Evans said.

"She has a two-year-old colt by Frankel named Leighton. He's still in pre-training and will join the Gosdens later in the year. I’m pleased to say she has a Frankel yearling filly to keep the family line going, while this year she is carrying to Wootton Bassett and will then be rested."

Coronet: dual Group 1 winner is carrying to Wootton BassettCredit: Mark Cranham

Denford also has Coronet's dual winning Frankel half-sister, Regent, who also has some exciting prospects in the pipeline. 

"She has a very strong Oasis Dream colt in training with Andrew Balding and an equally attractive filly foal by Too Darn Hot. She's been tested in foal to Zarak this year," Evans said. 

The winning Eastern Empress is out of a Darshaan sister to Approach and will be mated with one of Coolmore's superstar stallions in the US. By Dubawi, she started her career with the Gosdens before heading stateside. 

"Dare I say, she's probably the nicest-looking filly ever produced at Denford," Evans added. "She finished her racing career with Christophe Clement in the States this year, being successful over a mile, which has earned her mating with Justify."

Prix Six Perfections winner See The Rose joined the Denford team following her 500,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls July Sale in 2022, having won her Group 3 and been Group 2-placed for Andre Fabre. Out of the Listed-placed mare Xaarienne, the Kendargent mare is a sister to Listed winner Xaarino and Prix de Cabourg third Mont Kiara. She counts Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Rose Bloom among her half-siblings.

"See The Rose has the most lovely Zarak yearling as her first foal and if she continues to produce in the same vein, there’s a lot to look forward to. She has a classy-looking Frankel filly foal and has been covered by Lope De Vega this year," Evans said.

Falconer's dam, Gala, has a colt foal by Showcasing and will head to Starspangledbanner, while Evans believes the stakes-placed Le Havre mare Ebony has an exciting future ahead of her. 

He said: "She's an attractive mare who looks to be passing on her quality to her foals. Her first foal by Kitten's Joy named Kalaoun ran twice as a juvenile, winning his maiden at the second attempt. He looks a useful proposition at this stage and holds entries in the Grand Prix de Paris and Prix du Jockey Club. 

"She has a Sottsass two-year-old filly with Andrew Balding, a Sea The Stars yearling colt and has been tested in foal to Siyouni."

Prime Art won the Firth Of Clyde Stakes for Johnny Murtagh before her sale to Denford last year. Out of the winning War Front mare, Mona Lisa's Smile, a daughter of the great Imagine and a close relation to Group 1 winner Horatio Nelson, she remains in training with Jane Chapple-Hyam and will shortly be covered by one of the most exciting young sires around. 

"A recent addition, and purchased very much as a broodmare prospect, she’s still in training but is due to be covered by Study Of Man before continuing her race career."

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