Familiar feeling for National Stud sire Rajasinghe's first runner

Coventry Stakes winner Rajasinghe is the latest first season sire to be represented by a runner with the debut of Talamanca at Lingfield (5.30) on Saturday.

The colt will represent his sire's owner Phil Cunningham and trainer Richard Spencer in the 5f maiden, having been purchased by Cunningham for 50,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale - it was the highest price achieved by a foal from Rajasinghe's first crop.

Talamanca was bred by Mickley Stud out of the winning Green Desert mare Bakoura, who is out of the Group 3 and Listed-placed Sunoud. It is a fine Shadwell family; third dam Azdihaar is a half-sister to the European champion two-year-old filly Shadayid and the Group 3 winners Dumaani and Fath.

Rajasinghe is by the late trailblazing sprinter Choisir, who was the sire of 11 Group 1 winners including Starspangledbanner and Olympic Glory. He was bred by James and Geoff Mulcahy out of the Listed National Stakes second Bunditton by Soviet Star and sold for €65,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale

As a yearling he made £85,000 to Bobby O'Ryan for Phil Cunningham's Rebel Racing. Sent into training with Spencer, he made a winning debut in a Newcastle maiden before his Royal Ascot triumph and he was then third in the July Stakes.

He retired to the National Stud for the 2019 season at a fee of £5,000 and has 25 two-year-olds registered with Weatherbys. His fee for this year is £3,000.

Read more

O'Callaghan and Amo axis see off rivals for 460,000gns Kodiac filly

Revealed: what Godolphin's chief talent scout looks for at the breeze-up sales

Kodiac colt fuels Royal Ascot dreams after 525,000gns Craven Sale transfer

Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Cachet a fine advert for Aclaim and Craven Breeze-Up