Flying filly set to ensure breeders' fine romance with Kingman endures

Summer Romance, a daughter of sire of the moment Kingman from a fine family and the second most expensive lot at the recent Arqana Breeze-Up Sale, received a quote of 10-1 for the 1,000 Guineas next year after blitzing her opposition in the Listed Empress Fillies' Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The grey filly, trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, had delivered a glimpse of her talent when a ready two-length winner on her debut on soft ground at Yarmouth earlier this month, and she confirmed the impression that she might be something special on her second start, travelling supremely well under James Doyle and streaking to a six-length success over runner-up Ursulina, a Kodiac half-sister to Listed winners Pepita and Redolent.

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Summer Romance looks set to continue to justify her hefty price-tag, having been bought by Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin from the Mocklershill draft for €800,000 at Deauville last month. She was originally a 300,000gns purchase by Oceanic Bloodstock for D Farm from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Summer Romance, who hails from the second crop of Kingman, becomes the sire's ninth stakes winner. The Banstead Manor Stud resident is rapidly rising to the the top of the stallion ranks, having also supplied Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Persian King, Coventry Stakes winner Calyx and Musidora Stakes scorer Nausha.

Kingman enjoyed a fruitful Royal Ascot this month, with Sangarius taking the Hampton Court Stakes from another of the sire's sons, Fox Chairman, and King Of Comedy narrowly touched off into second in the St James's Palace Stakes. Moreover, Sparkle Roll was a creditable third in the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Summer Romance in the ring at Arqana just last monthCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

A four-time Group 1 winner by Invincible Spirit, Kingman covered at a fee of £75,000 this year but looks bound for a pay rise for the 2020 breeding season.

Summer Romance also has a power-packed bottom half of her pedigree. Bred by Roundhill Stud out of the winning Statue Of Liberty mare Serena's Storm, she is a half-sister to two winners including Rizeena, who landed the Queen Mary Stakes and Moyglare Stud Stakes at two and captured the Coronation Stakes at three, and also notched Group 1 placings in the Prix Morny, Fillies' Mile, Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes.

Serena's Storm is a half-sister to this season's Prix d'Ispahan winner Zabeel Prince and Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial scorer and Ribblesdale fourth Queen Power, as well as to multiple Australian Group 2 victor Puissance De Lune.

Kingman: goes from strength to strength as a stallionCredit: Juddmonte Farms/Asunción Piñeyrúa

Serena's Storm and her siblings are out of Princess Serena, a winning daughter of Unbridled's Song and Serena's Sister, who, as her name gives a clue to, is a sister to the great American champion racemare Serena's Song, the winner of ten top-level contests.

Serena's Song produced Coronation Stakes heroine Sophisticat and Group/Graded winners Grand Reward, Harlington and Schramsberg, while another of her daughters, Serena's Tune, is dam of dual Group 3 scorer and sire Vocalised and granddam of champion Honor Code.

The rise of Summer Romance and her close relations Zabeel Prince and Queen Power this year will be music to the ears of Roundhill Stud as they have young stock on the ground by both Serena's Storm and Princess Serena.

Serena's Storm has a yearling filly by Iffraaj – the sire of Rizeena – and a filly foal by Dark Angel, while Princess Serena has a yearling filly by Gleneagles and a colt foal by Lope De Vega, the source of Zabeel Prince.

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