Sweet Solera success gives Dark Angel 15th Group winner

NATIONS ALEXANDER provided her sire Dark Angel with his 15th individual Group winner when running away with the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Bred by Oakhill Stud, Nations Alexander is the second foal produced by the Whipper mare Party Whip, a half-sister to Group 2 Richmond Stakes winner Always Hopeful and the Listed-placed Nacho Libre and out of a granddaughter of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Front Row.

Peter and Ross Doyle signed for the filly at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale at 50,000gns after Glencoole Stud had pinhooked her from the previous year's Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 34,000gns.

Dark Angel, an 11-year-old son of Acclamation, has just completed his first covering season at Yeomanstown Stud at a fee of €60,000, a sizeable jump from the €12,500 he commanded when Nations Alexander was conceived.

Nations Alexander isn't the only grey daughter of Dark Angel to have made an impact during the current season, with Mecca's Angel bouncing back to form to land the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on her most recent outing and Easton Angel claiming a pair of Listed successes before going on to finish a close fourth in the Group 2 King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Buyers at this month's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale will have the chance to purchase a half-brother to Nations Alexander, as Tally-Ho Stud is offering Party Whip's 2015 produce, a colt by its flagship stallion Kodiac.