Latest member of dynasty set to rule at Haydock on Saturday

The person on the Godolphin team who was inspired to name RulingDynasty could not have picked a more apt moniker for the three-year-old who makes his debut at Leicester on Saturday in the Cazoo Novice Stakes (3.51).

A son of Night Of Thunder, he is a three-parts brother to Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes winner Old Persian. That particular son of Dubawi stands at the Cashman family's Glenview Stud and welcomed his first foals this year.

As a close relation to a top-class middle-distance performer and with an entry in the Derby, Ruling Dynasty would have enough to capture anyone's eye on first glance but his family really is one that could quite happily match up to the definition of dynasty.

His dam Indian Petal is a Singspiel sister to Ribblesdale Stakes winner Silkwood and a half-sister to Silent Honor, who won the Cherry Hinton Stakes. They are out of Wood Vine, a Woodman half-sister to Listed winner Tessa Reef who is the dam of Dante and King Edward VII Stakes winner Permian.

Third dam Massaraat is a Listed-winning sister to the legendary Miesque, whose legacy continues to grow with last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Hong Kong Cup heroine Loves Only You the latest star descended from her.

Trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, it's no surprise that Ruling Dynasty holds an entry in the Cazoo Derby, even though it is a race his half-sibling did not contest. The King Edward VII Stakes winner ran in the Irish Derby instead and beat subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter in the Great Voltigeur, before finishing fifth to Kew Gardens in the St Leger.

Another of the newcomers in the mile and a quarter contest is also related to an exciting young National Hunt stallion. Crystal Delight is a New Approach son of Crystal Capella, whose six stakes victories include the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes and successive runnings of the Pride Stakes.

She is a Cape Cross three-parts sister to Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Crystal Ocean and a half-sister to Canadian International winner Hillstar.

Crystal Delight is trained, like his illustrious relatives, by Sir Michael Stoute for owner-breeder Sir Evelyn de Rothschild.

Highland Frolic, a half-brother to Palace Pier, in the ring at TattersallsCredit: Laura Green

At Haydock, the most expensive yearling from the first crop of the globetrotting Group 1 winner Highland Reel makes his eagerly-awaited racecourse debut in the Red Rock Novice Stakes (1.00) which opens the card.

Highland Frolic is a three-year-old half-brother to five-time Group 1-winning miler Palace Pier (by Kingman), whose only career defeats came in the most recent two renewals of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Bred by Floors Farming and Highclere Stud, he was sold for 320,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale to McCalmont Bloodstock. He is trained by John and Thady Gosden for Marc Chan, owner of last season's dual Group 1-winning juvenile Angel Bleu.

Dam Beach Frolic is an unraced Nayef half-sister to the Dante winner Bonfire and to the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed filly Joviality, and fetched 2.2m gns when purchased by MV Magnier in December 2020.

He is one of two colts making their debut in Saturday's contest; the other is Vintage Valley, who runs in the familiar yellow and black silks of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.

Bred by Ross Moorhead, he was purchased as a foal for €65,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale by Aughamore Stud, who made a healthy profit when offering him as a yearling at Book 2, where he made 210,000gns to his trainer Andrew Balding.

Dam Lea Valley is an Araafa half-sister to the Group 3 Lillie Langtry Fillies' Stakes winner Gravitation and to the second dam of Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Grocer Jack, who cost 700,000gns at last year's Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sale.

They are out of Guaranda, a Listed-placed Acatenango half-sister to quintuple Group 1 winner Fame And Glory and to Yummy Mummy, the dam of Oaks, 1,000 Guineas and Nassau Stakes winner Legatissimo.

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