Relations of Breeders' Cup stars on show at Wolverhampton

A wintry Saturday evening at Wolverhampton could be lit up by some well-bred newcomers who will grace the Tapeta, with Darley in particular set to take the wraps off some exciting prospects.

Charlie Appleby unveils Wild Crusade, a Dubawi full-brother to recent Breeders' Cup Turf winner Yibir and triple Group 1 winner Wild Illusion, in the two-year-old novice (4.30).

The April-born colt is also a half-brother to Really Special, a daughter of Shamardal who won the Listed Montrose Fillies' Stakes at two and the UAE 1,000 Guineas Trial at three. Their Oasis Dream half-sister Ceratonia was also trained by Appleby during her juvenile season and finished second in the Prix d'Aumale.

They are out of Rumh, who has produced four black type performers from her first five runners. The Listed Ballymacoll Stud Stakes winner is a daughter of Monsun and was bred by Gestut Fahrhof out of Preis der Winterkonigin winner Royal Dubai. The daughter of Dashing Blade is a half-sister to Beverly D Stakes winner Royal Highness by Monsun.

Rumh was sold by Newsells Park Stud to John Ferguson on behalf of Godolphin for 300,000gns at Book 1 in 2009.

Also sporting the Godolphin blue silks is Mariinsky, who is one of two aristocratically bred debutants for John and Thady Gosden in the race. The gelded son of Sea The Stars was bred by Godolphin and is closely related to Oh So Sharp Stakes and International Istanbul Trophy winner Local Time by Invincible Spirit.

They are out of the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes winner Marie De Medici, a Medicean half-sister to Grand Prix de Paris and Canadian International Stakes winner Erupt by Dubawi.

Second dam Mare Nostrum by Caerleon won the Prix Vanteaux and was placed in both the Prix Saint-Alary and Prix Vermeille. Mare Nostrum is a half-sister to the Yellow Ribbon Invitational Handicap winner Aube Indienne and to the Listed winner Raisonnable, whose descendants include Group 1 winners Pear Tart and I Am A Star.

The father and son duo also run a Ulysees colt with a stallion's pedigree for Cheveley Park Stud. Homeric was the most expensive foal from the first crop of the dual Group 1 winner, fetching €175,000 from Jamie Railton at the Goffs November Foal Sale where he was offered by the Castlebridge Consignment.

He is a half-brother to this season's Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes winner Max Player by Honor Code, who was third to Tiz The Law in the 2020 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes. Their Scat Daddy half-brother Seahenge cost $750,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sales and won the Champagne Stakes for Ballydoyle. He stands at Haras de la Haie Neuve and has his first runners in 2022.

Dam Fools In Love won the Orleans Stakes and is a Not For Love half-sister to multiple Graded Stakes winner International Star by Fusaichi Pegasus.

They take on a field that includes the twice-raced Yummylicious, a Dubawi half-sister to 1,000 Guineas, Nassau and Matron Stakes winner Legatissimo. Trained by the Gosdens for breeder Newsells Park Stud, Yummylicious is out of Yummy Mummy, a Montjeu full-sister to Fame And Glory.

In the three-year-old novice (6.30) Saeed bin Suroor unveils LostGold, a Dark Angel half-brother to Shamardal's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Castle Lady and to the Listed Meydan Classic winner Top Score by Hard Spun.

Their dam Windsor County is by Elusive Quality and is a full-sister to the Breeders' Cup Classic and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner and sire Raven's Pass.

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