England
Third successive Group 1 for Fallen Angel in G1 Sun Chariot
By Tom Frary, TDN Europe
Completing a trio of consecutive Group 1 successes on Saturday, Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) laid claim to being Wathnan Racing's flagbearer as she made all in Newmarket's Sun Chariot Stakes.
Regaining her old prowess in the Prix Rothschild and Matron Stakes in recent weeks, the Karl Burke-trained 11-4 second favourite set out her stall from the outset under James Doyle and despite being made to fight by Blue Bolt (Blue Point), from two out drew away from that Juddmonte runner on the climb to the line to score by 2.25 lengths. The 11-8 favourite Cinderella's Dream (Shamardal) was 4.5 lengths further behind in third.
“I would be lying if I said I thought she was going to win three Group 1s earlier this year, but she needed her run in the Lockinge and the ground was too fast at Ascot,” Burke said.
“She should be racing over further, but she's tough and over a mile you can be aggressive with her. She doesn't like being pulled around and loves being competitive. Apparently the fractions were really quick and it's rough conditions out there, but she is so tough and when the Juddmonte horse came to her, it was only going to help her.”
Burke has Ascot's Champions Day in his sights now. “I think this is probably a career best and if you take the second out she's a long, long way clear of some nice fillies,” he concluded. “We were worried about good-to-firm ground here earlier in the week, so that nice storm saved the day for us and the plan is the QEII now,” he added. “She'll have a shot at the boys and I can't wait. The plan is she will stay in training next year as long as she is sound at the end of the season.”
Pedigree info: Winning a fifth Group 1 race here, last year's Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Fallen Angel is one of the best from the first crop of her burgeoning sire sensation, Too Darn Hot (GB). She is currently the last known foal out of the May Hill winner and Fillies' Mile runner-up Agnes Stewart (Lawman) whose previous best was the G3 Stanerra Stakes runner-up Divine Jewel (Frankel).
France
G1 Prix de Royallieu won by Consent
By Tom Frary, TDN Europe
Relishing the testing ground at Paris Longchamp on Saturday, Denford Stud's 3-year-old Consent (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) dominated the G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu to announce her arrival. Patiently campaigned by Sir Mark Prescott, the 12-1 shot who had been second to Santorini Star (Golden Horn) in Doncaster's Park Hill last month kept that compatriot company on the lead before brushing her aside approaching the final quarter mile.
“She's improved all year and that was an easy a watch as it gets,” assistant trainer William Butler said of the Luke Morris-ridden 4.5-length winner, who was also runner-up in Deauville's G3 Prix Lady O'Reilly in August. “The plan was to sit second or third and it all worked out. It's a special day for the owner and the plan was to train her next year, so I would think on the back of today everyone will be keen to stick to that.”
Pedigree info: Consent, who becomes the 25th Group 1 winner for her sire, is the second foal out of the unraced Flora Danica (Galileo) who is a daughter of the Railway Stakes-placed Daneleta (Danehill). She is in turn responsible for the Dewhurst-winning sire Intense Focus by Lope De Vega's grandsire Giant's Causeway and Street Cry's prolific stakes producer Dane Street.
Lope De Vega had a race to race Group double with as Andre Fabre produced the reinvigorated First Look in the G2 Qatar Prix Dollar. Providing his sire Lope De Vega with a quickfire double after the exploits of Consent minutes earlier, Wathnan Racing's 2024 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up built on recent momentum to deny the Prix Niel runner-up Bay City Roller (New Bay) by 1.25 lengths under Mickael Barzalona.
G1 Prix du Cadran gives Scott first Group 1
By Tom Frary, TDN Europe
With all the leaders of the staying category AWOL on Saturday, 4-year-old gelding Caballo De Mar (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) took full advantage as the one true improver with the stamina for ParisLongchamp's G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran. Having conquered Dortmund's G3 Deutsches St Leger last month, Victorious Racing's 9-2 shot refused to give compatriot Coltrane (Mastercraftsman) more than a length advantage throughout and once sent by the 11-5 favourite by Tom Marquand two out asserted to score by 1.75 lengths.
Trainer George Scott, who was registering his first Group 1 win as a trainer, was keen to pay tribute to horse and staff. “It's an amazing feeling and a very special day for me and my team at home–we've finally got there,” he said.
“I was on the floor as he crossed the line, I have to admit, and I don't really get emotional so that's what it meant to me,” he added. “We've been waiting for it for a long time and it felt like we needed it as well. He's a one-off–he started his life in low-grade handicaps, but the great thing about him is he's got a huge heart.”
“It all went to plan. He loves to race on the hip of the leader, that seems to be his happy place and Tom said he could have gone round again after the line. He has his whole future ahead of him and he might not be done for the year. There are a couple of dances left and he's such a unique character in that he's so tough and durable. He'll be out in the Middle East next year for the Red Sea and World Cup night.”
Pedigree info: Caballo De Mar, who also becomes the first Group 1 winner for his sire, is currently the last known foal out of Oberyn (Holy Roman Emperor) who hails from the Aga Khan Studs family of the G3 Prix Minerve winner and excellent producer Daralinsha (Empery). The pedigree includes the luminaries Darjina (Zamindar), Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) and Darsi (Polish Precedent).
America
G1 First Lady Stakes won by Simply In Front
By Alan Carasso, TDN
Turf distaffers trained by Chad Brown had taken the seven most recent renewals of the G1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland, and the New York native looked to have a fair chance to extend that streak in the Bluegrass on Saturday afternoon. But it was Colebrook Farm's Simply in Front (Summer Front) who split rivals inside the final eighth of a mile and found the line first to cause a 13-1 upset in a bunched finish and snap the Brown domination, however temporarily.
The First Lady marks the first American top-level success for jockey Ben Curtis, who rode with great success over the winter at the Fair Grounds and at the recently completed meeting at Colonial Downs.
“It's unbelievable. I can't put it into words, to be honest with you, and getting it for (trainer) Eddie (Kenneally) as well,” Curtis said. “I first came over for him years ago. He used to tell me I was breezing them wrong, but I think we finally got something right! To do it for him, all the team there, Catherine (Mrs Kenneally) and the kids, it means the world to me. She's a really nice filly and everything went perfect today.”
Pedigree Notes: Simply In Front is the first Grade 1 winner for Summer Front. Under the banner of his Miacomet Bloodstock, William Harrigan purchased the placed Complicated (Blame) for US$110,000 (AU$167,000) at Keeneland November in 2016 and her enviable produce record has made her progeny increasingly popular from a commercial standpoint. Simply In Front is the mare's second offspring to succeed at the Grade 1 level in as many years, joining And One More Time, winner of the 2024 Natalma Stakes.
G1 Champagne Stakes won by Napoleon Solo
By Steve Sherack, TDN
Gold Square's 2-year-old colt Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map), a very sharp debut winner of an auction-restricted maiden special weight sprinting at Saratoga on August 8, put on a dominating display in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' G1 Champagne Stakes going a one-turn mile at the Belmont at the Big A meeting.
“You don't have a lot of horses that go 0:44 and change and keep going,” winning trainer Chad Summers said. “He did it, it wasn't really the plan, but Joel (Rosario) said he just broke so easy and he had so much horse in hand, he goes, 'with the way the track is playing, let's just go ahead.'”
Summers continued, “He's a 2-year-old, he's a nice horse, he's developing, Al (Gold) is such a great owner, we work together to make that plan and think what is best for the horse now and for the long-term.”
Pedigree Notes: Napoleon Solo, a US$40,000 (AU$60,600) Keeneland September steal for Al Gold's Gold Square of Grade 1 winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner) fame, becomes the seventh Grade 1 winner for Liam's Map. Atomic Blonde (Scat Daddy), a stakes-winning homebred for the Gunthers, who had a colt by Authentic this year.
Unbeaten Ted Noffey adds G1 Breeders’ Futurity Stakes
By Steve Sherack, TDN
Undefeated Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), a runaway winner of the G1 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful Stakes solidified his status as the horse to beat in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile with an impressive performance in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' G1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Stakes at Keeneland.
“Everything in his training indicated to us that he wouldn't have any issue with (two turns),” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “It's always great to see them actually do it. It worked out beautifully today. He had a good trip to the first turn, got into a good rhythm and was just kind of waiting on Johnny (Velazquez) to give him the cue. It was what we were hoping for and what we expected but, like I said, you always want to see it.”
You've certainly heard the 'typo' story behind his name now. Ted Noffey is named, tongue in cheek, for Spendthrift Farm's longtime general manager and Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club 2024 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year Ned Toffey, who had his named misspelled in a recent interview with a trade publication.
Pedigree Notes: One of 27 top-level winners for Spendthrift Farm's six-time reigning champion general sire Into Mischief, Ted Noffey brought US$650,000 (AU$984,000) from Spendthrift Farm as a Keeneland September yearling.
Ted Noffey's dam, stakes winner Streak of Luck (Old Fashioned), brought US$620,000 (AU$939,000) from Aaron and Marie Jones at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding sale.
G1 American Pharoah Stakes won by Intrepido
By Jill Williams, TDN
Four of the six 2-year-old runners in Saturday's G1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita had Graded stakes experience, but it was one of the two maiden winners making his stakes debut who came home with the victory and secured a 'Win and You're In' spot for the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar in four weeks time. Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) showed fight in between horses before finishing strong to capture his first Graded win and punch his ticket to championship day.
Intrepido was a US$385,000 (AU$583,000) purchase at the OBS April sale by Michael Pender for Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. He was the only member of the field to have previously won at a mile and one of only two not trained by Bob Baffert. “He's a nice horse, a really nice horse,” said trainer Jeff Mullins.
Pedigree Notes: Maximus Mischief is the sire of four Graded winners from his three crops to race, including his first-crop runner and Grade 1 winner Raging Torrent, whose retirement was announced this summer and who will be a new stallion next season at Lane's End. Maximus Mischief, who stands at Spendthrift alongside his sire, Into Mischief, has 14 black-type winners.
Sierra Fria Farm bred Intrepido in Kentucky out of the placed mare Overly Indulgent (Pleasantly Perfect).
G1 Frizette Stakes won by Iron Orchard
By Alan Carasso, TDN
New York-bred Iron Orchard (Authentic) pounced on the leaders four off the inside entering the final eighth of a mile and outslugged longshot Rileytole (Mitole) to take out Saturday's G1 Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct. The Frizette is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen series.
“Right now, we'll just be happy and enjoy this,” said winning trainer Danny Gargan. “She's done a lot this year. I told the guys before, we'll see how it goes. There's next year–she's a young filly. I think with the way she ran today, maybe in the future she might be able to go two turns, but I'm just happy with how it went today. I feel blessed. It's the first horse I've trained for the Childs, so to win a Grade I with the first horse that you train for them (is special).”
Pedigree Notes: Iron Orchard is the second Graded winner and first to succeed at the elite level for Spendthrift Farm's Authentic. Pine Ridge Stables acquired the twice stakes-placed Onebrethatatime for US$150,000 (AU$227,000) in foal to the Into Mischief son Audible at Keeneland November in 2020 and Iron Orchard is the second of two winners for the mare. Onebreathatatime is a half-sister to G3 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes victress Wonderlandbynight (Sky Mesa).
Rhetorical wins G1 Turf Mile Stakes, first Group 1 for Walden
By Alan Carasso, TDN
Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable's 4-year-old gelding Rhetorical (Not This Time) provided his all-conquering sire with his second winner of Keeneland's G1 Coolmore Turf Mile in the space of three years, striking from close range to earn an all-expenses-paid trip to Del Mar for the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile exactly four weeks down the road.
The Coolmore Mile was a first winner at the Grade 1 level for young trainer Will Walden.
“I'm just happy for the team. This is why we do it, get up and do it seven days a week, for moments like this,” Walden said. “Super happy for the horse and the ownership: Adam Wachtel (of Wachtel Stable), Gary Barber, Everett Dobson (of Cheyenne Stable). There were some doubts about whether the horse could jump up. We didn't know. But he'd been training awfully good and giving us all the signs that we wanted to see going forward.
“Irad came into the office this morning and we talked about the race. He rode it to perfection. He's such a clutch rider and makes the right decisions in those split-second decisions. Just happy for everybody involved.”
Pedigree Notes: Rhetorical is the 29th Group/Graded winner and ninth Grade 1 winner (56 stakes winners overall) for his remarkable young sire. The Robert Masterson-bred Sheet Humor (Distorted Humor), also the dam of the five-time stakes winner and five-times Graded-placed Sterling Silver, was sold to Korean interests in foal to Central Banker for US$3000 (AU$4500) at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale in 2021.
Canada
G1 Canadian International won by Silawi
By Stefanie Grimm, TDN
Silawi (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) continued a big day internationally for Wathnan Racing Saturday, giving the ownership group a second top-level win on the day in the G1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine.
Wathnan Racing, who purchased Silawi as a 3-year-old at the Arqana Arc Sale in 2023 for €380,000 (AU$622,400), also saw top-level success Saturday when their Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) took the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the day. And if that weren't enough, another Wathnan runner First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) took down the G2 Qatar Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp.
Pedigree Note: Silawi is the 51st winner at the Grade/Group I level for Darley stallion sensation Dubawi who also counts champions like Rebel's Romance amongst his top 2025 runners. As you would expect from a horse bred by Wertheimer et Frere, the gelding is impeccibly well bred out of a homebred mare, Silasol (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) who conquered both the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches and the G1 Pour Moi Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary before retiring to her broodmare career where she has produced four winners from five to race. Silawi's best siblings include his 3-year-old full brother Silius (Ire) who is a stakes winner in France
