By Sean Cronin
Aidan O'Brien trainee Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel), a G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes entry and son of dual Grade I winner Newspaperofrecord, went into every notebook when encountering the TDN Rising Star display of Dorset (Wootton Bassett) at the Curragh last month and duly delivered a breakthrough success in Monday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Killarney.
“He was very babyish at the Curragh, and again today where he jumped out and led, and Wayne [Lordan] said he was looking at the cars on the inside,” said Ballydoyle's Chris Armstrong. “It looked a decent maiden and he went away and won well, so that is a decent sign. He improved from the Curragh to here and will improve again from here to his next run, which could be in the [G2] Futurity Stakes. Whatever he does [this year] you'd think will be a bonus as he'll make up into a smashing middle-distance horse for next year. He is one with a touch of class and there aren't many who win here who aren't above average.”
The 2-5 favourite, stepping up from seven furlongs to a mile for this return, broke on the lead and remained there throughout. Setting a modest pace through halfway, he was allowed an inch of rein with a quarter-mile remaining and stayed on relentlessly in the latter stages to easily outpoint stablemate Endorsement (Wootton Bassett) by 2 3/4 lengths.
Frankel x Newspaperofrecord
Benvenuto Cellini looks a nice one for Ballydoyle and lands the July Festival opener under @waynemlordan at @KillarneyRaces pic.twitter.com/Ol28sqwg0w
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 14, 2025
Benvenuto Cellini is the second foal and scorer out of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and GI Just A Game Stakes heroine Newspaperoftherecord (Lope De Vega), whose Group 3-winning dam Sunday Times (Holy Roman Emperor) ran second in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes.
Sunday Times, who is also the dam of Listed Cecil Frail Stakes winner Classical Times (Lawman), is kin to Listed Bosra Sham Fillies' Stakes runner-up Question Times (Shamardal), herself the dam of three black-type winners headed by G1 Irish Derby hero Latrobe (Camelot) and multiple Group 1-placed Listed Salsabil Stakes victrix Pink Dogwood (Camelot).
The April-foaled chestnut's third dam Forever Times (So Factual) is a half-sister to multiple Group-winning dual G1 Prix de la Foret runner-up Welsh Emperor (Emperor Jones), the stakes-winning Majestic Times (Bluebird) and the Group 3-placed Brave Prospector (Oasis Dream).
Benvenuto Cellini is a full-brother to Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial victrix and G1 Oaks fifth Giselle and a yearling filly. He is also kin to a weanling colt by Justify.
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