At a crowdless Chantilly on Tuesday, there was a performance from George Strawbridge’s newcomer Another Sky (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) to excite all media onlookers as the half-brother to Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) showed a rare touch of class on his debut to earn TDN Rising Star status. Sent off the 27-10 second favourite, the long-striding homebred soon had control on the front end with Aurelien Lemaitre keen to allow him to bowl...

At a crowdless Chantilly on Tuesday, there was a performance from George Strawbridge’s newcomer Another Sky (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) to excite all media onlookers as the half-brother to Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) showed a rare touch of class on his debut to earn TDN Rising Star status. Sent off the 27-10 second favourite, the long-striding homebred soon had control on the front end with Aurelien Lemaitre keen to allow him to bowl. Kicking clear with the minimum of fuss soon after being straightened for home, the chestnut was eased in the last 100 metres to register a facile 4 1/2-length success from the 23-10 market-leader Galawi (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the son of the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Galikova (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}). Trainer Freddy Head was not surprised by the manner of the victory and said, “From day one, ever since he walked into the yard, he has impressed me with everything he has done. He’s a lovely horse who had a little setback last year and couldn’t run, but maybe that was a blessing in disguise. He has size, a lovely temperament and a beautiful action and everything you ask for from a good horse. I was expecting a good performance and he was very impressive there. He’s in all the major races and I wanted to run him early to have more time to decide what to do next.” The unraced dam Darkova (Maria’s Mon) delivered the domestic sensation Almanzor as her first foal. He conquered the G1 G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 English and Irish Champion S. during his stunning 3-year-old campaign, Hwt. 3yo-Eur, Ire & Fr at 9 1/2-11f, G1SW-Eng, Ire & Fr, $1,346,126. Darkova, who also produced his listed-placed full-sister Troarn (Fr), is a half-sister to the dam of last year’s G2 Coventry S. third Guildsman (Fr) also by Wootton Bassett (GB). A granddaughter of the G3 Prix Minerve third Daralbayda (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}), she is therefore connected to the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and G1 Prix d’Astarte-winning European champion Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar) and the G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Darsi (Fr) (Polish Precedent). Her 2-year-old colt Mosby (GB) is a full-brother to Almanzor, while she also has a yearling filly by Frankel (GB).