December 7, 2019 - WOLVERHAMPTON, Race 3, Alw, GBP £5,300, 8.6F
1st Dam: Waldlerche (GB)
2st Dam: Waldmark (Ger)
2st Dam: Wurftaube (Ger)
Owner: Gestut Ammerland and Newsells Park Stud
Breeder: Newsells Park, Ammerland GmbH and Co. KG (GB)
Trainer: John Gosden
Two months after his half-brother Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) produced a sensational performance to eclipse Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the Arc, Waldkonig (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was becoming the latest in a steady-growing line of TDN Rising Stars from the family as he ripped up the Ladbrokes Home of the Odds Boost EBF Novice S. over an extended mile on Wolverhampton's Tapeta. Only 6-4 representing the same connections as his illustrious multiple Group 1-winning half-sibling, Gestut Ammerland and Newsells Park Stud's April-foaled bay who had been bought for his breeders by Crispin de Moubray for 600,000gns at the Tattersalls Book 1 Sale travelled strongly behind the leading duo early.
Set alight by Robert Havlin turning into the straight, the homebred had a tendency to edge right and was green as he powered clear of outclassed rivals but at the line had a yawning nine-length margin to spare over Zoran (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The opposition may have been tame and the winning time slow due to the moderate early pace, but the manner of Waldkonig's impressive straight run will have many talking as the 2020 Classics come into focus.
The dam Waldlerche (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) was labelled a TDN Rising Star in 2011 and went on to win the G3 Prix Penelope. Her first foal was Waldgeist, another TDN Rising Star who more than rose to the title as he registered a trio of Group 1 successes prior to his career highlight in the Arc, MG1SW-Fr & MG1SP-Eng, $4,835,9811. Her second foal was Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) who captured the G2 Prix de Malleret, GSW-Fr, $123,344, while her third Waldstern (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) also races for this stable and was a TDN Rising Star when winning on debut. He was recently a close fourth in the G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup, so possesses a decent amount of the family's ability.
Waldlerche is a half-sister to this yard's G1 St Leger hero Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and to the dam of this year's Listed Pat Eddery S. scorer Al Dabaran (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Her dam Waldmark (Ger) (Mark of Esteem {GB}) was runner-up in the G2 Falmouth S. and is in turn a daughter of the four-times group-winning German champion and runaway G2 Deutsches St Leger heroine Wurftaube (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) whose other progeny includes the G1 Deutsches Derby hero Waldpark (Ger) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G2 Diana Trial runner-up Waldjagd (GB) (Observatory). The latter is also the dam of this year's Listed Prix du Pont Neuf winner Urwald (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}).
Waldmark's full-sister Waldbeere (GB) is the dam of the six-times group-winning sire Wiesenpfad (Fr) (Waky Nao {GB}), this year's G3 Hackwood S. hero Waldpfad (Ger) (Shamardal) and the listed scorer Waldtraut (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who was also third in the G1 Preis der Diana. Waldlerche's yearling is a full-sister to Waldgeist.
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