Acclamation (GB)

In terms of upcoming centenaries, the good news is that we should be favored with plenty of Marilyn Monroe movies. True, her most enduring contribution to equine sport was to exclaim, in Some Like It Hot: "Water polo! Isn't that terribly dangerous?" "I'll say," replies Tony Curtis as the fake millionaire. "I had two ponies drowned under me." In the Thoroughbred world, therefore, we will instead be honoring another immortal female born in 1926. Through the next year, in fact, it might be fun to make a specific note of...

Legendary handler Willie Browne lit the touch paper for a barnstorming Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale by netting a cool 1.4 million gns from Godolphin for an Acclamation (GB) colt that he sourced for just €70,000 the previous autumn. That sale was the headline act on a day where 15 horses sold for 200,000gns or more and all of the key figures were dramatically up on last year's corresponding day of trade. Arguably the most encouraging metric to jump was the clearance rate, up 18% on last year to 84%. The...

The richest horse in the world just padded his earnings with a hefty check from the AED1,850,000 G1 Jebel Hatta over 1800 metres at Meydan on Friday. Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) delivered a strong final quarter in :22.80 to win going away, overwhelming frontrunner--and last year's winner--Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at the 100-metre mark to win as much the best. That Godolphin runner went fatally amiss 50 metres from home, tossing rider William Buick to the turf. Poker Face (Ire) (Fastnet Rock...

The first foal of the high-class sprinter Bouttemont (Ire) was born on January 11, Rathbarry Stud announced on Monday. Bred by Equispirit Limited, the bay colt is the first foal out of the Showcasing (GB) mare Rival Queen (Ire) who, in turn, is out of a Galileo (Ire) half-sister to the leading sires Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB). Bouttemont is a son of Rathbarry's much-missed stallion Acclamation (GB). He covered 81 mares in his first season at stud, including 13 black-type performers, 11 black-type producers and half-sisters to the...

Rathbary Stud's influential sire Acclamation (GB) has died at the age of 25. The son of Royal Applause (GB) had recently been retired from covering duties. The stud announced the news via a statement on social media which read, "It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Acclamation this weekend. He leaves behind a legacy as a true legend of the Irish stallion ranks. He will be deeply missed by all at Rathbarry Stud but never forgotten." Bred by Tedwood Bloodstock and partners, the son of Princess Athena...

Group 2 winner and Group 1 sire Acclamation (GB) has been pensioned from stallion duties at Rathbarry Stud. The 25-year-old son of Royal Applause (GB) stood for €25,000 this term. Bred by Tedwood Bloodstock and partners, the son of Princess Athena (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}) won the G2 Diadem Stakes and was placed in both the G2 King's Stand Stakes prior to it being elevated to Group 1 level and the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes for Gerald Cottrell. The sire of 155 stakes horses internationally and 68 lifetime stakes winners, the bay...

Capping her career in style, Brightwalton Bloodstock's Makarova (GB) (Acclamation {GB}--Vesnina {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) signed off with a gallant success in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines. Having shown how much she relishes a slow surface when taking the G3 Sandown Sprint Stakes in July, the Ed Walker-trained 5-year-old from an esteemed Cheveley Park family had put up an ideal prep when third behind Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in last month's G1 Flying Five at The Curragh but still traded at an inflated and overly-generous...

NEWMARKET, England--Fifteen-year-old Ruairi Kilmartin was left speechless after his Dark Angel (Ire) filly--a mere €7,000 buy at the Goffs November Foal Sale--had provided him with a fairytale result when selling to Paul Corrigan for 70,000gns on the opening day of the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale. "No, never," an incredulous Kilmartin replied when asked whether he'd dared to dream of lot 159 making that sort of money. "I thought she'd make 20 or 30 grand, but that's exceeded my expectations. We were flat out there yesterday evening with 40 or 50...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a son of Frankel (GB). 16.00 Yarmouth, Nov, £40,000, 2yo, 6f 3yT AGE OF GOLD (IRE) (Frankel {GB}), representing the Godolphin-Appleby-Buick triumvirate, realised the fifth-highest price at last year's Goffs Orby sale when selling for €625,000 and makes the trip up the A11 to debut on...

The Tattersalls March sale catalogue, which takes place on Wednesday, Mar. 27 at Newmarket's Park Paddocks, is now available online. The sale comprises of both Flat and NH prospects with 85 lots total, highlighted by an eight horse draft from Godolphin led by 2021 G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy-placed Brilliant Light (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Also catalogued is Floral Melody (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), a 2-year-old half-sister to SW & GSP-Eng Kylian (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) as well as stakes-placed Remarkable Force (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and several winning...

Acclamation (GB) will stand for €25,000 in 2024, tops for the Rathbarry Stud roster, the stud announced on X. The sire of 67 stakes winners, he covered 62 mares this term. In 2023, the 24-year-old sired five stakes winners, including G1 Cox Plate winner and Hong Kong wunderkind Romantic Warrior (Ire). Other stars include Group 3 winners Garrus (Ire) and Orne (Ire), in the G3 Abernant S. and G3 Horris Hill S., respectively. Joining Acclamation is second-year sire State Of Rest (Ire), who will stand for a slightly lower fee...

Al Shaqab Racing's Orne (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}--Pellucid {GB}, by Excelebration {Ire}) followed up a Sept. 22 debut success at Kempton with a fourth over one mile in last month's G3 Autumn S. and regained the winning thread with a pillar-to-post victory in Saturday's rescheduled G3 Betfred Horris Hill S. at Newmarket. The 10-1 chance was swiftly into stride and tanked along on the front end through halfway. Nudged along passing the quarter-mile marker, he came under sterner urging approaching the final furlong and, despite drifting left in the closing stages,...