Dark Angel (Ire)

7.30 Kempton, Novice, 3yo/up, 10f 219y (AWT) WATER TO WINE (FR) (Kingman {GB}) was one of the talking horses for the Derby ahead of the Chester Vase, which he missed but he is back with Royal Ascot in the mind of connections. A taking winner on debut at Newbury last month, George Strawbridge's relative of Dominant and Es Que Love is joined by the fellow John and Thady Gosden-trained newcomer Humphrey (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Normandie Stud's half-brother to the G2 Queen's Vase winner and Goodwood Cup third Gregory (Golden Horn)....

With Haydock's two sprint Group 2s going ahead after early drama on Saturday's card, it was Karl Burke and Clifford Lee who were the most relieved as they pulled off the double with Night Raider (Dark Angel) in the William Hill Temple Stakes. Sent off the 3-1 favourite for the five-furlong test, having marked his first run since a gelding op with an all-the-way win in Newmarket's G3 Palace House Stakes earlier this month, Wathnan's representative wasn't asked to lead this time with his rider in supreme form. Delivered to...

The 2026 edition of the G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) went to Grand Son Of Dark (Dark Angel) by 3 1/2 lengths at San Siro in Milan. Always close to the pace, the son of Chica Bonita (Lope De Vega) relished the trip and ran his rivals ragged. Able to secure a rails run, the 6-1 shot rated in second behind the  Lion Of Alba (Too Darn Hot). Those two showed the way through the early stages in the strung out field. On top by the halfway mark, the...

3.07 Leopardstown, Listed, 4yo/up, 8fT THE LION IN WINTER (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is the star turn in this Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Heritage Stakes as Aidan O'Brien looks to provide him with an early confidence boost following a three-year-old campaign that remarkably yielded no wins. Favourite for the Derby at this stage last year, he ended up showing his best at seven furlongs and a mile with four placings at the highest level including a close third in the Breeders' Cup Mile. 1.22 Leopardstown, Mdn, 3yo, f,...

Closers are often victim to whatever pace unfolds in front of them, but Parfois (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) missed that memo, and rolled into the lane on this American debut with so much momentum that it took her almost nine wide. In the end it didn't matter in the slightest as she rolled home by daylight and more than handily earned her stamp of approval as the newest 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. Parfois actually had a successful debut at La Teste Buch in France last August where she...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Indigo Woods at Fair Grounds. Blue Is the Colour Larry Rodgers and Coast Racing's Indigo Woods (Blue Point) prevailed by a half-length and maintained her perfect record in the Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds on March 7 (video). A winner of a Churchill maiden in October, the Brendan Walsh trainee was bred by Tinnakill House. The 10th foal out...

INSTABILITY (IRE) (c, 3, Lope de Vega {Ire}--Miss Katie Mae {Ire} {SW-Can, GSP-Ire, MSP-USA, $166,139}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) was made the 6-5 favorite for this unveiling and did not disappoint his supporters with a strong performance over the Tampa lawn. A 440,000gns ($591,663) purchase at the Tattersalls October yearling sale in 2024, the son of leading sire Lope de Vega (Ire) set up comfortably in mid-pack as the frontrunners posted opening splits of :23.14 and a half-mile in :47.67. He steadily improved his position from there behind six panels...

Galileo and Dubawi, two titans of the sport whose fates have been so entwined for the past two decades that the marrying of their superior bloodlines to one day give us a champion sire was perhaps as inevitable as it is satisfying for us bloodstock nuts. On 12 occasions, in 2008 and then every year between 2010 and 2020, Galileo topped the end-of-year sires' table in Britain and Ireland. On four of those occasions Dubawi filled the runner-up spot, before the Darley stalwart finally enjoyed his day in the sun...

We're sliding down the scale slightly for this second part of our look at the sires standing across Europe to those with an advertised fee of £15,000 to £50,000 (approximately €17,000 to €57,000). And how can we not start with the champion sire of 2024, Dark Angel? At €45,000, his fee is the lowest it has been for a decade, and of course the years are marching on, but if there is one thing we have learnt about Dark Angel in his 18 seasons at Yeomanstown Stud it is that...

Fresh off the news that Sands Of Mali would stand for €22,500 next year, Yeomanstown Stud also revealed fees for the remainder of its roster. Tops of the stud is reigning champion sire Dark Angel, who will stand at €45,000 (from €60k). The son of Acclamation is responsible for 115 stakes winners. A total of 13 of his progeny have struck at stakes level this season, with the consistent Khaadem successful across the pond in Keeneland's GII Woodford Stakes before running third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Heredia...

One of the most exciting young stallions in Europe is on his way to Yeomanstown Stud after Gay O'Callaghan struck the winning bid for the sire of Group 1 winner Time For Sandals at a Tattersalls Ireland silent auction. Sands Of Mali has been at the centre of a legal dispute between Steve Parkin of Clipper Logistics and Ballyhane Stud boss Joe Foley, who has managed the career of the 10-year-old stallion since he joined the roster back in 2021.  In that time, the Group 1 winner has confirmed himself...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Every Vote Counts in New York. Third Start The Charm For Pinatubo Filly Klaravich Stables' Every Vote Counts (Pinatubo) strolled to a 1 1/4-length victory during the Belmont at the Big A meeting on November 2 (video). Trained by Chad Brown and bred by The Sparkle Roll Partnership, she was making her third start. A 220,000gns Tattersalls October yearling, the daughter of G2...