Dark Angel (Ire)

The mating plans for the high-quality Shadwell broodmare band were announced by the stud on Monday. Nunnery Stud's four stallions, led by new recruit Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), will all be well supported by Shadwell. Several top-flight winners are booked to the 2020 G1 Sussex S. victor, among them dual Group 1 winners Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) and South African multiple Grade 1 winner Majmu (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). They are joined by Ghanaati's Rahy half-sister, the stakes winner and G1 Oaks third Rumoush, who already...

Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was a model of consistency for trainer Charlie Appleby last season at three, and she continued in that vein on seasonal debut at Meydan on Thursday while picking up a first pattern-race win in the G2 Cape Verdi. The winner of her lone 2-year-old start in May of 2019 before undergoing a wind surgery, Althiqa resurfaced in a seven-furlong novice event at Newmarket on June 14, which she won by 7 1/2 lengths. Returning 11 days later for the Listed Eternal Fillies' S. again over...

Trainer Charlie Hills was very pleased with the recent performance of G1SP Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) in the Listed Dubai Dash last Thursday, and the 6-year-old gelding will remain in Dubai for another tilt at the G2 Meydan Sprint on Feb. 18. In 2020, Equilateral ran second in the Sprint. "I was really delighted with him," said Hills. "Frankie [Dettori] gave him a great ride and it looked like he was always going to win the race. It's nice to have won the race twice now and he was 5lb...

In a temporarily upside-down world, a comforting air of normality can be found in a perusal of the end-of-year stallion tables. To Benjamin Franklin's certainties of death and taxes, in this smaller world we can add just about the only sure thing in racing and bloodstock: Galileo (Ire) is champion sire. Perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid to the King of Tipperary is the fact that, even at his home at Coolmore, the operation which naturally has free-flowing access to the supersire via some of the best mares...

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. Monday's Insights features a full-brother to MGSW Happy Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). 3.00 Kempton, Mdn, £6,300, 2yo, 7fT MELODY OF LIFE (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) starts out in the King Power Racing silks sported by his talented full-brother Happy Power (Ire) who was successful in the recent G2...

Almanaara (Ire) (Shamardal-Midnight Angel {GB}, by Machiavellian), a half-brother to Dark Angel (Ire) and a winner in Ireland and Dubai, will take up stud duty in 2021 at Mickley Stud in North Shropshire. Bought as a yearling by Sheikh Hamdan for 370,000gns, the now 7-year-old Almanaara broke his maiden over 7 1/2 furlongs at Tipperary as a 3-year-old for trainer Dermot Weld before being transferred to the Dubai stable of trainer Doug Watson. He won three Meydan handicaps over six and seven furlongs. "We are very pleased that Almanaara is...

MGSW & G1SP Gutaifan (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will stand at Alain Chopard's Haras des Faunes in 2021, France-Sire reported. Formerly at Yeomanstown Stud in Ireland, the grey's oldest foals are 3-year-olds. He was purchased by Chopard and will stand for €3,500. "He's a horse that's proven he can get 2-year-old winners," said Chopard to France-Sire. He already has a lot of them. I was looking for a stallion of this type, and I was offered Gutaifan. He made a big impact this year with Fev Rover, who still beat...

Dark Angel (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) leads the 2021 Yeomanstown Stud roster at €60,000, as the County Kildare-based stud released their fees for next season. All fees have been reduced by 25% due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The grey has enjoyed a great season, and sits eighth on the TDN European General Sires List, with Group 1 winners Battaash (Ire) and Raging Bull (Ire) on top of younger horses of the quality of G1 Prix Morny third Rhythm Master (Ire), SW Fantasy Lady (Ire) and G3 Somerville Tattersalls S. runner-up...

DEAUVILLE, France—A numerically enhanced Arqana October Sale drew to a close in Deauville on Friday with encouraging figures in a year which cannot shake off the spectre of Covid-19. As 9pm curfews are about to be reinstated across the regions of France where the virus is spreading most quickly, the curtain has come down just in time on the major yearling sales of the season. What the situation will be come the breeding stock sales is anyone's guess but, for now, Arqana has managed to stage its October Sale in...

The catalogue for the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale is now online. Moved from its normal November slot to Dec. 21 due to the current Level 5 COVID restrictions imposed by the Irish government, the sale has featured in the past the dams of 2020 Group 1 winners Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}), Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), and Tiger Tanaka (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}). The 2020 edition will see 270 mares and fillies go under the hammer...

The annual race to sire the most individual first-crop 2-year-old winners always fascinates us. This year in Europe it isn't much of a contest as the leader Mehmas (Ire)--with his 39 winners--is in no danger whatsoever of being caught by any of his contemporaries. However, 39 winners is hugely significant in that it breaks the European record for the most individual first-crop 2-year-old winners putting him one clear of the previous holder, Darley stalwart Iffraaj. And there are more than enough racing days left in the calendar for Mehmas to...

NEWMARKET, UK-The prevailing mood at Park Paddocks this week has been a mixture of relief and amazement at the level of trade which, across each of three Book 2 sessions, has come close to matching the record sale of 2019. Whether there is enough depth to the buying bench ultimately is questionable but there has certainly been variety and a decent amount of international participation which, in this year particularly, is remarkable. Ever since the start of the breeze-up season, the general approach from vendors has been one of pragmatism,...