Niarchos Family
Cheveley Park Stud's Ulysses (Ire) (by Galileo {Ire}) was the latest first-season sire to be represented by a first winner on Monday as Flaxman Stables Ireland's Piz Badile (Ire) took Killarney's opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over a mile. The first foal out of the Listed Prix Zarkava winner and G2 Prix Corrida runner-up That Which Is Not (Elusive Quality), the Donnacha O'Brien-trained colt tracked the early pace in second and travelled easily to the fore passing three out along with The Aga Khan's Karakoul (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}). Headed...
When an ageing emperor has as many sons extending his dominion as Galileo (Ire), the eventual succession is bound to be fiercely contested. The onus, then, is on each of his sons entering stud to establish the credentials that set him apart. In the case of Circus Maximus (Ire), the latest to set up shop as a more accessible alternative alongside his sire at Coolmore, two things stand out straightaway--and so does the link between them. One is that Circus Maximus, unlike those thorough staying types who have made Galileo...
The Curragh announced that the Niarchos Family will sponsor the Aug. 22 G2 Debutante S. to acknowledge the racing career of Niarchos homebred Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was named Cartier champion 3-year-old filly and Irish Horse of the Year in 2018. During her racing career, she won six of 10 starts, including the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation S., G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard. "The Niarchos family are synonymous with racing at the Curragh with their name associated with numerous high-quality...
Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}), winner of the Coronation S. in June, will not race again this year and instead enjoy some time off. The Niarchos Family runner was runner-up in three consecutive Group 1s following her Ascot score-the July 5 Prix de Diane Longines, the Aug. 16 Prix Jacques le Marois and the Prix de l'Opera Longines on Arc Day, Oct. 4. "She ran another blinder in the Opera," said the Niarchos family's racing manager Alan Cooper of the Jessica Harrington trainee. "She's a tough, honest and...
Group 1 winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who won the G1 Coronation S. for the Niarchos Family and trainer Jessica Harrington in June, is under consideration for the Sept. 12 G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. A winner of the G2 Debutante S. at two, the chestnut kicked off her season in the Coronation, before runner-up performances in the G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly and the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, on July 5 and Aug. 16, respectively. "At the moment, Mrs. Harrington...
The moon is often contrasted with the sun: see St Francis' Canticle of the Creatures ("Brother Sun, Sister Moon"), Greek mythology (siblings Selene and Helios), innumerable popular songs (like Paul Revere and the Raiders' "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon"). And now, the pedigree of Exomoon (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), a fighting 3-year-old winner of a competitive maiden at Clairefontaine last Monday. An "exomoon" is a natural satellite that orbits an exoplanet, that is: a planet outside the solar system. This tenacious colt's dam (who also has a 2-year-old filly called New...
G1 Coronation S. winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), last seen finishing a short-neck second to Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Prix de Diane on July 5, could resurface in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Aug. 16 if ground conditions play to her liking. "If all goes according to plan she could go to Deauville, but we just need to keep an eye on the ground," said Alan Cooper, racing manager to owner/breeder The Niarchos Family. "There's very hot weather...
Andre Fabre trainee Harajuku (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) went postward at generous odds of 23-5 for Sunday's Prix de la Butte Blanche at Chantilly and came home in style to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status in the seven-furlong maiden heat for fillies. She was well away to occupy a handy slot in third before improving to go second at halfway in this debut. Looming large on the bridle off the home turn, Harajuku eased to the fore approaching the quarter-mile marker and was not for catching thereafter, running on powerfully...
'TDN Rising Star' Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was eye-catching while keeping his unbeaten record intact when winning a Haydock novice race on Wednesday, generating Derby whispers, but the Niarchos Family's homebred will bypass the July 4 G1 Investec Derby. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained son of Celestial Lagoon (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) is likely to target the G2 Dante S. at York on July 9 next. "The Derby comes too soon in his career," said Racing Manager Alan Cooper. "He's a nice horse in the making. He only ran two days...
The Niarchos Family's homebred Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who earned 'TDN Rising Star' status in his debut at Leicester last year, faced fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Waldkonig (GB) (Kingman {GB}) for his seasonal return in Wednesday's Racecourse Live Streams On Racing TV Novice S. at Haydock and maintained his perfect record with an impressive success. 1st-Haydock, £5,400, Nov, 6-24, 3yo/up, 10f 100yT, 2:11.25, g/s. HIGHEST GROUND (IRE) (c, 3, Frankel {GB}--Celestial Lagoon {Jpn} {SP-Fr}, by Sunday Silence), who bounded to TDN Rising Stardom after enduring a bloopers moment at...
Emulating the emphatic G1 Coronation S. victory of her half-sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) two years ago, the Niarchos Family's Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) was also in a class of her own as Royal Ascot once again bowed to its greatest showman Frankie Dettori. Racing behind the strong tempo of the leading duo early, the 9-2 shot who was last seen winning the G2 Debutante S. at The Curragh in August forged up the rail in early straight and had command before the furlong pole. Powering...
Royal Ascot's week-long Ryan Moore-Frankie Dettori battle was underway in some style early on Tuesday, with the former prevailing in a thrilling tussle on the 4-1 favourite Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Anne S., a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in November. Sent straight to the fore, last year's G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp hero was passed and apparently beaten by Terebellum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) as Frankie took charge 1...