TDN RISING STARS

September 9, 2010 - LONGCHAMP, Race , Cond, EUR €34,000, 7f, 14.1000

Moonlight Cloud (GB), F, 2010, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)

1st Dam: Ventura (Ire), by Spectrum (Ire)
2nd Dam: Wedding Bouquet (Ire), by Kings Lake
3rd Dam: Doff the Derby, by Master Derby

Owner: George Strawbridge
Breeder: George Strawbridge
Trainer: Freddy Head

Moonlight Cloud broke through with a 2 1/2-length debut win from Putyball (Silver Deputy) at Deauville's all-weather track last time Aug. 15, and justified odds-on favoritism to take this return in highly impressive fashion. The homebred bay led after the initial strides, but settled second after safely negotiating the first bend in this downhill test. Easing back to the front approaching the final quarter mile, the 1-2 chalk coasted clear under minimal urging to easily best Turn of Phrase (Distorted Humor) by an untroubled six lengths. Moonlight Cloud's form was boosted just one hour later by the success of Putyball. "Moonlight Cloud is a filly we have big hopes for and is very rare," trainer Freddy Head told Racing Post. "You can do anything with her and she has huge class. We will now probably run her in the [Oct. 3 G1 Prix] Jean-Luc Lagardere [over course and distance]. I have never had a two-year-old this good." The Augustin homebred is a half to Cedar Mountain (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), SW & GSP-US, $137,284. Lifetime Record: 2 starts, 2 wins, €29,000.