TDN RISING STARS

August 12, 2011 - NEWBURY, Race , Mdn, GBP £6,400, 7f, 14.0000

Top Offer (GB), G, 2, 2009 by Dansili (GB)

1st Dam: Zante (GB) (SW-Eng & MSP-US, $132,822), by Zafonic
2nd Dam: Danthonia, by Northern Dancer
3rd Dam: Monroe, by Sir Ivor

Owner: Khalid Abdullah
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd
Trainer: Roger Charlton

Top Offer arrived at the track with the usual portfolio of entries in next year's G1 Epsom Derby and this term's top domestic juvenile events, which include the Oct. 8 G1 Dewhurst S. and the Oct. 22 G1 Racing Post Trophy. Hammered into 6-4 favoritism at the tills for this racecourse bow, he justified those engagements and the collective faith with an eyecatching opening performance in this seemingly competitive maiden. The bay homebred settled at the pack of the pack under a tight grip through the early strides and inched closer from halfway. Gathered together for his bid approaching the final quarter mile, he quickened into a decisive lead approaching the eighth pole and lengthened further clear under mild coaxing in the closing stages to defeat Pulverize (Pulpit) by an impressive 3 1/2 lengths, with the runner-up the same margin clear of the remainder. "You don't often see it in 2-year-olds, but he has always been so straightforward and is a wonderful mover," commented winning trainer Roger Charlton. "We're always looking for nice horses, and you have to keep pinching yourself now and again. We upped his work, he has been working with older horses and has always done it nicely. I was apprehensive, because I said to someone this morning I'd be disappointed if he didn't win by three lengths. I've always liked him, and he's got a great future. Horses need to be allowed to progress, and I'm not one for jumping from a maiden to a Group 1, but should he progress, the obvious Group 1 races are the Dewhurst [at Newmarket] and the Racing Post Trophy [at Doncaster]. We'll have to see what we run him in next, but he's a nice horse and if he takes this race all right, we've got to crack on and let him prove himself." Top Offer's stakes-winning dam Zante was produced by a full-sister to champion Xaar (GB). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £4,140.