TDN RISING STARS

April 9, 2017 - NAAS, Race 7, Mdn, EUR €16,000, 10f, 138.0400

Tocco d'Amore (Ire), f, 3, 2014 by Raven's Pass

1st Dam: Spirit of Tara (Ire) (GSP-Ire), by Sadler's Wells
2nd Dam: Flame of Tara (Ire), by Artaius
3rd Dam: Welsh Flame (GB), by Welsh Pageant (Fr)

Owner: Moyglare Stud Farm
Breeder: Kilcarn Stud (Ire)
Trainer: Dermot Weld

Tocco d’Amore caused a stir when topping the sheets for a cool €2-million at the 2015 Goffs Orby sale and repeated the dose with a stunning performance in this racecourse debut. Slowest from the gate and settled in rear initially, the 9-1 chance made steady headway throughout and, despite rolling around when launching her bid approaching the final eighth, quickened smartly and surged clear for one flick of Pat Smullen’s whip in the closing stages to register an impressive six-length score from Clongowes (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). “It’s very unusual for me to run a filly first time out against the colts, so that could have told you something, and she did it very nicely,� said trainer Dermot Weld. “It didn’t surprise me, but first time out I thought she might have needed it. She’d worked well, it was a very true run race and I thought it rode a very good maiden. She’ll go for a stakes race next, maybe an Oaks trial, and is a nice filly in the making.� The May 28 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and July 15 G1 Irish Oaks entry is a half-sister to five black-type performers headed by G1 Premio Vittorio di Capua third and G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein-winning sire Echo of Light (GB) (Dubai Millennium {GB}), dual stakes-winning sire Akarem (GB) (Kingmambo) and G1 Coronation S. placegetter Irish History (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The bay is also kin to a 2-year-old colt by Declaration of War and a yearling colt by Invincible Spirit (Ire). Her dam Spirit of Tara (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) was runner-up in the G2 Blandford S. and, herself a daughter of MGSW G1 Champion S. runner-up Flame of Tara (Ire) (Artaius), she is a sibling of MG1SW European highweight Salsabil (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), G1 St James’s Palace S.-winning sire Marju (Ire) (Last Tycoon {Ire}), GSW G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Danse Royale (Ire) (Caerleon) and a further three black-type performers. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $10,437.