TDN RISING STARS

August 30, 2019 - Sandown Park, Race 3, Msw, GBP £7,400, 7.0F, 15.1500

Palace Pier (GB), c, 2, 2017 by Kingman (GB)

1st Dam: Beach Frolic (GB), by Nayef
2nd Dam: Night Frolic (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Miss D'Ouilly (Fr), by Bikala (Ire)

Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Breeder: Highclere Stud & Floors Farming (GB)
Trainer: John Gosden

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who was knocked down for 600,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling last year, went postward for Friday's Betway British EBF Maiden S. at Sandown as the crowd's 11-8 choice and duly obliged favourite backers with a dominant performance to secure 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. The bay was well away to race in a handy third along the fence from the outset of a contest annexed by MGSW sire Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in 2014. Nudged along approaching the quarter-mile marker, he quickened in taking fashion to seize control with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and surged clear under mild coaxing in the closing stages to easily outclass Mascat (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) by an impressive 3 3/4 lengths.

"I'd not sat on him before, but I'd had good reports from Rab [Havlin] and his judgement was right," said man-of-the-moment Frankie Dettori. "They have to be above average to win first time out up the hill here at Sandown and he is above average. We've got all those big end-of-year races still to come and then we'll see how good he is."

Palace Pier is the third foal and second winner produced by an unraced half to G2 Dante S.-winning G1 Criterium International placegetter Bonfire (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and MGSW GI Beverly D. S. third Joviality (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). He is kin to a yearling colt by Camelot (GB) and a 2019 colt by Highland Reel (Ire).