TDN RISING STARS

September 26, 2020 - CURRAGH, Msw, EUR €25,000, 8.0F, .0000

Santa Barbara (Ire), F, 2, 2018 by Camelot (GB)

1st Dam: Senta's Dream (GB), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Starine (Fr), by Mendocino
3rd Dam: Grisonnante (Fr), by Kaldoun (Fr)

Owner: Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs A M O'Brien
Breeder: Whisperview Trading Ltd (Ire)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Coolmore's hitherto untested Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}), went postward as a 9-2 chance for Saturday's Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden at The Curragh and made a mockery of those odds with a taking display to earn TDN Rising Stardom on debut. Breaking in mid division and remaining there through halfway in the one-mile test, she made eyecatching headway on the bridle along the far-side fence to seize control approaching the final furlong and was pushed out in the closing stages to easily account for Kailash (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) by an impressive 2 1/2 lengths. "I've won on two of that family [Iridessa and Order of Australia] and I'd say she could be the best," said winning rider Seamus Heffernan. "I'd rate her highly."

Santa Barbara is latest foal and fifth winner for Senta's Dream (GB) (Danehill), herself one of just two foals produced by GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare and GI Matriarch S. heroine Starine (Fr) (Mendocino) and the March-foaled bay is a half-sister to MG1SW GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf victress Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}). Starine, herself a half-sister to G3 Prix Minerve placegetter Pearlescence (Pleasantly Perfect), is out of a half-sister to the dam of Listed Criterium du Bequet third Weld Elven (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}).