TDN RISING STARS

March 28, 2021 - Naas, Msw, EUR €14,000, 5.0F, .0000

Tenebrism, F, 2, 2019 by Caravaggio

1st Dam: Immortal Verse (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 7-9 1/2f, G1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, $1,053,873), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Side of Paradise (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Mill Princess (Ire), by Mill Reef

Owner: Coolmore/Westerberg/Merribelle Stables
Breeder: Merriebelle Stables & Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

The first runner for her exciting first-season sire, Tenebrism (Caravaggio) also carried the mantle of Ballydoyle's first juvenile runner of 2021 into Sunday's five-furlong juvenile opener at Naas. Not that she comprehended the gravitas of the moment, but the manner in which the daughter of the high-class Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) dealt with the task in hand could not have been more pleasing for her high-profile connections. In readily dismissing her peers in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden staged on soft ground, she instantly set a lofty standard for her stable's similarly illustriously-bred 2-year-olds to meet. Allowed to drift out to 7-2 despite holding on to favouritism, the bay who races for a partnership between Coolmore, Georg von Opel's Westerberg and her part-breeder Merriebelle Stables was away on terms under Seamie Heffernan before meeting traffic in behind before halfway. Last when switched wide for a clear run two out, she responded notably to a smack with the whip to begin pursuit of the Bolger runner Gaire Os Ard (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who had looked the likely winner at that stage. Picking up in dramatic fashion to brush that fellow filly aside with 150 yards remaining, she was pushed out with hands and heels to register an emphatic 3 3/4-length success and earn TDN Rising Star status in the process. Gaire Os Ard, who ran a respectable debut in her own right, was in turn 2 3/4 lengths in front of the third Lord Gorgeous (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}).

Aidan O'Brien holds her in high regard and said, "She was always very natural from day one and she's able to quicken up very well, which is what the dad was able to do. You would have to be very happy with her. She's smart and we can look at all those quick races for her."

It is always to be hoped that a mare with the ability of Immortal Verse will transmit that to her progeny and it may be significant that Tenebrism is her first daughter with her three prior foals including sons of War Front who won in Battle for Glory and Grand Deed. Particularly effective on this type of surface, one of the leading lights for the famed Richard Strauss-Robert Collet combination was dynamic when taking the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois with give in the ground, on the latter occasion inflicting a rare defeat on Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa). Her full-sister Go Lovely Rose (Ire) was responsible for another who relished testing conditions in Roseman (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), runner-up in last year's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S., while her 3-year-old colt Baradar (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) was third in deep ground in the G1 Futurity Trophy in October.