TDN RISING STARS

May 22, 2022 - YORK, Race 2, Alw, GBP £15,000, 5.0F

Walbank (Ire), C, 2, 2020 by Kodiac (GB)

1st Dam: No Lippy (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Freedonia (GB), by Selkirk
3rd Dam: Forest Rain (Fr), by Caerleon

Owner: Amo Racing, Ltd.
Breeder: Tally-Ho Stud (Ire)
Trainer: David Loughnane

York's Knavesmire had witnessed a TDN Rising Star on Saturday as Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) streeted his 2-year-old peers and there was another to earn that tag on Sunday as Amo Racing Limited's Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) romped to a seven-length success over the track's flat fast five furlongs. The 2022 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale topper at 525,000gns had the misfortune to run into Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on debut at Ascot May 7, but this Sky Bet Sunday Series EBF Novice S. offered easier pickings and he was 2-7 to make amends. Sent straight to the front by Silvestre De Sousa, the David Loughnane-trained bay from the Niarchos family of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Albigna (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was far too strong for Beautiful Sunrise (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). That rival, who had previously been 5 1/2 lengths behind another TDN Rising Star in Miami Girl (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) at Newmarket, paid the price for taking on the favourite for the first half of the contest and tired to end up only 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Minnesota Lad (Ire) (Sioux Nation).

Walbank is the first foal out of the useful sprinter No Lippy (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), whose career wins included Chester's Lily Agnes Conditions S. She is a full-sister to the Listed Hopeful S. winner and G3 Bengough S.-placed Polybius (GB) and a half to the aforementioned Albigna, who also captured the G2 Balanchine S. They are out of the G2 Prix de Pomone winner and GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational runner-up Freedonia (GB) (Selkirk) from the family of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Domedriver (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). No Lippy's yearling filly is by Mehmas (Ire), while she also has a foal full-sister to Walbank.