Arrowfield Stud's Shalaa sires his seventh stakes winner
96 for Frankel
Juddmonte Farm's Frankel (Galileo) recorded his 96th stakes winner on Thursday when the Al Asayl homebred L'Astronome (3 c ex Tymora by Giant's Causeway) won the Group 2 Prix Hocquart (2200m) at Longchamp. Starting favourite, L'Astronome came into Thursday's race having won his last two starts and he beat Galaxie Gold by a head (Dariyan), with that pair a length and three quarters clear of Lavello (Zarak) in third. Frankel had ten mares in foal to him sell at this week's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale with a top price of $1.7 million for Fantasy (Invincible Spirit) who was bought by the Lucky Vega Syndicate.
First for James Garfield
Rathbarry Stud's first season sire James Garfield (Exceed And Excel) sired his first stakes winner when Maria Branwell (2 f ex Princess Pearl by Teofilo) won the Listed National Stakes (5f) at Sandown. Trained by David O'Meara and a winner on debut, Maria Branwell remained undefeated when she beat favourite Crispy Cat (Ardad) by a neck. Winner of the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes (6f) in 2017 and Group 1 placed in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (1300m), James Garfield stood for a fee of €4,000 this year. The son of Exceed And Excel (Danehill) has sired two other winners from five runners to date.
35 for Lawman
Jeri (5 g ex Era Uma Vez by Galileo) won Thursday's Listed Prix de Montretout (1600m) at Longchamp, providing his sire, Lawman (Invincible Spirit), with his 35th stakes winner. Under Gerald Mosse, Jeri beat Longvillers (Le Havre) by a length and a half, taking his record to four wins in 14 career starts. Lawman is now based at Haras de Grandcamp in France where his fee was set at €8,000 this year and his stakes winners include six Group 1 winners in Just The Judge, Pretty Gorgeous, Harbour Law, Most Improved, Law Enforcement and Marcel.
26 for Nathaniel
The Hughie Morris-trained Quickthorn (5 g ex Daffydowndilly by Oasis Dream) won Thursday's Group 3 Henry II Stakes (2m) at Sandown, becoming the 26th stakes winners for the Newsells Park Stud-based sire Nathaniel (Galileo). Under Tom Marquand, Quickthorn stayed on in the closing stages to beat Nate The Great – another son of Nathaniel – by a length and three quarters. Nathaniel's stakes winners are headed by the multiple Group 1 winner Enable.
Seven for Shalaa
Arrowfield Stud's Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) recorded his seventh stakes winner when Siam Paragon (3 c ex Cracker by Smart Strike) won the Listed Prix de Pontarme (1400m) at Longchamp. The colt, who started favourite, scored a half length victory over Spanish Intent (Acclamation). Shalaa's stakes winners include the Group 1 winning filly No Speak Alexander, Group 2 winner Seven Veils and the Group 3 winning trio Shaquero, Semillion and Welwal. He covered a book of 88 mares last season at a fee of $44,000 (inc GST) and his 2022 fee has been set at $33,000 (inc GST).
Four for Sidestep
Best Lightning (4 c ex Best Dreaming by Big Shuffle) became the fourth stakes winner for Sidestep when he won the Group 2 Badener Meile (1600m) at Baden-Baden on Thursday. Trained by Andreas Suborics, Best Lightning pulled three quarters of a length clear of Zavaro (Areion). The Telemon Thoroughbreds-based Sidestep is also the sire of Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) winner Kiamichi. His 2022 fee is advertised at $16,500 (inc GST).
