Pedigree Watch – UK Classic Contenders

Tara Madgwick - Thursday May 12

Big meetings at York this week featuring the Group II Dante Stakes for the colts and Group III Musidora Stakes for the fillies have unearthed serious Epsom Derby and Oaks contenders both bought as yearlings by Blandford Bloodstock from Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book Two .

The Group III Musidora Stakes (1m 2 ½ f) for the fillies was won by a daughter of Sea the Stars, with Emily Upjohn announcing herself as a legitimate Oaks filly with a powerful five and a half length win.
 


Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Emily Upjohn has won three from three, winning her only start at two and both of her runs this year.

Emily Upjohn as a yearling.

Bought for just 60,000 guineas by Blandford Bloodstock at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book Two, Emily Upjohn has a pedigree that screams Oaks filly being a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Champion 3YO and Epsom and Irish Derby winner Harzand.



She is the 89th stakes-winner for Galileo’s half-brother Sea the Stars.

The Group II Dante Stakes (1m 2 ½ f) was won by lightly raced Nathaniel colt Desert Crown, who was having his first start of the year following a debut win last November at Nottingham.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Desert Crown was expected to emerge from this as a Derby contender and did just that in no uncertain terms bolting clear of Wootton Bassett colt Royal Patronage to win by more than three lengths.
 


 

Desert Crown as a yearling.

Desert Crown was also bought out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book Two by Blandford Bloodstock for 280,000 guineas and is a half-brother to Group III winner Flying Thunder from winning Green Desert mare Desert Berry, a grand-daughter of Juddmonte Farm’s star producer Binary.


He is the 25th stakes-winner for Galileo’s Group I winning son Nathaniel, best known as the sire world champion mare Enable.



 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 24
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.