Pedigree Watch – Euro G1 2YO- Double for Godolphin

Tara Madgwick - Sunday October 13

Group I racing in the UK has continued for the juveniles with the Fillies Mile and Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Friday and Saturday and both were won by homebreds from the powerful Godolphin breeding empire.

The Dewhurst Stakes (7f) very nearly produced another G1 winning two year-old for Wootton Bassett when his untapped colt Expanded hit the front just before the line at only his second start, but he was collared in the shadows of the post by race favourite Shadow of Light with another Godolphin colt Ancient Truth in third place another neck away.

Advertisement

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Shadow of Light was a last start winner of the Group I Middle Park Stakes (6f) and the son of Lope de Vega will go for a break with four wins and a second from five starts.

“William felt he was picking up all the way up then hill and once he got company he found again, so he is a horse we will train for the Guineas and if he doesn't stay he can be a Commonwealth Cup horse–he's bang in the Guineas picture having done what he's done and hopefully in the spring on a sounder surface he'll be able to travel into it better,” Appleby said.

Expanded also garnered high praise from his trainer Aidan O’Brien given the colt won his maiden on debut just a week ago.

“Ryan (Moore) felt he would have won had he not been taken on [by Ancient Truth], as he was too much of a baby for that. It's incredible to do what he's done, we asked the impossible there and he is definitely a Guineas horse,” said O’Brien.

Shadow of Light is a three-quarter brother to Champion French 2YO Colt Earthlight, who won both the Group I Middle Park Stakes and Prix Morny for Godolphin in 2019 and shuttled to Australia for three seasons, but is not here this year. His oldest Australian progeny are two year-olds this season.

Shadow of Light is the second Group I winner among three winners from Group I placed New Approach mare Winter’s Moon, a half-sister to Group I winners Mandean and Wavering.

The Group I Fillies Mile (1m) at Newmarket on Friday produced a dominant winner with the Godolphin homebred Night of Thunder filly Desert Flower justifying favouritism with a stunning five and a half length win over her Coolmore rivals January and Ballet Slippers.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Desert Flower made it four wins in as many starts with a performance that will have her favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas.

“I see no reason not to do that [go straight to 1,000 Guineas], as Desert Flower won't take much to get fit. She's a scopey filly but you'd love to see her put a few kilos on during the winter,” said Charlie Appleby.

“We probably haven't had the fillies for a little while, but she's always pleased us. We were confident with her in her maiden and she's just kept pleasing us all the way throughout. She's not an exciting filly in the morning, but the way she does stuff and pulls up at the end of her gallop, it's like she hasn't done anything.”

A three-quarter-sister to Group III winner Aablan, Desert Flower is the second foal and second stakes-winner for Group II winning Hard Spun mare Promising Run, a daughter of South American Group I winner Aviacion.

She is the fifth Group I winner for Darley’s Night of Thunder, who stands at a fee of €100,000.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Magic Carpet Writes New Chapter for Family
Jenna McLeod got a massive thrill when watching the latest generation of her family’s breed score at stakes level at Te Rapa on Saturday.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.
Kiwi Stayer Chasing Melbourne Cup Golden Ticket
Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, will get his first opportunity to earn a golden ticket into the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he heads to Flemington on Saturday.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Satono’s Stunning Stats Continue as Rich Hill Sires Shine
Rich Hill Stud’s Group 1 stallion roster was the dominant force at Te Rapa’s premier meeting with their progeny claiming a feature race double.