TDN Rising Stars to Follow in 2025: Part II

[Wandering Eyes]

Following on from Sean Cronin's feature published on Thursday, below are my pick of bright prospects from the armada of 'TDN Rising Stars' from 2024. Unsurprisingly, there were several from Ballydoyle among the total of headline-grabbing 2-year-olds breaking their maidens in style and I have chosen one in particular that I feel has the potential to be another of their “special” brigade. Twain (Ire) is a direct descendant of the great Urban Sea (Miswaki) and was one of a clutch by Wootton Bassett (GB) to take off last term.

Not featuring are Rayevka (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Nebras (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who all failed in group 1 company but who retain oodles of promise. I also haven't included the top-class Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Powerful Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who all hit the heights last season carrying the 'TDN Rising Star' mantle with distinction. They all could go on to add to their juvenile exploits in 2025, no doubt, but they are nobody's secret as things stand.

I have tried to keep this list for those who are less low-profile and are more in the shadows. Okay, so Twain may have won the G1 Criterium International but I feel he has a lot more to give and such is his aura he had to be in.

TWAIN (IRE), c, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Wading (Ire) (GSW-Eng), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cherry Hinton (GB), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Urban Sea, by Miswaki

Owner: Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

After Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and City Of Troy (Justify), Ballydoyle could have a third consecutive top-drawer performer to maintain the momentum after Twain's dazzling wins at Leopardstown and Saint-Cloud. It takes some doing to win a group 1–especially one containing the aforementioned Maranoa Charlie–without having to dig at all deep and look green, but that is exactly what this son of the G2 Rockfel Stakes winner Wading achieved.

Wading was going to turn out top-class herself, I'm sure, but injury intervened and she is making her mark as a broodmare having produced another Rockfel winner in the also group 1 and grade I-placed Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}). Her dam Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert) was responsible for Montjeu's G1 Irish Oaks heroine Bracelet (Ire) and the GI Belmont Oaks heroine Athena (Ire) by Montjeu's son Camelot (GB), while the third dam needs no introduction. Whether Twain will stay far enough to emulate his Derby-winning relatives Galileo (Ire), Sea The Stars (Ire) and Masar (Ire) remains to be seen, but you'd be brave to take him on in a 2,000 Guineas.

 

RED LETTER (GB), f, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Red Impression (GB), by Dark Angel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Purissima, by Fusaichi Pegasus
3rd Dam: Willstar, by Nureyev

Owner: Juddmonte
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd
Trainer: Ger Lyons

Another like Twain who is not exactly low-profile, given that she finished fourth in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, but she may be one who is slightly forgotten as Ger Lyons opted to leave her alone from that point on. Her sectionals when narrowly denied by Lake Victoria–yes, her–at The Curragh in July were sensational and I'm sure she wasn't seen to best effect in the Moyglare where she was beaten around a length and a half.

Red Letter hails from the family of the operation's G1 Prix de la Foret heroine and US export Etoile Montante (Miswaki) and the way her trainer talked about her after her maiden win confirms that she will improve as she matures and strengthens from three onwards. This could be another in an unending line of Juddmonte jewels and a career Stateside could see her rack up a sequence of grade I races if connections opt to eventually go that way as they did with her esteemed relation.

 

FALAKEYAH (GB), f, 2, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Alaflaak, by War Front
2nd Dam: Lahudood (GB), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rahayeb (GB), by Arazi

Owner/Breeder: Shadwell Estate Company Limited
Trainer: Owen Burrows

Another with distinguished family members, Shadwell's Falakeyah went through the motions on debut at Wolverhampton in November but her quality shone through. She is a granddaughter of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), linking her to Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and his amazing full-brother Baaeed (GB) so the sky could be the limit. To know anything at all about the way Owen Burrows operates and the manner in which this family develops tells you that she has already let the cat out of the bag without even trying.

 

FALLING SNOW (IRE), f, 2, by Justify
1st Dam: Winter (Ire) (MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire, $1,424,358), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Laddies Poker Two (Ire), by Choisir (Aus)
3rd Dam: Break Of Day, by Favorite Trick

Owner: Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Donnacha O'Brien

Seen only once at two, the daughter of the G1 1,000 Guineas, G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas, G1 Coronation Stakes and G1 Nassau Stakes heroine Winter made a big impression when upsetting the race-fit Ballet Slippers (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in The Curragh's often-informative American Racing Channel Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race. That has been won by Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Opera Singer (Justify) was runner-up to A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) in 2023, so it's fair to say it's a target race for the major yards. She also managed to do so in a time over two seconds faster than another 'TDN Rising Star' in Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) on the same card as she became Justify's 10th 'TDN Rising Star', so there is a lot to like.

Donnacha O'Brien said after that race that she was physically unprepared for the traditional Debutante-Moyglare route, so it was no surprise that she was tucked away as her dam had been after her maiden win at two. Winter's daughter Beginnings (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) was also a 'TDN Rising Star', but she tapered off at three so let's hope Falling Snow doesn't follow that trend.

 

ULTRAFRAGOLA (IRE), f, 2, by Sottsass (Fr)
1st Dam: Toinette (MGSW-US, $580,720), by Scat Daddy
2nd Dam: I Bet Toni Knows, by Sunriver
3rd Dam: Ibetyouwishyouknew, by Mr. Greeley

Owner/Breeder: White Birch Farm
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget

Yet another filly, but as they proved immeasurably better than the colts last term it's no surprise that they dominate the list. Another who shone in the summer only to disappear off the radar, the Deauville August debutante was her Prix du Jockey Club and Arc-winning first-crop sire's breakthrough first winner. A daughter of the GII Goldikova Stakes, GIII Edgewood Stakes, GIII Autumn Miss Stakes and GIII Wilshire Stakes winner Toinette, she scored by 5 1/2 lengths with a notably fast finale to the Normandy venue's Prix des Marettes which has been won in the past by Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) and Antonoe (First Defence).

 

JUVENILE TDN RISING STARS (EUROPE) WITH BLACK-TYPE WINS IN 2024

Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) G1 Cheveley Park Stakes, G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, G3 Sweet Solera Stakes
Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) G1 Fillies' Mile, G2 May Hill Stakes
Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) G1 Phoenix Stakes, G3 Anglesey Stakes
Twain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) G1 Criterium International
Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) G2 Debutante Stakes, G3 Silver Flash Stakes, Listed Chesham Stakes
Powerful Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) G2 Mill Reef Stakes
Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) G2 Superlative Stakes
Bubbling (Ire) (No Nay Never) G2 Rockfel Stakes
Truly Enchanting (Ire) (No Nay Never) G2 Airlie Stud Stakes
Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) G3 Prix Thomas Bryon
Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) G3 Autumn Stakes
The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) G3 Acomb Stakes
Field Of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) G3 Solario Stakes
Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) G3 Prix d'Aumale
Tiego The First (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}) Listed Prix Roland de Chambure

 

BLACK-TYPE-PLACED JUVENILE TDN RISING STARS (EUROPE) IN 2024

Sandtrap (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire})
Trinity College (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})
Hill Road (Quality Road)
Ruling Court (Justify)
Chancellor (GB) (Kingman {GB})
Surpass (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn})
Polyvega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire})
Mountain Breeze (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire})

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