Where Did They Come From?

[Wandering Eyes]

The power of the major owner-breeders on the European Turf is vividly measured by this year’s Investec Derby field, featuring only three that have been through an auction ring–one of which has ended up running in the silks of his breeder anyway. Here is our runner-by-runner guide to their origins:

DEE EX BEE (GB) (Farhh {GB}) is home-bred out of Dubai Sunrise (Seeking The Gold), an unraced sister to champion Dubai Millennium. The family contains smart sprinters like Danzig’s sons Elnadim, Hamas (Ire) and Bianconi but this colt belongs to the first crop of a sire with a stout female line. B-Godolphin

DELANO ROOSEVELT (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is out of the David Wachman-trained Again (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), a dual Group 1 winner at the Curragh (Moyglare Stud S./Irish 1000 Guineas). Her dam was a half-sister to Montjeu, sire of a record-equalling four Derby winners and grandsire of another last year. B-Orpendale and Chelston

HAZAPOUR (IRE) (Shamardal) is out of Hazafara (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}), a listed-winning half-sister to 2016 Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Their dam had been culled for 480,000gns when Harzand was a yearling; Hazarafa’s 4-year-old daughter Harrana (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) likewise stands to boost her value after being sold to Tally Ho Stud for €150,000 at Goffs in February. B-HH The Aga Khan’s Studs SC

KEW GARDENS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the seventh foal out of the G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}), who was sold to BBA Ireland by Mrs A.J. Donnelly/Airlie Stud for €450,000 at the Goffs November Sale in 2012. At that time her son Thawaany (Ire) (Tamazyuz {GB}) had just started his career; he subsequently became a Group 3 winner and finished second in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. B-Barronstown S.

KNIGHT TO BEHOLD (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was home-bred by Neil Jones out of an unraced sister to his Derby third Let The Lion Roar (GB) (Sadler’s Wells) and half-sister to his St Leger winner Millenary (GB) (Rainbow Quest), from an elite Ballymacoll family. Her previous foals include two group winners, one over two miles in Japan and the other of the Blue Wind S. B-Abergwaun Farms

MASAR (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) is by an Epsom Derby winner out of UAE Derby winner Khawlah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}). He is inbred 3×4 twice over: not just to Urban Sea, who is his fourth dam as well as the mother of New Approach’s sire Galileo, but also to Ahonoora (GB) (Lorenzaccio {GB}), who sired the dams of both New Approach and Cape Cross. B-Godolphin

ROARING LION (Kitten’s Joy) has a rare distinction, in this field, in having changed hands at public auction. He was bought from the Taylor Made Sales Agency by David Redvers for $160,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale of 2016, as the first foal of Vionnet (Street Sense) who was Grade I-placed over 10 furlongs on turf. Two of her half-siblings won Grade II races, also on grass, at a mile and nine furlongs; but their dam won her two Grade III prizes at just 6.5 furlongs. B-Ranjan Racing Inc

SAXON WARRIOR (JPN) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is the sensational outcome of an outcross experiment for Coolmore’s Galileo mares with the perennial champion sire of Japan. He is the second foal of G1 Moyglare Stud S winner Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose dam Sumora (Ire) (Danehill) was a sprinter herself but is closely related to Oaks winner Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt

SEVENNA STAR (IRE) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) gives the champion sire another footprint in the race, being out of his daughter Sevenna (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), a Group 3 winner over 1m6f. That fits the profile of a sturdy German family, with a second dam who won the German Oaks, and this imposing colt will doubtless be able to extend the Danehill zip of his sire over this extra distance. B-Ammerland Verwaltung Gmbh & Co Kg

THE PENTAGON (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was bred, like Kew Gardens, by Barronstown Stud. His dam Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain) was sold by the Aga Khan Studs at Arqana in December 2013, knocked down to Horse France for €600,000. She was highly accomplished in a brief racetrack career, winning the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, and has produced a number of stakes winners/performers. B-Barronstown Stud

YOUNG RASCAL (FR) (Intello {Ger}) joins Kitten’s Joy as the only other runner to change hands at public auction. Moreover he emerges from the same sale as last year’s winner Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}). Presented by Mezeray at the Arqana August Yearling Sale of 2016, he was purchased for €215,000 by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock. B-Ecurie Peregrine SAS

ZABRISKIE (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) gives a different flavour to Ballydoyle’s entry, not being a Coolmore production. He was bred by the Niarchos family’s Flaxman operation from the unraced dam of two Group 1 winners in Bago (Fr) (Nashwan) and Maxios (GB) (Monsun {Ger}), herself a daughter of the brilliant Coup De Genie (Mr Prospector). Zabriskie did go through the ring as a yearling at the Goffs Orby Sale in 2016, when presented by Camas Park Stud and knocked down to BBA Ireland for €750,000, but races in the silks of his breeders. B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd

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