“Fairly bolted up” was the assessment handed out by the Racing Post analysts after Ardad’s three-year-old son Dorney Lake was the highly impressive winner of the six-furlong Yarmouth maiden on his three-year-old debut.
Making only his second career start, the Godolphin-owned colt made light work of his rivals when jumping briskly from the gates and making all to win by three and three-quarter lengths for John and Thady Gosden. John Gosden of course also trained Ardad.
Dorney Lake, who is out of the Dark Angel mare Dora’s Sister, had been sold as a foal for 58,000gns by Mickley Stud, who bred him in partnership with Tim and Miranda Johnson. Returned to Tattersalls October Book 2 by Kildaragh Stud, he was then bought by Anthony Stroud for 110,000gns.
There was further success on Saturday evening for Cityscape’s multiple graded stakes winner Chili Flag, who landed the G2 Churchill Distaff Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
Bred in France by Finanza Locale Consulting, the five-year-old mare was Listed-placed at two in her native country and was offered at the Arqana Arc Sale of 2022, where she sold for €140,000 to Mandore International. Now with leading American turf trainer Chad Brown, she also won the G3 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park back in March.
A good year for Golden Horn, both on the Flat and over jumps, continued this week with his good staying daughter Caius Chorister being beaten just a head when second in the G3 Sagaro Stakes by Coltrane. She is an intended runner in the Gold Cup at Ascot for her owner/breeder Clive Washbourn.
Golden Horn will be represented by Wertheimer et Frere’s recent maiden winner Cornelienne in Monday’s Classic trial at Saint-Cloud, the G2 Prix Greffulhe.
