Ballydoyle's debuting full-brother to recent top-level winner just one of the jousters in fascinating Naas maiden

Our resident bloodstock experts profile the well-bred eyecatchers and expensive purchases set to grace the track.

Jousting

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (2.00 Naas, Saturday)

What's the story?

Well there are a number of intriguing plotlines in this particular drama but the main storyline looks to be the debut of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Jousting, a $1.2 million purchase at Keeneland last September by MV Magnier.

Subplots include the first runner sired by the 2020 St Leger winner Galileo Chrome and the debut of a full-brother to one of the top lots at this year's Goffs Orby Sale, which seems like several series ago for seasoned watchers.

How's he bred?

As regally as you would expect with a rags-to-riches story to boot.

Jousting sports the same green silks of Peter Brant's White Birch Farm as his five-year-old Into Mischief full-sister Gina Romantica. Trained by Chad Brown, the most recent of her top-level victories came just last weekend in Keeneland's First Lady Stakes.

It was the second successive win in the race for Gina Romantica, whose first Grade 1 triumph came in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup of 2022 and she was just a length behind Master Of The Seas when fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile last November.

Gina Romantica is not the first Grade 1 winner foaled by bargain buy Special Me; that honour goes to young Lane's End sire Gift Box, who won the Santa Anita Handicap and was second to Vino Rosso in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Gold Cup.

The Unbridled's Song mare, who was picked up for just $6,000 by Carrie and Craig Brogden of Machmer Hall at the 2009 Keeneland January Sale, is also the dam of Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Stonetastic, by Mizzen Mast, and the Candy Ride gelding Special Forces, a winner in Grade 2 and 3 company.

Special Me is a half-sister to the Grade 1 Golden Shaheen winner Our New Recruit and has been an outstanding broodmare for the Brogdens.

Speaking to Bloodhorse at the time of Jousting's sale, an emotional Carrie Brogden said: "I'm just overwhelmed. I had no idea he would bring that much money. I had his reserve set for well below $500,000." 

The delighted breeder added: "I'm just overjoyed he went into great hands. It wouldn't surprise me if he was a great dirt horse and it wouldn't surprise me if he was a great turf horse."

Now he gets the opportunity to prove his talent on turf.

Who does he face?

This is where the director throws in some curve balls.

Nuit's full-brother pictured during Goffs Orby Book 1 Credit: SARAH FARNSWORTH

Superficial for Andrew McNamara and Rathconrath Racing Club is one of those. He is, according to the Racing Post database, the first runner for Galileo Chrome, who stands at Starfield Stud for €3,000 and is marketed mainly as a National Hunt sire.

However, this colt is a half-brother to the Group 1 National Stakes and Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Al Riffa and is closely in-bred to Galileo as his dam, Love On My Mind, is a daughter of the Coolmore colossus and a full-sister to the Group winning-stayer and Gold Cup runner-up Mizzou, who stands at Old Road Stud.

Love On My Mind is also a full-sister to Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes third Eternal Bounty and a three-parts sister to the Group 3 and Listed-placed Unity.

Superfiicial was bought back at 32,000gns at Tattersalls Book 3 last year.

Their dam, Moments Of Joy, won the Gladness Stakes and is a daughter of Darshaan and the My Emma, victorious in the Prix Vermeille and Yorkshire Oaks.

Nuit is another debutante but with a more typical profile for a race of this nature. Trained by Henry de Bromhead for Mrs Paul Shanahan, she is the first foal out of Holy Amarette, an unraced Holy Roman Emperor half-sister to Group 3 winner Amazona, by Dubawi, and the Group 2-placed Ametrin, by Tiger Hill, another son of Danehill.

Their Galileo half-sister Assisi is the dam of Alson, successful in the Group 1 Criterium International and runner-up in the Jean Luc Lagardere, and of German 2,000 Guineas winner Ancient Spirit.

Second dam is the Preis der Diana winner Amarette, by Monsun, and this filly is a full-sister to the colt who was purchased by Godolphin for €900,000 at Goffs Orby from Norelands Stud. The McCalmont family's farm sold Nuit at Book One to Grove Stud for 145,000gns and she was unsold at €170,000 in Arqana's Breeze-Up Sale.

Then there's Galveston, the stablemate of Jousting, and he commanded an even bigger price as a yearling when he too was purchased by MV Magnier, in tandem with Peter Brant.

The 2,000,000gns son of Frankel was an enormous disappointment on his debut at the Curragh last month but should surely improve for the experience. He is out of a Lemon Drop Kid full-sister to Grade 1 Canadian International winner Cannock Chase and Group 2 winner Pisco Sour and a half-sister to Sea The Stars' triple Group 1 winner Star Catcher.

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