Dubawi half-sister to Classic hero Victor Ludorum an eyecatching newcomer at Newmarket

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

Pearl Of Hope

Turners British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (1.35 Newmarket, Saturday)

What's the story?

Pearl Of Hope rates an exciting newcomer for Charlie Appleby as a Dubawi half-sister to Darley's Classic hero and first-crop yearling sire Victor Ludorum. 

The mile fillies' novice stakes she contests at Newmarket on Saturday looks a neat little contest and could well produce plenty of subsequent winners if the runners live up to their pedigrees and debut efforts. 

How's she bred?

Pearl Of Hope is the ninth foal out of the stakes-placed Kaldounevees mare Antiquities, whose own dam Historian is a Listed-winning half-sister to top-class racehorse and sire Street Cry, as well as Helsinki, the dam of the brilliant Shamardal, sire of this filly's half-brother Victor Ludorum.

Victor Ludorum was an unbeaten juvenile for Godolphin and Andre Fabre, his three wins including a score in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. He went on at three to land the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and place third to Mishriff in the Prix du Jockey Club and Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. He was a Group 3 winner at four and also finished third to Baaeed in the Prix du Moulin. 

He was retired to Haras du Logis for the 2022 breeding season at an opening fee of €15,000 and has remained at that price throughout his three seasons at stud. His first yearlings have been warmly received this season. 

Victor Ludorum: exciting young sire for DarleyCredit: Darley

Pearl Of Hope and Victor Ludorum are also half-siblings to Mary Tudor, a Listed-winning daughter of Dawn Approach who was third to Sea Of Class in the Irish Oaks. Their dam has a yearling filly by Pinatubo and a colt foal by Dubawi. 

Who does she face?

Her rivals include Shadwell's homebred Suhub, a daughter of the operation's first-season sire and Sussex Stakes hero Mohaather. Fourth on her debut at Newbury this month, she has the pedigree to improve as a daughter of Falmouth and Sun Chariot Stakes heroine Nazeef. The Invincible Spirit mare is a half-sister to last year's Prince of Wales's Stakes and Juddmonte International winner Mostahdaf, a son of Frankel who stood his first season at Beech House Stud this term. 

Also of note is Sea To Sky, another by a first-season sire in Newsells Park Stud's St James's Palace Stakes victor Without Parole. The John and Tanya Gunther filly was second to subsequent May Hill Stakes third Flight at Sandown last month. She is out of the winning Sea The Stars mare Beyond The Sea, a half-sister to US Grade 1 winner Competitionofideas. 

From a pedigree perspective, the Gredley family's Kate O'Riley catches the eye as a Sea The Moon half-sister to Gold Cup hero Big Orange, although she may well want further in due course. Debutante second Fool Again, by Medaglia d'Oro, is also also in the mix for what looks an interesting contest.

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