Lope De Vega half-sister to July Cup hero Ten Sovereigns among Salisbury newcomers

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

Chantilly Lace

Pyledriver British EBF Novice Stakes (2.40 Salisbury, Thursday)

What's the story?

This Salisbury contest was won a couple of years ago by subsequent Coronation and Falmouth Stakes runner-up Remarquee and there are some nicely bred youngsters this time around. Among them is Chantilly Lace, a Lope De Vega filly who sports the silks of Doreen Tabor for Remarquee's trainer, Ralph Beckett. 

How's she bred?

The 375,000gns Tattersalls Book 1 purchase is the ninth foal out of the Listed-placed Exceed And Excel mare Seeking Solace, a Godolphin-bred mare from the family of Japanese Grade 1 scorer Heart Lake. 

Now 17 years old, Seeking Solace is the dam of several winners, headed by Ten Sovereigns. The son of No Nay Never was an unbeaten juvenile, a campaign which concluded in Middle Park Stakes success, while he also landed the July Cup at three for Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore. The 200,000gns Book 2 graduate now stands at Coolmore and his leading offspring include Group/Graded winners Zulu Kingdom and Inquisitively. 

Ten Sovereigns: Middle Park Stakes and July Cup winnerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Seeking Solace produced a filly foal by Baaeed this year. 

Who does she face?

Among her rivals is Elite Racing's homebred Bated Breath gelding Tremolo, who is out of a stakes-placed Pivotal close relation to 2024 German Group 2 scorer Tiffany. It is the further family of brilliant miler Soviet Song, Prix Jean Romanet scorer Ribbons and Marlinka, the dam of top-class sprinter Marsha. 

Another unraced runner is Char, a New Bay colt out of a Camelot half-sister to French 1,000 Guineas third Rahiyah, herself the dam of Meydan Group winner and Al Quoz Sprint second Final Song. The pedigree traces back to Golden Opinion, a winner of the Coronation Stakes and second in the July Cup.

Recorder colt Top Of Pleinmont is out of the winning Selkirk mare Sequence, having been bred by the late Queen. He is a half-brother to Australian stakes winner Naval College and from the family of Derby and Arc winner Sinndar.

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