Sister to European champion Cracksman out to uphold family honour at Newmarket

Hopefully Darling has some big shoes to fill when she lines up in the opening 7f British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The two-year-old is a full-sister to European champion Cracksman, a four-time Group 1 winner for the same connections in owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer and trainer John Gosden.

The son of Frankel reached a Racing Post Rating of 131 for his demolition wins in two successive Qipco Champion Stakes, leaving Group 1 winners Poet's Word, Highland Reel, Recoletos and Crystal Ocean trailing in his wake.

Cracksman, a winner at two who was placed in the Investec and Irish Derbys at three, struck in the Prix Ganay and Coronation Cup at four and retired to Dalham Hall Stud at the end of 2018. His first crop of foals arrived earlier this year.

The pair hail from a wonderful Oppenheimer family, being out of the Listed-winning Pivotal mare Rhadegunda, a granddaughter of Green Desert and 1,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes heroine On The House. This is also the family of Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Golden Horn, who also stands at Dalham Hall.

Rhadegunda, who produced a full-brother to Cracksman and Hopefully Darling last year, is also the dam of Solario Stakes scorer Fantastic Moon, a son of Dalakhani who is standing at Haras du Taillis.

Now 15-years-old, Rhadegunda returned to the dual world champion this season.

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