Prepotent Pedigrees - Fallen Angel
Fallen Angel(Too Darn Hot x Agnes Stewart) Forges clear in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes
Our first version of Propotent Pedigrees and we’re looking at the pedigree of 2024 1000 Guineas Fancy- Fallen Angel, a daughter of first season sire Too Darn Hot. A group one winning son of Dubawi, who’s covering fee jumped from £40k to £65k after an impressive start by his progeny on the racecourse this year.
Too Darn Hot’s grand-dam Darara, is a half-sister to the champion Darshaan. Although a group one winner herself, it's her impressive record as a broodmare that will have a lasting effect on the breed, her progeny includes no less than five group one winners! 4 colts and 1 filly, and it is through her 3-time group 1 winning daughter- Dar Re Mi, the dam of Too Darn Hot, that her legacy looks likely to continue for many generations to come.
Fallen Angel made her debut for Karl Burke in a 7f maiden at Haydock on the 26th of May on good to firm going. She showed an impressive turn of foot to see off the Andrew Balding trained Lady of Leisure, who had got first run on her a couple of furlongs from home. Her next outing was a listed fillies race at Sandown towards the end of July. She flew out of the stalls and was lit up early, racing enthusiastically in the hands of Danny Tudhope. The going was officially Soft (Heavy in places) and her early exertions told as she finished second to the Ollie Sangster trained Shuwari. However, she quickly made amends back on Good to Firm two weeks later in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes, powering clear coming out of the dip in the manner of a smart filly, to win well by 3 lengths from Soprano, who had finished third in the Albany at Royal Ascot earlier this year.
Stallion on the rise- Too Darn Hot (Dubawi x Dar Re Mi)
Turning our attention to Fallen Angels Dam- Agnes Stewart, she descends in the tail female line from the Group one winning filly- Kandy Sauce, who won the 1956 running of the Queen Anne Stakes. Kandy Sauce was the grand dam of the French trained Candy Cane, who was by leading sire Crepello. Candy Cane won the then group two Ballymoss stakes (now known as the Tattersalls Gold Cup which has been upgraded to a Group 1 since 1999). He also finished 4th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one of the few prestigious races to elude his legendary trainer- François Boutin. Boutin’s influence spread far and wide and he was the winning trainer of the 2000 & 1000 Guineas at Newmarket along with back-to back breeder cup miles with his superstar filly Miesque. He also trained one of the most influential sires of the 20th century in Nureyev , who finished first past the post in the 1980 Two Thousand Guineas, but was later disqualified.
Other notable descendants include the half-siblings of Salford Express and Definite Article. Out of Fallen Angels fourth Dam Summer Fashion. Salford Express was by Be My Guest and he would go on to win the Group 2 Dante Stakes. Definite Article was by Indian Ridge, and he won the Irish National Stakes (The equivalent of the Moyglare Stud Stakes for colts), he also finished second in the Irish Derby at 3.
Another likeable descendant from Kandy Sauce to mention was the Ralph Beckett trained Air Pilot. Making his debut at 3 and finishing second. Air Pilot would not be seen again until 2014 when he returned to the track as maiden 5yo. From here, he showed remarkable consistency winning stakes races at aged 5, 6, 7, 8 ,9 and 10! Before finishing a close second in another stakes race aged 11! A phenomenal display of class, character and courage.
Fallen Angel’s last appearance on the racetrack as a 2yo was in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh in September. She tanked along early and quickly dispatched hot favourite – Ylang Ylang in the home straight, going for home over two furlongs out. However, there were other challengers lurking, first in the form of Amo Racings Ornellaia, who ranged up between the one- and two-furlong poles. Fallen Angel quickly burnt her off, before it looked like the final challenger had timed her run to perfection, Billy Lee swooped late and fast on the Willie McCreery trained Vespertilio to nab the lead inside the final furlong by a nose. Only a filly of the highest order could rise to the challenge again after being collared so late in the day. Fallen Angel did not disappoint, again rallying to the call of Danny Tudhope's urgings, she forged clear in the final half furlong to prevail by over a length at the line.
Agnes Stewart(Lawman x Anice Stellato)- A €23k purchase and Dam of Fallen Angel.
Which Brings us back to Agnes Stewart, the dam of Fallen Angel. Purchased for the moderate sum of only €23,000 at the 2013 Goffs Sportsman Sale by trainer Eddie Lynam. She would go on to become a top class two-year-old performer. After winning on debut easily, she then finished second in the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes for fillies over 7f with Qualify (2015 Epsom Oaks winner) back in third. Next up was a trip to Doncaster for the 1 mile, Group 2 May Hill Stakes. Agnes Stewart was held up early, this being her first run over this far, connections were obviously keen to give her every chance of seeing out the trip. She travelled powerfully in the hands of Billy Lee, who partnered her in all her starts, before bursting clear of the field in the final furlong with an electric turn of foot. Her final start at two would be the Group 1 Fillies Mile. She was beaten just half a length into second by the Coolmore filly Together Forever.
Incidentally, Together Forever is the Dam of raging hot favourite for next year's 2000 Guineas – City of Troy. Coolmore's Colt looks hard to oppose if showing up in one piece next May. However, things don't look quiet as straight forward for the Coolmore pair of Opera Singer and Ylang Ylang, in the filly's equivalent. The Qipco 1000 Guineas on May 5th, a Classic date with destiny awaits for Too Darn Hot, Karl Burke, Clipper Logistics and Fallen Angel.
