Blue Point (IRE) might have been the Darley shuttler producing winner after winner with his first European runners this year, but it was his barn mate Too Darn Hot (GB) that has delivered the first Group I winner with his progressive filly Fallen Angel taking out the Group I Moyglare Stud Stakes (7f) at The Curragh on Sunday.
Trained by Karl Burke, Fallen Angel was the first winner for her sire when scoring on debut at Haydock back in May and she became his first stakes-winner when taking out the Group III Sweet Solera Stakes last month and now she’s also his first G1 winner.
Ridden by her regular partner Daniel Tudhope, she handled the deteriorating conditions to score a length and a half win with race favourite Ylang Ylang, a 1.5million guineas purchase by Frankel failing to fire a shot.
“Fallen Angel jumped great and is a very straightforward ride. You can put her where you want in a race, she stays very well and I thought the last furlong would be her best furlong,” said Tudhope.
"She was very impressive. She deserves that and she’s just getting better and better all the time. She’s a beautiful big filly and she’s only going to improve.
"I’m absolutely delighted for Steve [Parkin], Joe Foley and Karl and the team, they work so hard and they deserve this.
“She has the Guineas written all over her."
Fallen Angel has three wins and a second from four starts and has been listed an early favourite for next year’s Newmarket 1,000 Guineas at 8-1.
Fallen Angel was bred by Steve Parkin’s Branton Court Stud and was retained to race. She is a half-sister to stakes-placed Divine Jewel from Group II winning Lawman mare Agnes Stewart and is the final foal of the mare.
“The mother was my favourite mare and we lost her to colic–that's her last foal and she is the spitting image of her, so emotional is an understatement,” he said.
“My daughter names all our horses and after the death of the dam she called her Fallen Angel. To win the Moyglare Stakes is unbelievable–the greatest thrill I've had in my life I think.”
Fallen Angel is the first Group I winner among three stakes-winners for Too Darn Hot.
A Champion 2YO Colt and 3YO Colt by Dubawi, Too Darn Hot has had his first Australian bred yearlings sell this year for up to $1million and will have his first runners this season. He returns to Darley this spring at a fee of $44,000.