So far, at least 17 North American-based second-crop sires have sired stakes winners, and eight (Flameaway , Solomini , Mitole , Omaha Beach , Audible , St Patricks Day, Enticed , and Preservationist), have graded stakes, but they are all still looking for their first grade 1 winner. Meanwhile, two Europeans, Blue Point and Too Darn Hot, have hit the mark, and both were represented by classic winners at the Curragh on the most recent weekend.
Rosallion, who defeated subsequent Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) scorer Unquestionable in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) last year, came quite close to a classic triumph first time out this term, going down by 1 1/2 lengths to Notable Speech in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) on his seasonal debut. Rosallion gained valuable compensation May 25 with a head triumph over stable companion Haatem, a son of another first-year stallion, Phoenix of Spain, in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1).
Rosallion is a member of the first crop of Blue Point, the leading European freshman sire of 2023. A son of Shamardal, Blue Point was a group winner and group 1-placed at 2 and 3 but really came into his own as an older horse. Successful in the King's Stand Stakes (G1) at 4, he was even better at 5, when he earned honors as the high-weighted sprinter on the World Racehorse Rankings after going undefeated through five starts, including the Al Quoz Sprint (G1), King's Stand Stakes (G1), and Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1), the last two at Royal Ascot and just four days apart. Blue Point has already been represented by six first-crop stakes winners, including not only Rosallion but also Big Evs, whose five black-type successes include last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T).
Rosallion's dam, Rosaline, never ran, but she owns an exceptional pedigree. She is a sister to group 2 winner Ostilio; three-quarters sister to highweight French older mare and group 1 winner Ajman Princess, herself dam of weekend group scorer Inisherin (by Blue Point's sire, Shamardal); half sister to last year's joint-highweight European older miler Triple Time, successful in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1), and to three other black-type winners, including one by Shamardal and one by Shamardal's son Lope de Vega .
The second dam, Reem Three (by Mark of Esteem), is a black-type-placed half sister to the Celebration Mile (G2) captor Afsare, also runner-up in the Arlington Million (G1T). She's out of Jumaireyah, a Fairy King granddaughter of the top-class Dunette, who numbered the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) and Prix de Diane-French Oaks (G1) among her credits, and who produced the Rothmans International (G1) winner French Glory, by Fairy King's brother Sadler's Wells. Similarly, Rosaline's sire, New Approach, is by Galileo, a son of Sadler's Wells, which means Rosaline has Sadler's Wells/Fairy King 3x3.
Rosallion and French juvenile Shady Lady are the two black-type winners to date by Blue Point out of Sadler's Wells line mares, and there are nearly 30 stakes winners bred on a Shamardal/Galileo cross.
Like Rosallion, Fallen Angel was a group 1 winner at 2, following a tally in the Sweet Solera Stakes (G3) with a Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) triumph. And like Rosallion, she started her 2024 campaign in an English Guineas (the One Thousand in her case). She started favorite there but could only finish eighth, although beaten less than five lengths. She returned to form, however, for the Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1), making all and quickening clear to open up a 2 3/4-length margin at the line.
Fallen Angel comes from the first crop Too Darn Hot, a son of the exceptional sire Dubawi. Too Darn Hot was European champion juvenile when undefeated in four starts, including the Solario Stakes (G3), Champagne Stakes (G2), and Dewhurst Stakes (G1). Although he wasn't quite as dominant the following year when he won just two of five outings, wins in the Sussex Stakes (G1) and Prix Jean Prat (G1) were sufficient to see him rated top European 3-year-old miler.
Too Darn Hot made a tremendous start to his stud career, his first crop of juveniles providing four group winners. He's now responsible for seven Northern Hemisphere stakes winners, six from his first crop, and five of those are group winners, including Darnation, who made it a double classic weekend for the sire, capturing the German One Thousand Guineas (G2), and Alyanaabi, also runner-up in last year's Dewhurst Stakes (G1). Too Darn Hot also sired Broadsiding, this year's ATC Champagne Stakes (G1) winner, from his first Australian shuttle crop.
Too Darn Hot's sire, Dubawi, is by the short-lived Dubai Millennium, a son of Seeking the Gold, and this branch of Mr. Prospector appears to have a bright future in Europe. In addition to Too Darn Hot, Dubawi has three other relatively young sons (the oldest is 13)—Night of Thunder, New Bay, and Zarak, who are all group 1 sires —and several other well-credentialed young sons at stud. He's also responsible for Notable Speech, who defeated Rosallion in this year's Two Thousand Guineas.
A half sister to group-placed Divine Jewel, Fallen Angel is out of the May Hill Stakes (G2) winner and Fillies Mile Stakes (G1) runner-up Agnes Stewart. The second dam, Anice Stellato, also produced Sorrel, a black-type winner in England and graded placed in the United States. The third dam, Summer Spice, is half sister to Definite Article, winner of the National Stakes (G1) at 2 and runner-up in the Irish Derby (G1) at 3.
Fallen Angel is bred on a version of the very successful cross of Dubawi and sons with Green Desert line mares, as his dam is by Lawman, a son of Invincible Spirit. The cross with mares from the Invincible Spirit branch has provided eight stakes winners, six group, including Notable Speech. We can also note that Fallen Angel's second dam is by Dalakhani, a son of Darshaan, who in turn is a half brother to Too Darn Hot's granddam, Darara.
