Colt from Indian Ridge's final crop a likely highlight; BLOODSTOCK WORLD.

Byline: Nancy Sexton

THIS year's catalogue includes 145 yearlings related to stakes performers, and those by leading sires such as Acclamation, Dalakhani, Invincible Spirit, Kheleyf, King's Best, Peintre Celebre, Rock Of Gibraltar, Royal Applause, Selkirk and Zamindar, writes Nancy Sexton.

With 23 yearlings catalogued, Antonius Pius heads the 22 first-crop sires represented numerically, a list which also contains Consolidator, Dubawi, Footstepsinthesand, Shamardal and Whipper. As always, many of the leading vendors are represented.

Some of the more interesting lots on paper are listed below.

Colts

lot 5 ch Barathea-Lamanka Lass (Woodman)

This colt's close relation, Dark Islander, was a classy runner for John Hills in Europe, rising through the handicap ranks before finishing second in a Group 3 in Germany. But the ground in Europe was rarely to his liking, and it wasn't until he encountered firm going in the US that he was able to demonstrate his talent, taking the Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby at Santa Anita. Out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Far Lane, this colt also hails from the family of triple Grade 1 winner Annoconnor.

126 br Shamardal-Requesting (Rainbow Quest)

The granddam of this colt, Alruccaba, needs little introduction, being the dam of Last Second, Alleluia, Arrikala and Alouette. All bar Arrikala have gone on to forge significant reputations at stud - Nassau Stakes heroine Last Second is the dam of Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Aussie Rules, Doncaster Cup winner Alleluia's first foal is Group 1 winner Allegretto, who added the Park Hill Stakes to her big-race haul this month, while Group 1-placed Alouette has produced two champions in Albanova and Alborada. Even the non-winning Jude is making an impact as the dam of Group 1 winners Quarter Moon and Yesterday, as well as Hold Me Love Me, third to Allegretto in the Park Hill.

139 b Indian Ridge-Roshani (Kris)

Both of Roshani's two winners have gained black-type, headed by Zayn Zen, winner of the Listed Fleur de Lys Stakes and third in the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes. As a daughter of Kris, the dual-winning Roshani is bred along similar lines to Fillies' Triple Crown winner Oh So Sharp, who appears under her second dam. Other Classic winners to have emerged out of this family include Shantou, Collier Hill and Ameerat, making this colt, from the final crop of Indian Ridge, a possible sale highlight.

266 b Rakti-Wish List (Mujadil)

One of the best bargains of recent times has been this season's Superlative Stakes winner Firth Of Fifth, who cost trainer Tom Dascombe just 5,000gns. As a result of his achievements, his year-younger Rakti half-brother is unlikely to be bought so cheaply. This is a family noted for producing its fair share of two-year-old winners, such as Wish List herself, and the second dam, Final Moment, a Listed winner and who finished fourth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

272 b Rock Of Gibraltar-Zavaleta (Kahyasi)

This family has received several notable updates during the past few seasons, courtesy of Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune and Zavaleta's grandson Intense Focus, runner-up in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes this year. Even without those headline performers, this colt's pedigree would make him worthy of attention. Listed winner Zavaleta has enjoyed success with Danehill as the dam of Group 3 winner Danelissima, while she is a half-sister to three stakes winners, including Coolmore's Gran Criterium winner Sholokhov.

324 b Kheleyf-Belle Genius (Beau Genius)

With Kheleyf closing in on Invincible Spirit's mark of 28 British and Irish first-crop winners, set in 2006, this colt is sure to have to his followers. Making him more attractive is the fact that he is one of a handful of yearlings catalogued out of a Group 1-winning mare.

Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Belle Genius has not set the world alight as a broodmare, but it should not be long before her two-year-old filly by Kheleyf, named Zelloof, breaks her maiden for Godolphin.

354 b Fantastic Light-Calando (Storm Cat)

Two generations of Classic fillies are represented here through this colt's dam, Calando, and granddam, Diminuendo. Diminuendo was a leading light during the 1988 season, winning the Oaks (at Epsom and at the Curragh) and finishing placed in the 1,000 Guineas and St Leger. But rather like her sister, the Oaks runner-up Pricket, Diminuendo was not nearly as successful at stud. The only stakes winner she produced was Calando, who complemented her May Hill Stakes success with placings in the Fillies' Mile and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

Calando has a 50 per cent strike-rate with her foals, led by two-year-old Champlain, winner of the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot for trainer Michael Jarvis.

382 br Diktat-Cox Orange (Trempolino)

This colt's sister, Vista Bella, went into the 2005 1,000 Guineas as the unbeaten winner of two races, including the Listed Masaka Stakes, and she nearly defied her inexperience to finish a creditable third to Virginia Waters. Vista Bella is the best foal out of Cox Orange, also the dam of the dual winner Ochre, a filly by Diktat.

Although not as talented as her Prix Marcel Boussac-winning half-sister Amonita, Cox Orange was an extremely tough filly, taking ten races including five Group/Grade 3 events.

Fillies

37 b Cape Cross-Midnight Line (Kris S)

One of only two by Cape Cross in the sale, this filly is the sixth foal out of Oaks third Midnight Line, who was purchased by John Ferguson for 1.5 million guineas at the 2003 Tattersalls December sale. Midnight Line was probably unlucky not to win a Group 1 during her career, but she was a high-class filly, taking five races, including the Grade 2 Long Island Handicap and Group 3 May Hill Stakes.

71 b Tiger Hill-Nasheed (Riverman)

Unique in that she is the only yearling by Tiger Hill in the sale, this filly also comes from an impressive family. A half-sister to the Group 3-placed Tamazug, she is a daughter of Nasheed, a Listed-winning three-parts sister to Arc hero Sakhee. Sakhee's sire, Bahri, emulated his close relation, Champion Stakes runner-up Celestial Storm, when crowned the champion older horse in Europe in 2001.

86 b Dalakhani-Oblige (Robellino)

After an outstanding first crop, which has yielded Classic winners Moonstone and Conduit, any yearling by Arc winner Dalakhani should warrant close attention at the sales this year.

Not only is Staffordstown's filly the sole representative of her sire in the sale, but she is also out of a young Listed-placed mare from the family of Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes winner Scenic.

136 b Hero's Tribute-Roja (L'Enjoleur)

A major update has fallen the way of this filly, who is a rare European representative for the Grade 1-placed Hero's Tribute, already the sire of a winner from his first small crop of foals.

Consigned by Tally-Ho Stud, this filly is a half-sister to Kevin Prendergast's tough Listed-winning gelding Red Moloney, who was third to Septimus in the Irish St Leger this month.

165 ch Bertolini-Set In Motion (Mr Prospector)

This filly's two-year-old half-brother, Perpetually, won a 7f York maiden on his debut in July and, judged on that effort, Perpetually looks to have a bright career ahead of him, although he has some way to go to match Set In Motion's first foal, Group 3 winner Divine Task. This is a family that has served Gainsborough Stud well over the years, producing the likes of Grade 1-winning miler Irish Prize, 1,000 Guineas heroine Hatoof, and Oaks third Pictavia, whose sister is catalogued as lot 483.

197 b Fantastic Light-Stage School (Sunday Silence)

There are few deeper pedigrees in the Stud Book than the line tracing to Fabuleux Jane, the third dam of this filly. Fabuleux Jane was a talented filly on the track, but she really shone in the breeding shed, producing nine winners, including Grade 1 winner Joyeux Danseur.

Doing her best to follow the same path has been this filly's granddam Danseur Fabuleux, who shot to fame as the dam of top-class pair Arazi and Noverre. Both provided excellent proof of the family's affinity with Blushing Groom, the grandsire of Fantastic Light.

322 b Fusaichi Pegasus-Before The Storm (Sadler's Wells)

The first foal out of a half-sister to Cheshire Oaks winner Valentine Girl, Barouche Stud's filly hails from a hugely successful Juddmonte family, which has been responsible for the likes of Sunshack and Polish Summer. Doctor Fremantle became the latest in a long line of high-class performers to trace to the Grade 1-placed Sunny Bay this season when landing the Chester Vase.

341 b Arakan-Blusienka (Blues Traveller)

On paper, Arakan's band of 12 yearlings is headed by Ballyhane Sales' filly out of the Listed-placed Blusienka. From three foals of racing age, Blusienka has hit the mark with Capt Chaos, a son of Captain Rio who has developed into a useful 7f performer this year, with the Group 3 Tetrarch Stakes the highlight his haul of victories.

CAPTION(S):

Lot 64 is a Compton Place filly out of a half-sister to Kyllachy. Lot 266 is a Rakti half-brother to Group 2 winner Firth Of Fifth (above)