Demarchelier Half Brother to Debut at Chelmsford

As Demarchelier  prepares to enter the stallion ranks at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky next year, his younger half brother makes his first tentative racecourse steps Nov. 25 at Chelmsford.

A Star Above, trained by William Haggas, already looks a clever purchase by Rabbah Bloodstock on behalf of Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, as he cost just 70,000 guineas (US$96,234) from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 last year.

This was before the Dubawi-sired Demarchelier even appeared on the scene. Bought by Peter Brant's White Birch Farm for 425,000 guineas ($592,487) the year before, he won a maiden for Chad Brown in November and raced through the ranks in an allowance event and the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T).

He was sent to the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) as a key contender but took a bad step and was ultimately retired with glowing praise from his trainer. 

"Demarchelier had as much talent and turn of foot as any young turf colt I've trained to date," Brown said.

The Newsells Park-bred pair are out of Loveisallyouneed, an unraced Sadler's Wells sister to group 1 winners Quarter Moon and Yesterday, part of the extended family of Eminent, Alborada, Aussie Rules, and Coronet.

Newsells sold a yearling by Golden Horn for 80,000 guineas to Darragh McCarthy at this year's Book 2 and has engaged a full sister to A Star Above in the imminent Tattersalls December Foal Sale.

With the Haggas stable still in good form, he should be popular in the Extra Places At totesport.com Novice Stakes over 1 1/4 miles, but a trio of more experienced John Gosden trainees lie in wait.

The Empire Maker -sired Colonize, listed winner Magical Touch's brother Book Review, and $800,000 yearling Pharoah King all have potential to take a forward step.