Golden Horn Half Brother Hits Bullseye on Debut

Arrow of Gold is entitled to be talented as his Galileo half brother, outstanding middle-distance performer Golden Horn, and he hinted that he might be just that with an eye-catching victory on debut June 22.

Judging by the Kevin Ryan-trained colt's winning performance in the 12-furlong maiden stakes at Thirsk it might take more time for the 3-year-old colt to develop and reveal the full extent of his ability, though.

Running a little green in the early stages of the race, he also looked outpaced in the home straight. But when asked a serious question by jockey Tom Eaves he rallied and surged to a half-length success over the more experienced Medicean gelding Make Haste Slowly.

Arrow of Gold carries the silks of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, having been bought by Ryan and agent Stephen Hillen for 450,000 guineas (US$618,645) from the Norelands Stud draft at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2018.

He is the fifth foal and fourth winner out of the unraced Dubai Destination mare Fleche d'Or, who found fame as the dam of Golden Horn —triumphant in the Betfred Dante Stakes (G2),Investec Derby (G1), Coral-Eclipse (G1), QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1), and Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) in a glittering 3-year-old season in 2015.

Golden Horn stands at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket and his first crop, aged 3, includes stakes winners Festive Star and West End Girl and the black type-placed Golden Lips, Gold Maze, and Influx.

Fleche d'Or was sold by Golden Horn's owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer to BBA Ireland for 62,000 guineas ($104,805) in the December following the birth of the star colt.

Oppenheimer does have Fleche d'Or's listed-winning first foal Eastern Belle (by Champs Elysees) in the broodmare ranks at his Hascombe and Valiant Studs, though. She has a 3-year-old filly by Medaglia d'Oro  named Riviera Belle, a 2-year-old colt by Kingman named Megallan, and a yearling colt by Kingman.

Fleche d'Or herself, owned by the Fleche d'Or partnership, has a 2-year-old colt by Frankel—he was bought by Godolphin for 3,100,000 guineas ($3,977,357) at Book 1 last year and is in training with Charlie Appleby under the name Dhahabi—and a filly foal by the same sire.

Fleche d'Or hails from a great Hascombe and Valiant Studs family that has sprung back into life in recent years.

She is a half sister to 10 winners headed by Coronation Stakes (G1) heroine Rebecca Sharp and group scorers Hidden Hope and Mystic Knight.

Hidden Hope is the dam of last week's impressive Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) winner Frankly Darling and further back it is the family of Oppenheimer's joint-world champion Cracksman.