Laurel becomes the 29th TDN Rising Star for Kingman

Kingman filly Laurel achieved the rare feat of earning TDN Rising Star status as a 3-year-old with a dazzling display at Kempton on Wednesday 21st September 2022.

Taken from Thoroughbred Daily News, 22nd September 2022

Carrying a penalty for the fixture's mile novice for fillies and mares, having made a lasting impression when scoring on debut over this trip at Newmarket July 29, the John and Thady Gosden-trained daughter of the Gr.1 Pretty Polly S. heroine was anchored in midpack early hemmed on the rail by a confident Benoit De La Sayette.

Despite the slow pace throughout, the 1-2 favourite was able to surge from a position that would have compromised lesser mortals and swamp the well-regarded Pure Dignity (GB) approaching the furlong marker. Powering clear from there, the homebred registered a two-length verdict over that fellow Newmarket debut winner and €2.5-million Arqana
Deauville September Sale topper who is a half-sister to Sottsass (Fr), Sistercharlie (Ire) and My Sister Nat (Fr). Another Newmarket scorer, Lady Bamford's One Morning (Ire), gave the result a solid feel a further 1 1/2 lengths away in third.

"They didn't go a strong pace, I got a lovely lead and she got to the line strongly and gave me an amazing feel," the winning rider said. Thady Gosden was on hand and added, She picked up very well and had come on from Newmarket. She has plenty of size and has taken time to mature into her frame. She showed plenty of speed there and there is no reason to step her up immediately. We'll see how she is and make a plan. Laurel, who becomes a remarkable 29th TDN Rising Star for her sire, is the eighth foal out of Promising Lead who also captured the Gr.3 Middleton St. and was second in the Gr.1 Prix de l'Opera alongside her Curragh career-best. She has yet to produce a black-type performer, but her daughter Surcingle (Empire Maker) is the dam of the Gr.3 Berkeley H. placed Sash (GB) (Oasis Dream).

Promising Lead's half-sister Visit (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) was successful in the Gr.3 Oak Tree St. and Gr.3 Princess Margaret S. and third in the Gr.1 Sun Chariot St. before heading Stateside and running second in the Gr.1 Gamely St. and Gr.1 Yellow Ribbon St. and third in the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and GI Matriarch S.
Visit was in turn responsible for the dual stakes winner and dual graded-stakes placed Western Reserve, while her full-sister Revered (GB) produced the Gr.3 Autumn St.-
winning sire Commemorative (GB) (Zamindar) and her half-sister Occurrence (GB) (Frankel) threw the Listed Patton St. scorer and triple Group 3-placed Juncture (GB). The third dam Kerali (GB) is the dam of the operation's great producer Hasili (Ire), whose remarkable list of top-class progeny is well documented and whose best descendants by Kingman so far are the Gr.3 Poker St. winner and Gr.1 Maker's Mark Mile runner-up Masen (GB) and the Gr.3 Hampton Court St. winner Sangarius (GB). Promising Lead's last known foal is the Ralph Beckett-trained 2-year-old full-brother to the winner, Leadenhall (GB), who was fifth on debut at Sandown last week.