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New potential Group 1 performer for Verglas

3 minute read

Verglas bagged his first stakes success of the season when Silver Frost held off last season's Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Milanais to take the Listed Prix Omnium II by a length and a half.

According to trainer Yves de Nicolay, the grey colt, who won a pair of Group 3 events last season, may now be aimed at next month's Prix de Fontainebleau at Longchamp.

Silver Frost (3 c Verglas - Hidden Silver by Anabaa) hails from the first Irish-bred crop of Coventry Stakes winner Verglas, who was transferred from France to stand at the Irish National Stud in 2005.

Although a high-class miler for Kevin Prendergast, the son of Highest Honor spent theformative years of his stud career hidden away at the Haras de la Haie Neuve where he stood for as little as €2,290.

However, that did not stop him from making an immediate impact to become the leading French-based first crop sire of 2003.

That notable first crop included Blackdoun, a colt inbred to Grey Sovereign who cemented his smart French form by taking the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in the US.

Blackdoun, however, proved to be no one hit wonder as the stallion's third crop contained the Group 1-winning miler Stormy River, who is currently standing his second season at Haras d'Etreham.

Verglas' first Irish-bred crop, which were conceived off a fee of €10,000, also includes the Group 2-placed Alhaban - also out of a mare by Anabaa - and the Group/Grade 3-placedpair Villasol and Driving Snow.

After standing for two seasons at €15,000, Verglas is back down to €10,000 for this year.

Bred by Skymarc Farm and purchased by Charlie Gordon-Watson for €95,000 at the Arqana August Sale, Silver Frost is the first foal out of the winning Hidden Silver.

Hidden Silver's dam, Hint Of Silver, only won once but she has more than made up for it at stud by breeding eight winners including lastseason's high-class French three-year-old High Rock as well as the Group 3 winner Homeland and Listed scorer Hideaway.

Silver Frost's two-year-old brother was sold for €360,000 to John Ferguson at last year's Arqana August Sale. Hidden Silver has a yearling colt by Poliglote and was covered by Excellent Art last year.


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