Two days, two 'Rising Stars'

Debutant two-year-olds Apricot Twist (Expert Eye) and Nostrum (Kingman) both produced striking winning performances in the space of 48 hours to earn TDN 'Rising Star' tags.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 21st-22nd July 2022:

Apricot Twist is the first 'Rising Star' by her first season sire Expert Eye. The Ger Lyons-trained filly tracked the pace far side under Colin Keane in the near-six-furlong contest before being allowed to stride to the front over two furlongs from home. Clear soon after, the daughter of the Listed Ruby Stakes scorer Erysimum was eased down late to inflict a seven and a half-length defeat on her rivals at Naas on Wednesday 20th July.

"She's a lovely filly and I've liked her from day one," Lyons said. "We have literally given her six weeks cantering and haven't worked her. She is after blossoming and I said we'd run her here and if she wins she wins, not expecting her to do that."

Nostrum was let go at odds of 13-2 for Thursday's Maiden Stakes at Sandown and came home as TDN 'Rising Star' after producing a taking display in a contest won last year by subsequent Gr.2 Queen's Vase second Zechariah. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained bay was bustled along from the gates to occupy a forward pitch in second after the initial strides of the seven-furlong test. Making eye-catching headway from the three-furlong pole, he powered to the front passing the quarter-mile marker and was pushed out inside the final furlong to easily defeat Golden Speech by an impressive three lengths.

"He's a big horse and had been doing well at home," said Ryan Moore. AI thought he might be a little raw and if he started slowly he might not get organised at all, but I was able to get him into a good position and get a lead."

The jockey added: "He was left in front a long way out, which I didn't want to be, and every time I asked him he kept lengthening. There's plenty of improvement in him and I'd say he's more of a three-year-old than a two-year-old. He'll have no problem going a mile and may get a little further. He's a nice colt."

Nostrum is the seventh foal and scorer produced by the dual stakes-winning Gr.3 Prestige Stakes runner-up Mirror Lake, herself a half-sister to the dam of Listed Lanwades Stud Stakes victrix Hateya. The March-foaled homebred bay is a half-brother to dual Group winning Gr.1 C F Orr S. runner-up Imaging (Oasis Dream) and Listed Heatherlie Stakes victor Titus (Dansili).