Cheveley Park Stud-homebred Sacred's Gr3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn victory recalls a stateside mating from this rising star's outstanding American family. The Exceed and Excel filly, acquired in utero by the leading British owner/breeder, hails from a family belonging to one of Kentucky's own well-established operations.

When it came time in late 2013 to match Bizzy Caroline from a long list of candidates with Malibu Moon, sire of that year's Kentucky Derby winner Orb, there was already much to recommend for that young mare.

Not long removed from a racing career highlighted by a pair of Gr3 victories, Bizzy Caroline was the most accomplished offspring to date of Sacre Coeur, French-bred daughter of Runnymede Farm matriarch Kazadancoa.

Bred in 2012 to Divine Park, a previous Runnymede graduate himself, Sacre Coeur was carrying a filly at the time who would make racing history. That filly, of course, was Lady Eli, champion and $2.9 million earner whose most impressive victory was overcoming, in midcareer no less, a life-threatening bout with laminitis.

Bizzy Caroline went on to produce a colt from her mating to Malibu Moon. Sold for just above his sire's yearling average at Keeneland September, Ciaran was a first-out winner at two and briefly considered for an early trial on the 2018 Kentucky Derby Trail.

That fair outcome, along with time running out on our ultimate goal to match Sacre Coeur with the great Smart Strike, makes this result abroad all the more satisfying.

Foaled the very next year after Lady Eli, Sacre Caroline (Blame) was acquired for US$424,557 at Tattersalls December by Cheveley Park. Her purchase was part of an initiative to fortify both young sire Ulysses' first books and the stud's prize band with mare beholding suitable American bloodlines.

From the outset of her career, Sacred returned immediate dividends on the investment. Off three Gr2 runner-up placings as a juvenile, Sacred came out running this season for trainer Willie Haggas with a smart score in the Nell Gwyn, a traditional 1,000 Guineas prep over the Rowley Mile.