In the Wings (GB)
January 17, 1986 – April 3, 2004
Sadler’s Wells (USA) x High Hawk (IRE), by Shirley Heights (GB)
Family 9-e
January 17, 1986 – April 3, 2004
Sadler’s Wells (USA) x High Hawk (IRE), by Shirley Heights (GB)
Family 9-e
A member of the first crop of Sadler’s Wells, In the Wings helped cement his sire’s rising reputation as a sire of top middle-distance performers with Grade/Group 1 wins in England, France, and the United States. He was a good rather than great sire but continued his branch of Sadler’s Wells’s male line through his sons Adlerflug (a three-time champion sire in Germany) and Singspiel. He also sired several high-class runners under National Hunt rules including three-time Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever.
Race record
11 starts, 7 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$1,595,267 (includes converted English and French earnings)
1988:
1989:
1990:
Assessments
Earned Timeform ratings of 124 pounds at 3 and 128 pounds at 4.
Highweighted among French older males of 1990 over 11-14 furlongs.
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1990, 2 pounds above Golden Pheasant, Prized, and With Approval and four pounds above the official divisional champion, Itsallgreektome (a 3-year-old).
As an individual
A sturdily built bay horse, In the Wings was on the small side but had a strong turn of foot and was game and genuine as a racer.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, In the Wings sired 418 winners (58.0%) and 64 stakes winners (8.9%) from 721 named foals of racing age. He was a better sire of colts than of fillies. In the Wings is a Classic/Solid chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichart, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Act One (GB), Adlerflug (GER), Central Park (IRE), Fidelite (IRE), Inglis Drever (GB), Kutub (IRE), Landing Light (IRE), Mamool (IRE), Sadlers Wings (IRE), Singspiel (IRE), Soldier Hollow (GB), Souffleur (GB), Winged Love (IRE), Zanzibar (IRE)
Connections
In the Wings was bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. He was trained by André Fabre and was ridden to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf by Gary Srevens. He stood at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. He was euthanized due to laminitis in April 2004.
Pedigree notes
In the Wings is inbred 4x5 to 1955 Kentucky Oaks winner Lalun. He is a full brother to 1993 Prix Greffulhe (FR-G2) winner Hunting Hawk, 2002 Prix Hubert de Chaudennay (FR-G2) winner Morozov, and 1994 Jardine Insurance Brokers Derby Trial (ENG-G3) winner Hawker’s News. He is also a half brother to Arlette (by King of Kings), dam of multiple Group 3 winner Alexandros (by Kingmambo) and second dam of French Group 2 winner Botanik, and to Peruvian (by Diktat), dam of Australian Group 3 winner Aramayo, who became the champion miler of 2019/2020 in Singapore.
In the Wings and his siblings are out of 1983 Italian co-champion 3-year-old filly High Hawk, who scored her biggest success in the 1983 Premio Roma (ITY-G1). She is a full sister to Dunoof, dam of French Group 3 winner Seltitude (by Fairy King) and third dam of 2019 Preis der Diana (German Oaks, GER-G1) winner Diamanta. She is also a full sister to High Spirited, dam of English Group 2 winner Amfortas (by Caerleon) and French Group 3 winner Legend Maker (by Sadler’s Wells); second dam of 2005 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Virginia Waters, English Group 2 winner Miss Lucifer, and Irish Group 3 winner Alexander of Hales; and third dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Space Blues, 2012 Matron Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Chachamaidee, Group 2 winner Shuruq, and Group 3 winners J Wonder, Chief Whip, and Baciami Piccola.
High Hawk is a half sister to Seriema (by Petingo), dam of 1988 Rothmans International Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Infamy (by Shirley Heights) and, through her, second dam of Grade 2 winner Innuendo, French Group 2 winner Moon Queen, and Italian Group 3 winner Barafamy. In addition, Seriema is the second dam of English Group 3 winner Shield and the third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Criticism, German Group 2 winner Raa Atoll, and Grade 3 winner Beauty Parlor. Returning to High Hawk, she is also a half sister to High Tern (by High Line), dam of 1998 Vodafone Derby (ENG-G1) winner High-Rise (by High Estate) and multiple English listed stakes winner Supremacy (by Vettori), second dam of 1998 Oaks d’Italia (ITY-G1) winner Zomoradah, and third dam of multiple European Group 1 winner Dubawi (a champion sire in England, France, and Italy) and English Group 2 winner Emirates Queen.
Sunbittern, the dam of High Hawk and her siblings, is a winning daughter of 1966 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Sea Hawk II. Produced from the winning Panaslipper mare Pantoufle, she is a half sister to Chanson (by Tudor Melody), dam of Malaysian stakes winner Towkay (by Apalachee). Sunbittern is also a half sister to Oligarchy (by Pronto II), second dam of 1997 VRC Victoria Derby (AUS-G1) winner Second Coming and New Zealand Group 3 winners Cellarmaster and Intransigent.
Books and media
Footage of In the Wings’s win in the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Turf can be accessed at Darley’s website (https://www.darleyeurope.com/about-us/hall-of-fame/wings).
Last updated: September 26, 2023
Race record
11 starts, 7 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$1,595,267 (includes converted English and French earnings)
1988:
- Won Prix du Haras de la Huderie (FR-L, 1400mT, Deauville)
1989:
- Won Prix du Prince d'Orange (FR-G3, 2400mT, Longchamp)
1990:
- Won Hanson Coronation Cup (ENG-G1, 12F+10yT, Epsom)
- Won Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (FR-G1, 2400mT, Saint-Cloud)
- Won Breeders' Cup Turf (USA-G1, 12FT, BEL)
- Won Prix Foy (FR-G3, 2400mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Prix Ganay (FR-G1, 2100mT, Longchamp)
Assessments
Earned Timeform ratings of 124 pounds at 3 and 128 pounds at 4.
Highweighted among French older males of 1990 over 11-14 furlongs.
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1990, 2 pounds above Golden Pheasant, Prized, and With Approval and four pounds above the official divisional champion, Itsallgreektome (a 3-year-old).
As an individual
A sturdily built bay horse, In the Wings was on the small side but had a strong turn of foot and was game and genuine as a racer.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, In the Wings sired 418 winners (58.0%) and 64 stakes winners (8.9%) from 721 named foals of racing age. He was a better sire of colts than of fillies. In the Wings is a Classic/Solid chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichart, and Rogers):
- 7th on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1997.
- 3rd on the German general sire list in 2003.
- 3rd on the Italian general sire list in 2001
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Irish general sire list in 1995.
Notable progeny
Act One (GB), Adlerflug (GER), Central Park (IRE), Fidelite (IRE), Inglis Drever (GB), Kutub (IRE), Landing Light (IRE), Mamool (IRE), Sadlers Wings (IRE), Singspiel (IRE), Soldier Hollow (GB), Souffleur (GB), Winged Love (IRE), Zanzibar (IRE)
Connections
In the Wings was bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. He was trained by André Fabre and was ridden to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf by Gary Srevens. He stood at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. He was euthanized due to laminitis in April 2004.
Pedigree notes
In the Wings is inbred 4x5 to 1955 Kentucky Oaks winner Lalun. He is a full brother to 1993 Prix Greffulhe (FR-G2) winner Hunting Hawk, 2002 Prix Hubert de Chaudennay (FR-G2) winner Morozov, and 1994 Jardine Insurance Brokers Derby Trial (ENG-G3) winner Hawker’s News. He is also a half brother to Arlette (by King of Kings), dam of multiple Group 3 winner Alexandros (by Kingmambo) and second dam of French Group 2 winner Botanik, and to Peruvian (by Diktat), dam of Australian Group 3 winner Aramayo, who became the champion miler of 2019/2020 in Singapore.
In the Wings and his siblings are out of 1983 Italian co-champion 3-year-old filly High Hawk, who scored her biggest success in the 1983 Premio Roma (ITY-G1). She is a full sister to Dunoof, dam of French Group 3 winner Seltitude (by Fairy King) and third dam of 2019 Preis der Diana (German Oaks, GER-G1) winner Diamanta. She is also a full sister to High Spirited, dam of English Group 2 winner Amfortas (by Caerleon) and French Group 3 winner Legend Maker (by Sadler’s Wells); second dam of 2005 One Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Virginia Waters, English Group 2 winner Miss Lucifer, and Irish Group 3 winner Alexander of Hales; and third dam of multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Space Blues, 2012 Matron Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Chachamaidee, Group 2 winner Shuruq, and Group 3 winners J Wonder, Chief Whip, and Baciami Piccola.
High Hawk is a half sister to Seriema (by Petingo), dam of 1988 Rothmans International Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Infamy (by Shirley Heights) and, through her, second dam of Grade 2 winner Innuendo, French Group 2 winner Moon Queen, and Italian Group 3 winner Barafamy. In addition, Seriema is the second dam of English Group 3 winner Shield and the third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Criticism, German Group 2 winner Raa Atoll, and Grade 3 winner Beauty Parlor. Returning to High Hawk, she is also a half sister to High Tern (by High Line), dam of 1998 Vodafone Derby (ENG-G1) winner High-Rise (by High Estate) and multiple English listed stakes winner Supremacy (by Vettori), second dam of 1998 Oaks d’Italia (ITY-G1) winner Zomoradah, and third dam of multiple European Group 1 winner Dubawi (a champion sire in England, France, and Italy) and English Group 2 winner Emirates Queen.
Sunbittern, the dam of High Hawk and her siblings, is a winning daughter of 1966 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Sea Hawk II. Produced from the winning Panaslipper mare Pantoufle, she is a half sister to Chanson (by Tudor Melody), dam of Malaysian stakes winner Towkay (by Apalachee). Sunbittern is also a half sister to Oligarchy (by Pronto II), second dam of 1997 VRC Victoria Derby (AUS-G1) winner Second Coming and New Zealand Group 3 winners Cellarmaster and Intransigent.
Books and media
Footage of In the Wings’s win in the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Turf can be accessed at Darley’s website (https://www.darleyeurope.com/about-us/hall-of-fame/wings).
Last updated: September 26, 2023