Darley first-season sire Refuse To Bend celebrated his 15th winner of the season on Friday when his son Mibar ran out the easy winner of the 1200m maiden at Cappanelle in Rome by one-and-three-quarter lengths. Settledearly in midfield, the Gianluca Bietolini-trained colt crept stealthily into the race and took the lead over 200m out to score in convincing style.
Bred in Kentucky by Grapestock LLC, he is the second winner for the Rainbow Quest mare Bow River Gold and is a close relative of US Grade One winner Labeeb.
Refuse To Bend has made an excellent start to his career, siring more runners rated 80+ by Timeform than the figure achieved by two other leading sons of Sadler's Wells, Galileo and Montjeu, at the same stage of their career.
