By Tom Frary
Saddling four as he sought an astounding 16th renewal of The Curragh's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. since 1998, Aidan O'Brien for once did not provide the favourite but still managed to prevail with another of the high-class but endangered Scat Daddy crew in Sioux Nation. Third over five furlongs on yielding ground at Naas Apr. 9, the imposing bay was second to Brother Bear (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in a 6 1/2-furlong Leopardstown maiden May 7 before opening his account over six at Cork 12 days later. Sixth of seven behind Brother Bear as he was glued down in the tacky surface prevalent here in the Listed Marble Hill S. May 27, he was unsurprisingly 14-1 for the G2 Norfolk S. but on a fast surface was able to flaunt his considerable prowess to take that Royal Ascot speed test June 22.
Settled off the solid early pace set by stablemates Actress and U S Navy Flag (War Front), he moved forward under Ryan Moore to take command approaching the furlong pole and stayed on strongly as the market leader Beckford (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) bore down on him late. “I couldn't be more impressed,” Moore said. “I loved him at Ascot and when he got that fast ground he took me into the race real easy. He's a beautiful horse and a very exciting colt, but he's got to have fast ground. He gave me an excellent feel at Ascot, but I knew how good the second was and it was a good race. I think he's got a big future.” Aidan O'Brien added, “He travels very well and quickens very well–even though he is a big, powerful horse he has a lot of speed. With every run he is coming forward and getting better. He has a great mind and every week he is progressing. He does not like running on soft ground, but we don't know how far to stretch him this year. If he does go over seven, he could go for the [G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien] National [S. at The Curragh Sept. 10] but if he stays at six there is the [G1] Middle Park [S. at Newmarket Sept. 30]. He's a horse to look forward to.” O'Brien added of the G3 Anglesey S. winner Actress, “She's progressing all the time and could come back for the [G1] Moyglare [Stud S. at The Curragh Sept. 10].”
Beckford, who had won the July 1 G2 Railway S., is likely to go up in distance now according to trainer Gordon Elliott. “It was his biggest test so far and I am proud of the horse,” he said. “Of course, it's disappointing to be beaten, but the winner is a very good horse of Aidan's so we lost nothing in defeat. He galloped to the line and that's the thing I liked about him–we know he'll stay further and a bit more ease in the ground would suit him better. [Jockey] Declan [MacDonogh] said when he went to quicken a furlong down he was still a bit green and was wheel-spinning for a little bit and then in the last 75 yards he put his head out and galloped all the way. There are no excuses, the best horse won on the day but we have a nice horse to look forward to. The National Stakes is the obvious race.”
Sioux Nation's dam Dream the Blues, who only raced once but made it a winning one at Redcar in 2011, is a daughter of the G3 Ballyogan S.-winning highweight sprinter Catch the Blues (Ire) (Bluebird), who was also third in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup. Her daughter Catch the Sea (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) produced four black-type performers including the G1 Prix Morny third and Spanish champion 2-year-old colt Vladimir (Ire) (Kheleyf), the G3 Prix de Cabourg scorer My Catch (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) and this year's Listed Rose Bowl S. runner-up Natural (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). Dream the Blues has a yearling full-brother to Sioux Nation, a colt foal by Declaration of War and has visited Air Force Blue.
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
KEENELAND PHOENIX S.-G1, €250,000, CUR, 8-13, 2yo, 6fT, 1:11.72, g/f.
1–SIOUX NATION, 129, c, 2, by Scat Daddy
1st Dam: Dream the Blues (Ire), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Catch the Blues (Ire), by Bluebird
3rd Dam: Dear Lorraine (Fr), by Nonoalco
*1st Group 1 win. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Fethard Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €142,500. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 6-3-1-1, $257,667. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″][bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Beckford (GB), 129, c, 2, Bated Breath (GB)">Bated Breath (GB)–Whirly Dancer (GB), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (58,000gns Wlg '15 TATFOA; €55,000 Ylg '16 GOFORB). O-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd; B-Joyce Wallsgrove (GB); T-Gordon Elliott. €50,000.
3–Actress (Ire), 126, f, 2, Declaration of War–Nasty Storm, by Gulch. ($250,000 Ylg '16 FTSAUG). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €25,000.[bullet ad=”eaton-sold”]Margins: HF, 1HF, HF. Odds: 2.00, 1.85, 5.00.
Also Ran: U S Navy Flag, Frozen Angel (Ire), Romanised (Ire), Declarationofpeace, Helvetian (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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