By Tom Frary
Eight years ago, St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) came into this important pointer to next year's Classics with an impressive maiden win under his belt and registered a 3/4-of-a-length success prior to his G1 Racing Post Trophy rout which led to him being touted as a potential triple crown actor. There were shades of that ill-fated but high-class runner in this performance by the exciting Saxon Warrior, who had everyone talking after his impressive mile maiden success on debut at The Curragh Aug. 27. Despite the obvious stirring nature of that display, the bay son of the G1 Moyglare Stud S.-winning champion Maybe still had to take a step forward to justify favouritism and the faith of Ryan Moore over four smart rivals in the G3 Golden Fleece S. second, third and fourth Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Delano Roosevelt and Riyazan (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and a prolific winner in Warm the Voice. Full of energy under Ryan Moore in third early, the TDN Rising Star was motivated to go past his pace-making stablemate Kew Gardens 1 1/2 out and responded with an instant surge to put two lengths between them. As the rest argued for the minor placings, Saxon Warrior was already gone and despite veering towards the far rail never looked anything other than a class above his contemporaries.
Aidan O'Brien, who was registering a 17th success and seventh on the spin with the latest being the subsequent G1 Irish Derby and G1 St Leger hero Capri (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was impressed. “He had a lovely run at the Curragh the first day. Donnacha rode him and he loved him,” he said. “We thought he was a nice colt before he ran at the Curragh, but we felt that he was just ready to go racing. When Donnacha eased him out he took off and he had to be a good colt to do what he did. You're never sure until they run again, but it was a competitive race today and Ryan was delighted with him. Ryan felt he would be better on better ground. We were worried about the heavy ground today, but he handled it and quickened well. He probably knows enough if he doesn't run any more [this season], but it's possible. He has the pedigree on top and bottom, so you couldn't be happier with him. We always thought he could step up in trip. I think Ryan was impressed by the way he travelled and the way he quickened.” Of fellow TDN Rising Star Delano Roosevelt and Kew Gardens, he added, “Both of them ran very good races. They're two solid horses who are both going to be lovely middle-distance horses next year.”
Following on from his Listed Platinum S.-placed full-brother Pavlenko (Jpn), Saxon Warrior is the second foal and second winner produced by the European champion juvenile filly Maybe, who went on to finish third in the G1 1000 Guineas. Maybe, who also has a colt foal by American Pharoah and was bred to War Front this year, is a full-sister to last year's G3 Silver Flash S. winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Criterium International-placed Promise To Be True (Ire) out of the fast Listed St Hugh's S. scorer Sumora. She is a half to the G1 Epsom Oaks, G1 Preis der Diana and G2 Qipco British Champions Fillies' and Mares' S. heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), whose daughter Magic Lily (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status with a wide-margin win on debut at Newmarket on Saturday. The third dam Rain Flower is a half-sister to four black-type winners, most notably the G1 Epsom Derby, G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Dewhurst S.-winning sire Dr Devious (Ire) and the Irish champion sprinter Archway (Ire) and fellow sires Shinko King (Ire) and Royal Court (Ire), while her unraced half-sibling Rose of Suzuka (Ire) (Fairy King) produced the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen-winning sire Suzuka Phoenix (Jpn). Along with his stablemate September (Ire), Saxon Warrior has provided ample justification for Coolmore's diversion to Japan to pay respects to the country's equine deity Deep Impact. With such a blend of speed and stamina, it would be no surprise to see the winner treading the triple crown path himself in 2018.
Sunday, Naas, Ireland
JUDDMONTE BERESFORD S.-G2, €120,000, NAA, 9-24, 2yo, 8fT, 1:46.45, sf.
1–SAXON WARRIOR (JPN), 129, c, 2, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Maybe (Ire) (Ch. 2yo Filly-Eur, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Eng, $469,223), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sumora (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Rain Flower (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
*1st stakes win. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €70,800. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $97,440. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Delano Roosevelt (Ire), 129, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Again (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale and Chelston (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €22,800.
3–Warm the Voice (Ire), 129, c, 2, Vocalised">Vocalised–Heir Today (Ire), by Princely Heir (Ire). O-Mrs J. S. Bolger; B-J. S. Bolger (IRE); T-Brendan Duke. €10,800.
Margins: 2HF, HD, HD. Odds: 0.80, 3.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Kew Gardens (Ire), Riyazan (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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