By Tom Frary
Leopardstown's Wednesday card may be one for referencing later in the season, with another wide-margin maiden winner in Mixed Feelings (Sioux Nation) emerging for the other O'Brien Jr. After Donnacha's Eretria had dominated the opening 10-furlong maiden, it was Joseph's turn in the mile maiden as the Acheson family's Mixed Feelings romped to a six-length success.
Third on debut at Gowran on her sole start in September, the Irish 1,000 Guineas entry was in a class of her own as she drew away under Joey Sheridan from Bang Bang (Sands Of Mali). The owners are better known for their national hunt contingent which races under the banner Robcour.
“She obviously had a good run last year so you'd hope that she'd come here and be hard to beat, but you don't see them pull away lengths from the field like that very often,” O'Brien said. “I thought it was an impressive win and she looks like a nice filly.”
“We could jump into a Guineas trial but she did still look a bit green there, so we might look at having another run somewhere before we go into a Group race,” he added. “She coped with that going but Joey said she'd be better on better ground. I'd say she'll be versatile.”
The @JosephOBrien2 stable continues to motor along as Mixed Feelings (Sioux Naton) bolts up on her three-year-old return @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/rTDRbaTDje
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 15, 2026
The dam Active Approach (New Approach), whose two-year-old colt by Cotai Glory is catalogued in the upcoming Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up, is out of the Phoenix Stakes and Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Saoirse Abu (Mr. Greeley) who was also third in the 1,000 Guineas before producing the Listed scorer and dual Group-placed Enfranchise (Invincible Spirit). This is also the family of Invincible Spirit's smart sprinter Make A Challenge, a five-times Listed scorer who was also placed in the G2 Greenlands Stakes and G2 Sapphire Stakes.
5th-Leopardstown, €17,000, Mdn, 4-15, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:48.04, y/s.
MIXED FEELINGS (IRE) (f, 3, Sioux Nation–Active Approach {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) Sales history: €62,000 Ylg '24 GOFORY. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $13,935. O-C Acheson; B-Old Carhue Stud; T-Joseph O'Brien.
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