By Sean Cronin
Al Shaqab Racing and Trevor Stewart's 2-year-old colt Andab (Saxon Warrior), a full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road, made a winning debut in Monday's Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over six furlong at the Curragh. Let go at odds of 8-1, he pulled clear in the closing stages to register an impressive 4 3/4-length success.
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Andab (Saxon Warrior) is a brother to @BreedersCup Juvenile winner Victoria Road and makes a very likeable start in the @AlShaqabRacing silks for the @JosephOBrien2 team @curraghrace | @DylanBrowneMcM pic.twitter.com/Vws2ALuqsK
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 5, 2025
1st-Curragh, €25,000, Mdn, 5-5, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.24, gd.
ANDAB (IRE) (c, 2, Saxon Warrior {Jpn}–Tickled Pink {Ire} {MGSW-Eng, $117,768}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) broke swiftly and settled back in midfield through the initial fractions of this debut. Making smooth headway from halfway, the 8-1 chance seized control approaching the final furlong and was ridden clear in the closing stages to easily outpoint Gavoo (Elzaam) by an impressive 4 3/4 lengths. “It was a smart performance, but I'd be lying if I said we thought that he would win,” admitted Joseph O'Brien. “He's always been a little wayward mentally and we just wanted to get a start into him. He needed it as he was turning into a bit of a messer at home. You'd have to be very impressed with the fashion he won and the professionalism that he showed. The obvious thing to do is to come back for the Marble Hill and the dream would be that he might be a [G2] Coventry horse. We thought he was quick enough to start off at six [furlongs] and we thought that he'd enjoy going seven eventually. I would still say that's the case, but undoubtedly he's quick enough to stick to six for the minute.” Andab is the sixth foal and scorer produced by dual Group 3 winner Tickled Pink (Invincible Spirit), herself one of four black-type performers out of dual Group 2-winning G1 July Cup runner-up Cassandra Go (Indian Ridge). Cassandra Go's leading performer is three-time Group 1 winner Halfway To Heaven (Pivotal), whose own descendants include multiple Group 1 winners Magical (Galileo), Rhododendron (Galileo) and Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact). Andab is a full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road and a yearling colt. Sales history: 290,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $16,955.
O-Al Shaqab Racing & Trevor C Stewart; B-Trevor C Stewart (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien.
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