By Sean Cronin
Aidan O'Brien trainee Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Best In The World {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) was all the rage for Friday's seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Leopardstown and justified market support, and then some, with a dominant debut performance, earning a TDN Rising Star rosette by 4 1/2 lengths on his birthday. The stable had won the contest in recent years with G1 Dewhurst S.-winning sire War Command (War Front) and G2 Vintage S.-winning sire War Decree (War Front) and also prepared Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to finish fourth in 2014. The eventual winner was away sharply and shadowed the leader in a close-up second through halfway. Sent to the front off the home turn, the 8-11 favourite quickened beyond recall soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and maintained a high tempo under minimal encouragement in the latter stages to easily outclass Segomo (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) by daylight.
“Aidan [O'Brien] was very happy with that and the plan is to go for the [Listed] Chesham [S. at Royal Ascot],” revealed Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong. “He was very professional, he knew his job and delivered on the promise he's shown so far. He's a good mover and has the pedigree behind him. Fingers crossed now he has a good chance in the Chesham. Hopefully, it's a proper maiden and he's won it very impressively.”
Alfred Munnings, half-brother to a weanling colt by Wootton Bassett (GB), is the third of four foals and second winner out of G3 Give Thanks S. victrix Best In The World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the first being last year's runaway G1 Epsom, G1 Irish and G1 Yorkshire Oaks-winning sensation Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Best In The World is a full-sister to three pattern-race winners, namely MG1SW G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-winning superstar Found (Ire), GSW G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Irish Oaks placegetter Divinely (Ire) and G3 Noblesse S. victrix Magical Dream (Ire). Found's first foal is G2 Vintage S. victor and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and G1 St James's Palace S. placegetter Battleground (War Front). The May-foaled bay's second dam is G1 Matron S. and G1 Lockinge S. heroine Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab).
1st-Leopardstown, €16,000, Mdn, 5-13, 2yo, 7fT, 1:33.64, gd.
ALFRED MUNNINGS (IRE), c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Best In The World (Ire) (GSW-Ire, $141,246), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab
3rd Dam: Malafemmena (Ire), by Nordico
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $9,965. O-Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
😍 Our newest @theTDN Rising Star, and an easy decision. Alfred Munnings (Dubawi half-bro to Snowfall) for @Ballydoyle at @LeopardstownRC. pic.twitter.com/dENkorbC7v
— TDN (@theTDN) May 13, 2022
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