By Sean Cronin
Westerberg and Coolmore's 450,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Shadow Hunter {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) gained much benefit for his debut run, tackling an extended seven furlongs at Tipperary last month, and earned a 'TDN Rising Star' badge with a dominant display down to seven furlongs for Saturday's Juddmonte Farms Expert Eye Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at the Curragh. The 10-11 favourite was sharply into stride to gain immediate control. Nudged along when the pack threatened approaching the quarter-mile marker, he held a comfortable buffer entering the final furlong and quickened beyond recall in style before easily holding the late rush of Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by 1 3/4 lengths.
“He had a lovely run the first day, he learned plenty and we're delighted with him,” said Aidan O'Brien. “He was a little bit green turning in in Tipperary and came forward lovely. He won well today and should have no problem stepping into stakes company now. He should have no problem going further, but there is no rush to step him up [in trip]. He could come back here for the [G2] Futurity or something like that.”
Hans Andersen, full-brother to a yearling colt, is the second of three foals and lone runner produced by Listed Roses S. victrix and G3 Cornwallis S. third Shadow Hunter (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}), herself the leading performer out of a winning half to G1 1000 Guineas placegetter Super Sleuth (Ire) (Selkirk). The January-foaled bay's stakes-placed third dam Enemy Action (Forty Niner), herself a daughter of the stakes-placed Sun And Shade (GB) (Ajdal), is a half-sister to dual Group 2-winning sire Daggers Drawn (Diesis {GB}) and to the dams of GI Garden City S. third Concise (GB) (Lemon Drop Kid) and G3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1000 Guineas) heroine Evading Tempete (GB) (by Dubai Destination).
1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 7-16, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:26.95, gd.
HANS ANDERSEN (GB), c, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Shadow Hunter (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sweet Irish (GB), by Shamardal
3rd Dam: Enemy Action, by Forty Niner
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, €15,600. O-Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith; B-Sun Bloodstock SARL (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. Sales history: 450,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Named after the Danish author Hans Andersen, this 450,000gns son of Frankel powers to victory at the second time of asking for @Ballydoyle & Ryan Moore in the opener on Juddmonte Irish Oaks day at the @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/LlMP8CINEo
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 16, 2022
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.