By Sean Cronin
Coolmore's newcomer Admiral Nelson (GB) (Kingman {GB}) topped the lists at last year's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, when knocked down to M V Magnier for £440,000 and the strapping bay repaid some of that outlay and earned 'TDN Rising Stardom' when scorching to an impressive one-length success in Friday's Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden over five furlongs at The Curragh. The 5-1 chance was among the slowest into stride, but tanked by rivals to stalk the leading wave from a position in the second rank after the initial strides. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle from halfway, he quickened smartly to launch his challenge at the furlong marker and required minimal encouragement thereafter to outpoint stablemate Merchants Quay (Fr) (No Nay Never) with authority.
“Admiral Nelson travelled well and could be a [G2] Coventry horse,” revealed Aidan O'Brien. “It will depend how he comes out of this and he'll have to go straight to [Royal] Ascot. He won't be doing anything after this because it is so close. It's far from ideal, but we are lucky to have got a race into them. We have run two or three in each of the races. It's different times, but we are lucky to have the races. [Jockey] Wayne [Lordan] said it's lovely, fast ground. It's very safe, but proper Flat ground. We think Merchants Quay is a nice horse as well. Seamus said he was just a little bit in his hands and maybe travelled a little bit too strong. It's possible he could go to Royal Ascot too, but they may not all get in.”
Admiral Nelson becomes the second scorer out of Listed Dick Poole Fillies' S. winner Shamandar (Fr) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), herself a half-sister to stakes-winning G3 Prix La Rochette second Hung Parliament (Fr) (Numerous). His dam, who also downed future luminary Dubawi Heights (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in 2009's Watership Down Stud Sales Race, is a granddaughter of GII Wilshire H. and GIII Paloma H. heroine Blushing Heiress (Blushing John), herself out of GII Hollywood Lassie S. victress Native Fancy (Our Native).
1st-Curragh, €16,500, Mdn, 6-12, 2yo, c/g, 5fT, 1:01.14, g/f.
ADMIRAL NELSON (GB), c, 2, by Kingman%20(GB)#tot">Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Shamandar (Fr) (SW-Eng, $323,503), by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Sensational Mover, by Theatrical (Ire)
3rd Dam: Blushing Heiress, by Blushing John
(£440,000 Ylg '19 GOUKPR). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $11,863. O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Mr & Mrs R & P Scott (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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