By Sean Cronin
Newtown Anner Stud's homebred 2-year-old colt Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) made good, and then some, on the promise of a fast-closing July 26 debut third over seven furlongs at Galway with a blistering performance upped to one mile for Saturday's Coolmore Arizona Irish EBF Maiden at The Curragh. Finding cover along the fence in fifth after a sharp getaway, the 6-4 favourite cruised into contention on the bridle once past halfway and powered clear in hand once gaining an edge at the quarter-mile marker to easily outclass Adonis (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) by a mightily impressive 4 3/4 lengths.
“He's a lovely colt, he did what we expected him to do and did that very nicely,” said trainer Dermot Weld after overseeing his second Rising Star performance of the day and sixth for the sire. “He was probably unlucky not to win in Galway, but he's progressed from that and learned from that day. You could call him the winner from a long way down today. He'll have one more run this year in a Group race and I'll speak with Maurice Regan and see which one we'll pick. He's a very smart colt and a lovely horse to look forward to and a potential [G1 2000] Guineas horse for next year.”
Duke de Sessa, full-brother to a yearling colt, is the third of four foals and becomes the second scorer from as many runners for G3 Give Thanks S. runner-up and Listed Galtres S. third Dark Crusader (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), herself kin to Listed Yeats S. winner and G3 Stanerra S. placegetter Naughty Or Nice (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The March-foaled homebred bay's third dam Mosaique Bleue (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}), who threw GI Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup H. victor Subtle Power (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), is a half-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Muncie (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and G1 Prix Royal-Oak victrix Mersey (GB) (Crystal Palace {Fr}). Duke de Sessa hails from the family of G1 Prix de Diane-winning champion Madelia (Fr) (Caro {Ire}) and G1 Prix du Moulin-winning sire Monsanto (Fr) (Breton {GB}).
3rd-Curragh, €17,500, Mdn, 8-21, 2yo, 8fT, 1:42.26, sf.
DUKE DE SESSA (IRE), c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Dark Crusader (Ire) (GSP-Ire & SP-Eng, $141,387), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Monty's Girl (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
3rd Dam: Mosaique Bleue (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $14,034. (£60,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFOR). O/B-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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