By Tom Frary
Ripon's Sunday card threw up a surprise as the George Boughey-trained Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}–Looks Great {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) stormed to TDN Rising Star status in the six-furlong novice. Held up initially by William Buick, the 4-1 shot cruised to the front two out and strode further clear with distance to record a staggering 12-length debut success. Fellow newcomer Fifty Grand Slater (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was the one closest to Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's 160,000gns Tatts Craven Breeze-Up graduate, with Jesmond Dawn (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) a further four lengths behind. Providing context to the form, the fourth-placed 11-10 favourite Valadero (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who had been second in Doncaster's Brocklesby in March, was beaten a total of 16 1/2 lengths.
He's powered away!
A seriously impressive debut at @RiponRaces from Mehmas colt Asadna for William Buick and @gbougheyracing… pic.twitter.com/I37o6PRy68
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 21, 2023
Connections are heading to the G2 Coventry S. next month with the outlandish winner, who recorded a time nearly a second faster than the dual listed scorer Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) did on ground officially faster in this 12 months ago.
Pedigree Notes
The dam, who also has a yearling filly by Belardo (Ire), was unraced for Godolphin before being sold for 10,000gns at the 2016 Tatts July Sale. She is out of the similarly-unraced Danehill Dreamer (Danehill), a half to the G1 Eclipse S. hero Compton Admiral (GB) (Suave Dancer), the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. hero Summoner (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and to the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Twyla Tharp (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). She in turn produced the excellent The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}), heroine of the G1 Prince of Wales's S., G1 Yorkshire Oaks, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Irish Champion S.
2nd-Ripon, £10,000, Novice, 5-21, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.87, gd.
ASADNA (IRE), c, 2, by Mehmas (Ire)
1st Dam: Looks Great (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Danehill Dreamer, by Danehill
3rd Dam: Sumoto (GB), by Mtoto (GB)
(€62,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; 160,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,515. O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Aughamore Stud (IRE); T-George Boughey. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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