Saxon Warrior's Lumiere Rock In Command At The Curragh

   Still a maiden entering Saturday's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. at The Curragh, Michael O'Flynn's Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) stepped up to make all and shed that status in style for the Joseph O'Brien stable.

Let go at 11-1, the 55,000gns Book 2 graduate was committed by Mikey Sheehy and relished the front-running role, giving plenty when briefly headed 1 1/2 furlongs out by Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who had beaten her last time over this mile trip at Gowran Park Sept. 17 and securing a 1 1/2-length success from Gozen (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}).

“I've ridden her on all three previous starts and the last day we went steady and she just lacks that bit of a gear,” Sheehy said. “Today I was able to make the running and dictate the pace. I kept building it from the four and in fairness to her, every time a horse joined me she kept finding more.”

Pedigree Notes

Lumiere Rock, who was also second to the subsequent G3 Weld Park S. third Keep In Touch (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) over seven furlong at Galway Sept. 6, becomes the second group winner for her first-season sire. Her dam Last Gold (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire}) is kin to the Group 3-winning full-siblings Akihiro (Jpn) and Bartaba (Fr), who had their finest hours in the Prix des Chenes and Prix Belle de Nuit, respectively and are by Saxon Warrior's sire Deep Impact (Jpn).

The second dam is the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Baahama (Ire) (Anbaa), while the family also features the G2 Prix de Malleret winner Silver Fun (Saumarez {GB}) and the illustrious trio of Gold River (Fr), Riviere d'Or and Gold Splash. Last Gold's yearling filly by Zoffany (Ire) sells at next week's Book 3 Sale, while she also has a filly foal by Starspangledbanner (Aus).

Saturday, The Curragh, Ireland
STAFFORDSTOWN STUD S.-G3, €55,000, Curragh, 10-8, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:45.88, y/s.
1–LUMIERE ROCK (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Saxon Warrior (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Last Gold (Fr), by Gold Away (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Baahama (Ire), by Anabaa
                3rd Dam: Silver Rain (Fr), by Rainbow Quest
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. (55,000gns Ylg '21
TATOCT). O-Michael O'Flynn; B-The Last Partnership (IRE);
T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Mikey Sheehy. €33,000. Lifetime Record:
4-1-2-0, $40,917. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gozen (Ire), 128, f, 2, Kuroshio (Aus)–Deliziosa (Ire), by Iffraaj
(GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€14,000 Ylg
'21 GOAUTY; €48,000 RNA 2yo '22 TATGOR). O-Mrs M D
O'Callaghan; B-Padraig O'Reilly (IRE); T-Michael O'Callaghan.
€11,000.
3–Speirling Beag (Ire), 128, f, 2, Mastercraftsman
(Ire)–Starscape (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST
   GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Ennistown Stud (IRE); T-Jim Bolger.
€5,500.
Margins: 1HF, 1, HF. Odds: 11.00, 5.50, 20.00.
Also Ran: Perfect Portrait (GB), Be Happy (Ire), Starry Heavens (Ire), Clever And Cool (Ire).

Castletown Stud grad LUMIERE ROCK runs out a commanding winner of the Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes @curraghrace for @JosephOBrien2 & Michael O'Flynn @mitch_barry 🌟 Raised & sold by Castletown Stud, we offer her Zoffany sister @Tattersalls1766 Book 3pic.twitter.com/GHKLlsUnFn

— Castletown Stud (@CastletownStud) October 8, 2022