Saxon Warrior's Victoria Road Notches Landmark Score In The Conde

Westerberg and Coolmore's 2-year-old colt Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}–Tickled Pink {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) earned his black-type stripes with a game win in last month's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at Deauville and continued his upward momentum with another narrow success, and a first pattern-race victory for his freshman sire (by Deep Impact {Jpn}), in Saturday's G3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly. The 19-10 second choice, who graduated at Gowran Park in his fifth attempt last month, was sharply into stride and settled off the tempo in seventh after the early shuffling. Taking closer order in the home straight, he came under a drive once leaving the quarter-mile marker behind and found extra inside the final 100 metres to edge Rashford (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) by a neck nearing the line, the duo 3 1/2 lengths clear of the remainder headed by Nasomo (Ire) (Australia {GB}).

“We are delighted with the horse and delighted for Saxon Warrior as this is his first Group winner,” reflected Coolmore representative Hermine Bastide. “Ryan [Moore] says that the horse does the minimum, but hasn't stopped improving. He is a late foal, so that is a very good sign. He is in the [G1 Prix Jean-Luc] Lagardere, but that is over seven furlongs. I am sure Aidan [”Brien] will have a look at the programme and decide which race is best for the horse. He will most certainly be entered in the [G1] Criterium de Saint Cloud.”

Victoria Road, the lone black-type scorer for his dam, is one of five winners from many runners out of G3 Abernant S. and G3 Sandown Sprint S. victrix Tickled Pink (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), herself a daughter of multiple Group-winning G1 July Cup second Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). Tickled Pink is thus kin to three stakes performers headed by three-time Group 1-winning distaffer Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), herself the dam of three pattern-race winners by Galileo (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). They include multiple Group 1-winning heroine Magical (Ire) and her dual Group 1-winning full-sister Rhododendron (Ire), the latter being the dam of last week's G2 Champions Juvenile S. victor Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Halfway To Heaven's half-sister Theann (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) is the dam of GI First Lady S. and GI Rodeo Drive S. winner Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Cassandra Go is kin to G3 Coventry S. winner and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Verglas (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}). Tickled Pink has a weanling colt by Ghaiyyath (Ire) to come.

Saturday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE CONDE-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 9-17, 2yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:49.11, g/s.
1–VICTORIA ROAD (IRE), 126, c, 2, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)
1st Dam: Tickled Pink (Ire) (MGSW-Eng, $117,768), by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto
1ST GROUP WIN. (115,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Trevor Stewart (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-2-0, €144,350. *1st Group winner for freshman sire (by Deep Impact {Jpn}). Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rashford (Fr), 126, c, 2, Zarak (Fr)–Randium (Fr), by Sinndar (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Friedrich Hodel (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €16,000.
3–Nasomo (Ire), 126, c, 2, Australia (GB)–Navaro Girl (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Stall Nizza; B-Ursula & Jurgen Imm (IRE); T-Peter Schiergen. €12,000.
Margins: NK, 3HF, HD. Odds: 1.90, 5.10, 9.00.
Also Ran: Duc De Morny (GB), Mojo Ego (Ire), Precious Sea (GB), Angers (Fr), Kamino (Fr). Video, sponsored by TVG.

Prix De Conde (G3)
1800m, 80.000 EUR, for 2yo
Chantilly

Victoria Road (IRE)
(2C Saxon Warrior – Tickled Pink, by Invincible Spirit)
J :R.-L. Moore
T :A.P. O'Brien
O :Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smithpic.twitter.com/5jq2o0Cq4y

— (@WorldRacing1) September 17, 2022