TDN RISING STARS

July 15, 2017 - CURRAGH, Race 1, Msw, EUR €20,000, 7.0F, 82.8900

The Pentagon (Ire), c, 2, 2015 by Galileo (Ire)

1st Dam: Vadawina (Ire) (G1SW-Fr, $267,195), by Unfuwain
2nd Dam: Vadaza, by Zafonic
3rd Dam: Vadlamixa (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)

Owner: Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor
Breeder: Barronstown Stud (Ire)
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

The Pentagon, who was a June 10 debut sixth behind the TDN Rising Star performance of Verbal Dexterity (Ire) (Vocalised) over this course and distance last time, earned similar status with a dominant display in this return. Breaking well from an outer gate to lead after the initial strides, the 9-2 chance maintained control thereafter and powered ever clear under mild urging inside the final quarter mile to easily account for Medal of Honour (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by an impressive 8 1/2 lengths. “He did it nicely and he’s a nice colt,� said winning rider Ana O’Brien. “He travelled easy and went forward when I asked him. He made his own way home and did it the hard way. It was soft ground the first day he ran and he liked that better ground today. It is beautiful good-to-firm ground.� His stablemate Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), a $3million KEESEP half-brother to the incredible MGISW Beholder (Henny Hughes) and GISW sire Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday), was a shade green through the early strides and made little impact with an eighth-place finish. The Pentagon becomes the sixth scorer, from as many foals to race, produced by G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain) and he is kin to a yearling filly by Galileo and to three black-type performers headed by G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris victor Vadamar (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and MGSP Listed Prix Isonomy victress Vedouma (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Vadawina, herself kin to four black-type performers headed by G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Vazira (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), is from a family which includes Group 1 winners Valixir (Ire) (Trempolino), Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) and Val Royal (Fr) (Royal Academy). Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, €12,320.