By Tom Frary
It was a familiar story at The Curragh on Saturday as Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore dominated the card's juvenile races with Ides Of March (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Nickname, by Scat Daddy) bringing up an afternoon treble for connections in the G3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes. Impressive over this six-furlong trip and track last month, the son of the GI Frizette Stakes heroine was able to ease to the front after the early stages and power clear from two out with impressive sectionals en route to a 3 1/4-length success from the filly Usdi Atohi (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}).
“He was professional and grew up a lot from the last day,” O'Brien said of the 2-5 favourite. “He's a powerful, fast horse and he finds it easy to go quick. He's big and he's strong and is getting bigger, wider and stronger all the time. We have the Middle Park in mind and he can go there with Whistlejacket if the lads agree–that's the obvious choice and I think he's versatile ground-wise. Wootton Bassetts handle soft ground as well and he handles fast ground very easy, he's a very good mover.”
Pedigree Notes
Ides Of March is the third foal and second runner out of the aforementioned Nickname, a daughter of the stakes-placed Nina Fever (Borrego) and half to the multiple stakes-placed Hey Mike (Cape Blanco {Ire}). From the family of the prolific winners Order In Court (Banderilla) and First Shot (Unreal Zeal), her yearling is a full-sister to the winner.
Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
HEIDER FAMILY STABLES ROUND TOWER STAKES-G3, €55,000, Curragh, 8-31, 2yo, 6fT, 1:12.75, gd.
1–IDES OF MARCH (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Nickname (GISW, $557,710), by Scat Daddy
2nd Dam: Nina Fever, by Borrego
3rd Dam: Impact Now, by Major Impact
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Magnier, Tabor,
Smith, Brookdale Racing; B-Phoenix Thoroughbreds Limited
(IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €33,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-2-0-1, $51,731. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Usdi Atohi (Ire), 128, f, 2, Ten Sovereigns (Ire)–Eria (Ire), by
Zoffany (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€150,000 Ylg '23
GOFOR). O-Barry Fowler & Steven I Weston; B-Whisperview
Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €11,000.
3–Rudi's Apple (Ire), 131, c, 2, No Nay Never–Matorio (Fr), by
Oratorio (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
(50,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT; £140,000 RNA 2yo '24 GOUKB).
O-H O S Syndicate; B-Frank Antonacci & David Reid (IRE);
T-Joseph O'Brien. €5,500.
Margins: 3 1/4, 1 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.40, 4.50, 7.00.
Also Ran: Wise Men Say (Ire), Morning Vietnam (GB), Celtic Chieftain (Ire), Womp Womp.
In a different league 👀
Wootton Bassett colt 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 powers his way to Group 3 success in the Round Tower Stakes, shaping like a colt that will be dining at the top table very soon.@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud | @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/N19jPNKqDh
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 31, 2024
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