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Second winner for multiple Group 1 winning mare Atlantic Jewel
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Russian Emperor (3 c Galileo - Atlantic Jewel by Fasntet Rock) broke his maiden over a mile at Naas on Monday, becoming the second winner for multiple Group 1 winning mare Atlantic Jewel.
Russian Emperor had not raced since finishing third on debut in July last year and on Monday scored by a short-head over the Jessie Harrington-trained Lobo Rojo (Lope De Vega).
“He had a lovely run last year, he’s a fine, big colt,” said winning jockey Seamie Heffernan.
“When he switched out and the penny dropped he won well. Aidan’s could improve an awful lot, not through fitness, but just because they hibernate through the winter.
“He’s a group horse and if he gets a mile and a half he’s top notch.”
Russian Emperor holds an entry for the English Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f).
Trained by Mark Kavanagh, Atlantic Jewel won ten of her 11 career starts with Group 1 victories in the All Aged Stakes (1400m), Thousand Guineas (1600m), Memsie Stakes (1400m) and Caulfield Stakes (2000m). Her first winner was Pacific Ocean (Galileo) who scored over a mile in Ireland last year and she is a half-sister to fellow Thousand Guineas winner Commanding Jewel (Commands) being out of Regard (Zabeel).
Further back this is the family of last weekend’s Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) I Am Excited (Snitzel) and Group 3 winner Flippant (Hinchinbrook).
Atlantic Jewel returned to Australia last year and was covered by Justify (Scat Daddy) last September.
Earlier in the day at Naas, two-year-old Lipizzaner (Uncle Mo) finished second on debut to Poetic Flare (Dawn Approach). The O’Brien-trained colt is out of Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock) who has produced two winners from three foals to race to date headed by Silver Shadow Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Omei Sword (High Chaparral).