The Queen was looking a for a stakes double in the Group III Hampton Court Stakes (1m2f) at Royal Ascot overnight with homebred colt First Receiver, but he was overpowered by blue-blooded Galileo colt Russian Emperor, a son of champion Australian mare Atlantic Jewel.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Russian Emperor improved on his last start second in the Group III Derrinstown Derby Trial, hitting the line hard to win by half a length.
“Russian Emperor is a really nice colt and he's got a lovely attitude. His dam was very good, she was a champion in Australia,” said Ryan Moore.
“He won his maiden at Naas and it was very quick at Leopardstown the last day, it was hard to make up ground. He was very professional today and he showed a good attitude, I think ten furlongs is fine but he may get further. I think he'll be a nice horse for the rest of the year. Whether he runs in the Derby will be decided, but he's given himself a chance.”
A four time Group I winner by Fastnet Rock, Atlantic Jewel was sent to the Northern Hemisphere to begin her stud career for Coolmore and Russian Emperor is her second foal to race and both are winners. He was retained to race by breeders Laurie Macri, Coolmore and partners.
She has a two year-old filly and yearling colt to follow by Galileo and is now back in Australia where she was covered by Triple Crown hero Justify (USA) last spring.
With two wins and two placings from just four starts, Russian Emperor is the 316th stakes-winner for champion sire Galileo and is another success for what has become a formidable nick between him and champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock.
The pair combine in the pedigrees of 22 stakes-winners including eight Group I winners, the stakes-winner to runner strike rate over 13%.
