Atlantic Jewel's Son Impresses on Debut and Gordon Lord Byron Raises His Bat

Mark Smith - Sunday July 21

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Russian Emperor (IRE), a son of Fastnet Rock's champion daughter Atlantic Jewel, made an impressive career debut at The Curragh on Saturday when a fast-finishing third behind stablemate Iberia over 7-furlongs.

The son of Galileo looked to be struggling when racing greenly 300 metres out however once he put his mind on the job he powered to the line to be beaten a length and a quarter.

Racing Post said: "Raced in mid-division, progress into 6th entering final furlong, green, stayed on strongly final 100yds into 3rd close home, never nearer."

While one career was just beginning at the Curragh on Saturday another was nearing a close.

Advertisement

At his 100thstart, the hugely popular 11yo gelding Gordon Lord Byron finished an honourable fourth in the Group II Minstrel Stakes.

It's over five year's since Tom Hogan's battle-hardened warrior won the hearts of Australians with his win under Craig Williams in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.

The well-travelled son of Byron has a record of 16 wins, 16 seconds and 13 thirds in his storied career. (image Mark Smith )


Advertisment
More Reading...
First Foal for Hilal Delights Grangewilliam Stud
The first foal by Grangewilliam Stud’s Group Two winner and multiple Group One performer Hilal arrived on Thursday morning with a filly born out of the well-related No Nay Never mare La Frox.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 6
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Foal for Golden Mile – Now a Gelding
The Group I MRC Caulfield Guineas has been won in recent years by colts that have gone on to become some of our most exciting young sires - The Autumn Sun, Super Seth and Ole Kirk, but for the 2022 winner Golden Mile that path is not an option.
Melbourne Cup on Radar for Sons and Lovers
Joseph O’Brien knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup and that was mentioned as a possible goal for progressive young stayer Sons and Lovers, who won the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Leopardstown overnight.
First Godolphin Winner for Maher
Champion trainer Ciaron Maher saddled his first winner for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday and he did it with a blue-blood colt by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Zoustar's Breeders Cup Winner Starlust Arrives at Riverstone
Zoustar’s Breeders Cup winner Starlust has arrived at his new home, Riverstone Lodge in the Hunter Valley with the stud posting video of his arrival.
Racing’s Night of Champions August 28
45 of the top horses in Australia will be recognised for outstanding performances during the 2024/2025 racing season at Racing’s Night of Champions.
Zoustar Entering the Zenith
The dictionary tells us Zenith is an astronomical term —describing the highest point in an arc travelled by a star, planet or another celestial body- and in the case of this story it’s planet Zoustar!
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for last season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end this season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Wootton Bassett Set to Blast Out of Winter
Many people may have anticipated Wootton Bassett (GB) would have been our Champion Australian First Season Sire last season and while that didn’t quite eventuate, he did finish the season with a wealth of horses holding spring potential and several were in action at the trials this morning.