Champion sire Fastnet Rock has produced a lot of outstanding horses, but none better than four-time Group I winner Atlantic Jewel, who featured overnight where racing continues in Ireland with an impressive maiden winner at Naas.
Prepared by Aidan O’Brien, three year-old Galileo colt Russian Emperor was having his first start for 2020, following one start last season at two when he ran third at the Curragh back in July.
Facing a field of 17, Russian Emperor ran on strongly to snatch a narrow win and will take a lot of improvement from the run.
Racing Post offered this assessment - had been off since finishing third in a 7f Curragh maiden on good ground on his debut the previous July, but he built on that with a promising success. He looked held for much of the straight, taking a while to respond to pressure, still looking green, although he didn't have that much room until switched widest late on, and he passed five or six rivals inside the final furlong. It might be that he ended up on the best of the ground, but there should be lots of improvement in him so he looks a smart prospect.
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.
The Atlantic Jewel family produced a new Group I winner last Saturday as G1 ATC The Galaxy winner I Am Excited is from Lady Beckworth, a half-sister to Atlantic Jewel's dam Regard. Read about I Am Excited here.
