First Stakes-Winner for Saxon Warrior

Deep Impact’s dual Group I winning son Saxon Warrior had a productive Saturday posting his first stakes-winner and first Group performer.

The Aidan O’Brien trained colt Victoria Road (2c Saxon Warrior x Tickled Pink, by Invincible Spirit) has been most consistent and was dispatched to France for the Listed Criterium du Fonds European de l’Elevage (1600m).

He showed good determination to win by a short neck and has two wins and two placings from six starts and has never finished further back than fourth.

Purchased for 115,000 guineas by MV Magnier from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, Victoria Road is the first stakes-winner among five winners produced by Group III winning Invincible Spirit mare Tickled Pink.

Victoria Road comes from an outstanding family with Tickled Pink a half-sister to multiple Group I winning blue hen Halfway to Heaven, the dam of two champion fillies by Galileo in Magical and Rhododendron.

The Group II Debutante Stakes (7f) at the Curragh produced another stakes horse for Saxon Warrior with promising filly Thornbrook (2f Saxon Warrior x Lillebonne, by Danehill Dancer) finishing third to hot favourite Meditate, an undefeated daughter of No Nay Never.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien, Thornbrook won on debut last month and did a good job stepping up to Group company at her second start and holds entries for several upcoming Group I races.

Already the sire of 10 winners in the Northern Hemisphere, Saxon Warrior will have his first Australian runners this season and returns to Australia at a fee of $19,250.