Arizona Colt Lands Star Appeal Stakes In Good Style

Right And True (2c Arizona – Princess Theodora, by Quality Road) may head to the Breeders’ Cup after the first crop son of Arizona won the Listed Star Appeal Stakes in good style on Friday evening.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge placed in some competitive contests, including the Tattersalls Ireland sales race at the Irish Champions Festival, before drawing clear to his maiden victory last month. Dropping back to seven furlongs at Dundalk, he raced prominently under Ronan Whelan and travelled strongly turning for home. Pushed along to lead a furlong from home, he ran on well to score by a length and a quarter, as Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett) completed a 1-2 for Coolmore sires.

“He is progressive, it just took a while for the penny to drop,” Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong commented. “He is a horse that Aidan thought was a stakes horse from early in the year. It is nice that he is now starting to show it.”

On future plans, Armstrong continued, “We'll see how he comes out of the race, he's going to be a lovely horse for next year. He could maybe start off in a Guineas Trial. If he comes through it (this race) well, he could put himself in the mix for the Breeders' Cup.”

Last year’s winner, Mountain Bear (No Nay Never), went on to finish second to Unquestionable (Wootton Bassett) in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, while the 2015 victor Hit It A Bomb extended his unbeaten juvenile record at Keeneland.

Owned by Coolmore partners, Right And True is the best performer bred by T Boylan out of Princess Theodora. He hails from the first crop of Arizona, who is also responsible for Richard Hughes’ winning newcomer Super Mirage, Ger Lyons’ recent Naas maiden winner William F Browne and Johnny Murtagh’s debut Leopardstown second Aleramo.