Globetrotting Dreams For Norway After Group 3 Success

Coolmore Stud sires dominated Saturday’s Group 3 Paddy Power Betting Shop Stakes at Leopardstown, which saw Norway (3c Galileo - Love Me True, by Kingmambo) land the spoils under Seamie Heffernan for Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore partners.

Group 2 placed last time out and third in the Irish Derby earlier in the season, Norway was sent off joint-favourite with Buckhurst (Australia), who had won his last two starts at Group 3 level. Racing towards the back of the field for much of the mile and a half contest, he was asked to quicken from two furlongs out and progressed to take second entering the final furlong. Staying on strongly, he led 100 yards from the line and won by a length and a quarter, as Buckhurst ran on to beat Blenheim Palace (Galileo) for second.

Norway may now go globetrotting, according to his trainer, who said, “He's a horse that is probably going to get better, he's going to be better next year. He's a lovely horse to have, fast ground, a mile-and-a-half and he can travel and quicken. There are going to be a lot of places to suit him. He could travel a little bit at the end. He could go to Hong Kong or America.”

Bred by Southern Bloodstock, Norway is a full-brother to Epsom Derby hero Ruler Of The World and a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill).