Atlantic Jewel’s promising son Russian Emperor is going to have to wait for another day to win his first stakes race, finishing second overnight in the Group III Derrinstown Derby Trial (1m2f) at Leopardstown to another Coolmore entry in Kingman colt Cormorant.
By champion sire Galileo, Russian Emperor was a short priced favourite having broken his maiden easily on March 23 just before the pandemic lockdown.
He raced well for Seamie Heffernan, but jus couldn’t catch the leader Cormorant, who set a good pace and kept going to win by half a length over Russian Emperor with Iberia (Galileo), all three colts trained by Aidan O’Brien.
“He had plenty of racing last year and I think that played to his strengths today. He jumped out and he knew his job," said winning rider Padraig Beggy.
“We went a good gallop and he kept going well. He's an honest horse and it was his first time wearing blinkers. The last furlong, I was just letting him do enough to win. Hopefully he can keep on improving and as the year goes on he might even handle a cut in the ground - that will help him.”
It was the second win from five starts for Cormorant, who was bought by MV Magnier at Tattersalls October for 1,050,000 guineas. He was a super successful pinhook having been bought as a foal at Tattersalls the previous year for 135,000 guineas.
He is the first winner for Dansili mare Shemya, a staying bred daughter of Group III winner Shemima whose dam Shemaka won the French Oaks.
Cormorant is the 19th stakes-winner for leading young Invincible Spirit sire Kingman, who stands this year at 150,000 pounds at Juddmonte Farms. Australian breeders have access to his first son to go stud with Calyx set to stand at Coolmore this spring at a fee of $17,600.
