Moutonshoek’s exciting new sire The United States gained several massive boosts to his already impressive pedigree page this weekend.
His full-sister Hydrangea picked up her maiden G1 win when downing a star studded field to land the G1 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the 3yo filly just would not give in under jockey Wayne Lordan and got the verdict over the even-money favourite Winter by a head.
It was a second time that Hydrangea had accounted for Winter (a four-time G1 winner whose successes included the 2017 QIPCO 1000 Guineas), with the filly having also defeated her stable mate when triumphant in the G3 Ballylinch Irish 1000 Guineas Trial back in April.
Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said after the win, “”I’m delighted for the filly and I’m delighted for Wayne. She is Winter’s work partner all year, and maybe she turned around and said Hydrangea you can have this one today!They ran together in the trial before going to Newmarket and Hydrangea pipped Winter, so it was great really. She was the only one of the four fillies that had not won a Group One. The winner will stay further. She could go for the Prix de l’Opera.”
Runner up in both the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and G1 Dubai Fillies Mile last season, Hydrangea has now won or placed in nine of 13 outings, with her G1 win on Saturday pushing the 3yo’s earnings to over £500 000.
Hydrangea and The United States are out of the outstanding Pivotal mare Beauty Is Truth, dam also of the multiple group winner Fire Lily.
Herself winner of the G3 Prix d’Arenberg at two, Beauty Is Truth herself is a sister in blood to multiple G1 winner Immortal Verse (also by Pivotal).
The United States is one of an ever growing number of G1 winners for his world-champion sire Galileo, who (Not for a first time!) dominated the Irish G1 action this past weekend.
The former dual Derby winner’s progeny won four G1 races in Ireland over the weekend, with his sons Decorated Knight (Qipco Irish Champion Stakes) and Order Of St George (Corner Group International St Leger) adding to Hydrangea’s G1 score.
Galileo was also responsible for the first two home in Sunday’s G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, where his daughters Happily and Magical ran 1-2 (with just a short head separating the two).
Galileo’s great son Frankel also enjoyed a memorable weekend, with his sons Nelson and Cracksman landing the G3 Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Stakes and G2 Prix Niel respectively. His daughter Rublinda also added to the growing gloss of Frankel as a sire when becoming his first US stakes winner last week.
The United States himself was a high-class athlete and millionaire, whose victories included the G1 Ranvet Stakes and three other major stakes races.
He stands his first season at Moutonshoek in 2017.