“This Is Massive For Us” – Asadna Has Aughamore Team Excited For Ascot

Aughamore Stud's Michael Gleeson has said that producing Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), arguably the most impressive two-year-old winner there has been so far this season and a genuine Royal Ascot contender, eclipses anything the family-run farm has achieved in the sales ring. 

Gleeson runs one of the shrewdest breeding and pinhooking operations in Ireland along with his brother Laurence. The Westmeath men have made a habit of producing a number of big results at the sales in recent years and are now savouring what looks a real Coventry S. contender in TDN Rising Star Asadna. 

He said, “This is massive for us. The sales ring is brilliant but it's the winner's enclosure where you really want to be. We were fortunate enough to have sold a Group 1 winner [Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus})] who won the Matron S. during lockdown so we couldn't be there for that. That's always going to stick in the back of your mind so we're going to make sure we're at Royal Ascot to see Asadna run.”

That might be a good idea. The ratings suggest that what Asadna did on debut at Ripon was something out of the ordinary. In actual fact, no two-year-old has posted a bigger Timeform rating than Asadna did when pulling a massive 12 lengths clear of his rivals to win over six furlongs on debut at Ripon for George Boughey. 

For Asadna to win on debut didn't come as a surprise to anyone close to him. But for him to go and post one of the most impressive speed figures in recent times for a debutant, just over a month after selling from Church Farm and Horse Park Stud to owner Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah for 160,000gns, could not have been predicted by anybody. 

Gleeson said, “We spoke to John Cullinan and Roger Marley, who breezed him, and they were very keen on the horse. But then again, he didn't blow the lights out at the Craven but still managed to sell well. 

“Obviously, they got him sold on their reputation because it was probably the soft ground that killed him in the breeze. We heard he was going well with George and everyone liked him but you never want to get too far ahead of yourself. 

“You hear so many stories about horses who are going to be the next big thing and it normally doesn't work out so you have to try and keep your feet on the ground.”

He added, “When you first saw him win by that distance, you were in shock. And then the more information that came out in the following hours and days made you wonder if it actually happened. At the same time, it was still only a maiden, but he looks very exciting.” 

Asadna is a best-priced 4-1 for the Coventry but most firms are quoting just 5-2 about him winning one of the most prestigious two-year-old races in the calender. His success is a triumph for the Gleeson brothers' patience and once again highlights their ability to sniff out a bargain given the dam Looks Great (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) was picked up for just 10,000gns through Hamish Macauley at the Tattersalls July Sale seven years ago.  

Gleeson said, “We've seven broodmares on the farm now but a lot of those have only been purchased in the past couple of years. Asadna is out of one of the original mares that we bought when we moved back home to the farm to try and give it a go so it has taken time. It's a long time since she was bought from the sales as a three-year-old. 

“As her name suggests, she was an outstanding individual and we knew that her dam [Danehill Dreamer (Danehill)] produced lovely-looking stock. There was a Nathaniel (Ire) colt  [Ecole d'Art (Ire)] out of the mare that made 675,000gns as a yearling. 

“You need to find an angle and have to forgive something somewhere when you are shopping at that level. So we forgave her page because she had a strong backpage and felt that New Approach (Ire) would be a very good broodmare sire, which he now looks to be. He looks to be the next big thing as a broodmare sire.”

He added, “We were actually debating whether or not to put her in training after we bought her off Godolphin but we just didn't have the finances to test the waters.”

The Gleesons kept it local by travelling just 20 minutes from their base in Streamstown, County Westmeath, to their near neighbours in Tally-Ho Stud to visit Mehmas just before his first runners hit the track. It turned out to be an inspired decision given the heights Mehmas has scaled in the interim and Gleeson is hoping that Asadna can be the latest star for the popular sire. 

He said, “We went to him during his first season and it just made sense to go back. He is local to us there in Tally-Ho Stud and they have always been very good to us. It was an easy decision. When we used him the second time with the mare, with the resulting progeny now being Asadna, there was actually a lot of word about his first runners so we decided to send two mares to him before anything hit the track. It proved to be the last chance saloon when you consider what his stud fee is now. 

“But with the way the market is gone now, there has to be an element of risk because sire power is everything, especially with the mares who don't have the big pages. You need to land on the right sire to potentially upgrade your mare.”

Gleeson added, “Looks Great now has a Belardo (Ire) yearling filly who I imagine we will bring to the Tattersalls Ireland September Sale. She's also in foal to Nando Parado (GB, who we have a share in, so we were keen to support him this year with something decent.”

“Even though The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) is in the pedigree, you also have Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}), while Fille De Reve (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Sulaalaat (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) were other highly-rated performers in the pedigree as well. Sulaalaat actually won over six furlongs so we just said that we'd embrace the speed element of the pedigree. From a commercial point of view, it made sense to go that way with that level of a stallion.”

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Mehmas Colt A New TDN Rising Star At Ripon

Ripon's Sunday card threw up a surprise as the George Boughey-trained Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}–Looks Great {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) stormed to TDN Rising Star status in the six-furlong novice. Held up initially by William Buick, the 4-1 shot cruised to the front two out and strode further clear with distance to record a staggering 12-length debut success. Fellow newcomer Fifty Grand Slater (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was the one closest to Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah's 160,000gns Tatts Craven Breeze-Up graduate, with Jesmond Dawn (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) a further four lengths behind. Providing context to the form, the fourth-placed 11-10 favourite Valadero (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who had been second in Doncaster's Brocklesby in March, was beaten a total of 16 1/2 lengths.

 

Connections are heading to the G2 Coventry S. next month with the outlandish winner, who recorded a time nearly a second faster than the dual listed scorer Shouldvebeenaring (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) did on ground officially faster in this 12 months ago.

Pedigree Notes

The dam, who also has a yearling filly by Belardo (Ire), was unraced for Godolphin before being sold for 10,000gns at the 2016 Tatts July Sale. She is out of the similarly-unraced Danehill Dreamer (Danehill), a half to the G1 Eclipse S. hero Compton Admiral (GB) (Suave Dancer), the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. hero Summoner (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and to the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Twyla Tharp (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). She in turn produced the excellent The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}), heroine of the G1 Prince of Wales's S., G1 Yorkshire Oaks, G1 Nassau S. and G1 Irish Champion S.

2nd-Ripon, £10,000, Novice, 5-21, 2yo, 6fT, 1:10.87, gd.
ASADNA (IRE), c, 2, by Mehmas (Ire)
     1st Dam: Looks Great (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Danehill Dreamer, by Danehill
     3rd Dam: Sumoto (GB), by Mtoto (GB)
(€62,000 Ylg '22 TATIRY; 160,000gns 2yo '23 TATBRE). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,515. O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Aughamore Stud (IRE); T-George Boughey. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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“She Looked Like A Moose At The Sales” – Group 1 Plans For 5k Purchase

Bloodstock agent Stephen Hillen has recalled how Sunday's G2 Dahlia S. winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) would not have won any beauty pageants as a yearling but revealed a certain amount of thinking-outside-of-the-box has led to him dreaming of big-race riches with the George Boughey-trained mare. 

Via Sistina couldn't have been more impressive at Newmarket on Sunday. She travelled into the race like a dream under Jamie Spencer, a good friend of Hillen's, and won going away by six lengths without having to be asked too many questions in the saddle. 

It was a performance that screamed quality and Hillen, who is better known for finding top-notch prospects for clients in his role as a bloodstock agent, is being rewarded for playing the long game with the horse he picked up for just 5,000gns at the December Yearling Sales in 2019. 

“She was a giant as a yearling,” Hillen recalled. “She is probably close to 17 hh at present. But she looked like a moose at the sales–big and backward. 

“Those Fastnet Rocks can be an acquired taste sometimes but she has grown into herself and you wouldn't call her an unattractive mare now.”

He added, “I often buy a filly one year and flip it the next and we've raced good fillies like Haggle (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) before. 

“There have been several fillies we have done the job with, in that we bought them without black-type and, once we got it, sold them on the following year. 

“Listen, I like to race them and, if I spot something I like and have no order to fill, I'll just buy it within reason.”

Via Sistina races in the colours of Hillen's wife Becky. Those purple and pink silks were also carried by Haggle, Four White Socks (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Banzari (GB) (Motivator {GB}), while Hillen has been involved with classy fillies Statement (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and La  Dragontea (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) as well. 

Hillen is in little doubt that there is more to come from his latest runner and confirmed that Via Sistina will not be sold on until the end of this campaign at least. The G1 Pretty Polly S. awaits.

He said,  “Jamie was very positive about her but he's always loved that filly ever since he got on her. She'd been threatening to do something like that but you just don't expect it. Jamie even went to Toulouse to ride her last year. 

“Ordinarily, he wouldn't go all the way there for a Group 3, but I was just fearful if something went wrong and I really wanted to win a Group race with her. It was at the end of the year, too, which is why she may not have been as impressive as she can be that day, and she was also a bit keen on a tight track.”

Hillen added, “That was only her ninth start on Sunday-some horses run nine times in a year. We'll probably race her until the end of the year at least and then make a plan. We're going to try and have a bit of fun with her. If the ground is on the slow side, she'll probably go to the Pretty Polly. She's a Group 2 winner now so the natural step is to go and try and win a Group 1. It's exciting. It would be a dream to win a Group 1 with her.”

 

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Boughey’s Via Sistina Sluices Up In The Dahlia Stakes At Newmarket

Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) produced a career-best performance to win the G2 Howden Dahlia S. at Newmarket in a style that suggested there could be even bigger things to come from the gigantic five-year-old mare. 

Trainer George Boughey revealed prior to the race that he does not have a bigger horse in his yard and that he had been praying for rain in the build-up to the Group 2 contest.

Those prayers were answered, with Via Sistina sluicing through the soft ground under a statuesque Jamie Spencer, who, when crouching a little lower in the saddle just over a furlong from the finish, received a generous response from the 5-2 favourite. 

In the end, Via Sistina pulled six lengths clear of Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) with Astral Beau (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) back in third. Last year's G1 Falmouth S. winner Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) finished a disappointing fifth on her comeback. 

“She's very effective on that ground,” Spencer said afterwards. “I was hoping that it would rain enough that it was almost bottomless. She just floats on it and I got into the race very easily at the half-mile pole. I probably got there a mile too soon but, back a furlong, I thought we'd get going early.”

Spencer added, “Sheikh [Stephen] Hillen wanted me to be on the pace. Stephen [bloodstock agent and owner] has been busy and is doing well. She was a cheap purchase so she is worth a little bit more than what he paid for her now. 

“We discussed it and Stephen said that, even if he [Boughey] runs her five times this year, just run her when the conditions are to suit and she will repay the patience. But she's a Group 3 and a Group 2 winner now and she's getting there. Especially against her own sex, if she gets soft ground, she's one to look forward to for the summer.”

Hillen bought Via Sistina for just 5,000gns at the December Sale at Tattersalls in 2019 as a yearling. She races in his wife Becky's purple and pink colours.

Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is the leading performer for the unraced Nigh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself kin to the G1 Golden Jubilee S. and G1 Nunthorpe S. hero Kingsgate Native (Ire) (Mujadil) and to the Listed Jazzy S. runner-up Vanishing Grey (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), in turn the dam of the Listed Prix Millkom victor and G2 Zabeel Mile runner-up First Contact (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). 

Her third dam La Pellegrina (Ire) (Be My Guest) is a half-sister to the G1 One Thousand Guineas heroine Las Meninas (Ire) (Glenstal) as well as to the then Listed Pokallob victor Spanish Run (Commanche Run {GB}) and the mare Schlefalora (GB) (Mas Media {GB}), herself the second dam of the G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Prix Robert Papin victrix Signora Cabello (Ire) (Camacho {GB}). 

Nigh also has a 3-y-o filly by Bated Breath (GB) named Fougere (GB), an as  yet unnamed 2-y-o colt by Ten Sovereigns (Ire) and a yearling full-sister to Via Sistina.

Sunday, Newmarket, Britain
HOWDEN DAHLIA S.-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 5-7, 4yo/up, f, 9fT, 1:51.49, sf.
1–VIA SISTINA (IRE), 128, m, 5, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Nigh (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Native Force (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: La Pellegrina (Ire), by Be My Guest
(5,000gns Ylg '19 TADEYG). O-Mrs R G Hillen; B-Laundry Cottage Stud Farm (IRE); T-George Boughey; J-Jamie Spencer. £70,888. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 9-4-1-1, $196,542. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Al Husn (Ire), 128, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Hadaatha (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £26,875.
3–Astral Beau (GB), 128, f, 4, Brazen Beau (Aus)–Asteroidea (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Family Sly; B-M H Sly & Mrs P M Sly (GB); T-Pam Sly. £13,450.
Margins: 6, 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 8.00, 8.50.
Also Ran: Life In Motion (Ire), Prosperous Voyage (Ire), With The Moonlight (Ire), Random Harvest (Ire), Hidden Dimples (Ire), Shaara (GB).

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