First Stakes Success For Saxon Warrior’s Andab

Andab (2c Saxon Warrior - Tickled Pink, by Invincible Spirit) gained a deserved first black-type success when landing the Listed Star Appeal Stakes at Dundalk on Friday.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained colt was an impressive winner on debut at the Curragh in May and has since run well in Group company, including when second in the Group 3 Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville last time.

A full-brother to 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Victoria Road, the son of Saxon Warrior was sent off favourite under Dylan Browne McMonagle and the pair duly obliged the odds with a length-and-a-half victory.

It was a one-two-three for Coolmore-sired runners in the race with Which Wolf Wins (by Holy Roman Emperor) in second and Frescobaldi (by No Nay Never) in third.

Browne McMonagle said of Andab: “He was dropping back in class. His Group 3 second in Deauville was good and the form was good out of it.

"The winner was third at the weekend in a Group 1 in France. It was a very solid run and he wasn’t beaten far.

“He travelled around there well, the speed was on and there was no hiding place. It was a lovely race to ride in. I travelled well and, in fairness, when I put him into gear into the straight he quickened up really well and probably waited a little bit when he got to the front.”

He added: “He’s got plenty of class and he’s a level above those. When they went that gallop, it was always going to spread them out for me late. I had plenty of horse to go where I wanted.”

Andab was bred by Trevor Stewart, who co-owns the colt with Al Shaqab Racing.