Group Success For Talented Son Of Sioux Nation

Spartan Arrow (5g Sioux Nation - Thames Pageant, by Dansili) became a new Group winner for his sire with success in the Mercury Stakes at Dundalk on Friday.

The Archie Watson-trained five-year-old had struck in Listed company at Chantilly earlier this year and stepped up again to register a first Pattern score.

Ridden by Hollie Doyle, Spartan Arrow travelled strongly and came to take the lead a furlong out. The pair kept on to win by three-quarters of a length.

Doyle said: “It was a great performance by this horse, he has been knocking on the door and he has had a few kind of hard-luck stories.

"I think it has come quite easy to him today being on the artificial surface. He ran in the Nunthorpe and he went to Goodwood, and he ran in Group 2 in Longchamp. All were on the wrong ground really. He ran on good ground in handicap company, but I think he just struggled at a higher level.

"They can get a bit complacent when things are just going the same really. A change of scenery, and just kind of fill them up a bit, and go again.

"Eclairage gave me a nice tow and I was quite wary of it hanging right, but I had to kind of commit when I did, which was early enough. He just does as much as he has to really."

Spartan Arrow was bred by Pier House Stud.