By Tom Frary
4th-LEO, €17,500, Mdn, 8-17, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:45.46, gd.
NELSON (IRE) (c, 2, Frankel (GB)">Frankel {GB}–Moonstone {GB} {G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Ire, $613,532}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), a son of the 2008 G1 Irish Oaks heroine and G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up, was unlucky when sixth on debut behind stablemate and TDN Rising Star Delano Roosevelt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) here July 27 and beaten by a potential top-notcher when second to His Highness The Aga Khan's Riyazan (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) over seven furlongs at The Curragh Aug. 7. Quickly placed on the lead by Donnacha O'Brien, the 1-2 favourite was followed throughout by stablemate Christopher Robin (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and left that rival behind when kicking in early straight. Staying on strongly all the way to the line, he had three lengths to spare over that 400,000gns TAOCT relative of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) there. “It was a good run first time and he was probably beaten by a fair horse last time,” his rider said of the half-brother to last year's G1 Epsom Derby runner-up US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), GSW & G1SP-Eng, MGSP-Ire, $615,008. “I liked him there and he quickened the whole way to the line, but the winner quickened that bit better. He appreciated the step up to a mile here and seems a big galloper.” Aidan O'Brien added, “He had a lovely run first time and came forward again and could maybe go for the [G2] Beresford [S. at Naas Sept. 24] or something like that. He should be ready for that after three runs.” Of Christopher Robin, who was six lengths clear of the remainder, he said, “He ran a lovely race and he's a lovely horse. He was just ready to come and you'd be delighted with the way he kept coming. They went an even pace and it was a very good run out of him, because it wasn't a dawdle. It was a good run for a first-timer.” Moonstone has proven an instant hit in her second career, with her first three foals before US Army Ranger being the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winnerNevis (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), SW-Eng & Aus, $133,913, the Listed Rochestown S. scorer Stubbs (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), SW-Ire, SP-Eng & Nor, $110,592, and the G3 Munster Oaks winner Words (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). Moonstone's three black-type-winning half-siblings include L'Ancresse (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) who was runner-up in the G1 Irish Oaks and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and her G1 Prix Saint-Alary-winning full-sister Cerulean Sky (Ire) who produced the G2 Doncaster Cup-winning sire Honolulu (Ire). The family also features Orchestra (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who like U S Army Ranger captured the G3 Chester Vase before placing in a Derby, in his case the Irish one, and it would be no surprise to see Nelson staking his own Classic claims in that Chester trial next May. Also connected to the fellow Ballydoyle representative Catcher In the Rye (Ire), who was runner-up in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Moonstone has a 3-year-old colt by Fastnet Rock (Aus) who has yet to race. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, €14,280. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien.
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