Aidan O'Brien trainee Sun Goddess (Sioux Nation) shaped with a deal of promise at Naas two weeks ago and made a giant leap forward with a visually stunning TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard, performance in Sunday's Revamp Conservation And Restoration Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh.
“She had a lovely run the first day and we got her out [at Naas] in case she was an Ascot filly,” the trainer explained. “She ran so well [on debut] and that is why she is back here. She could be an Albany filly if she knows enough. Ryan [Moore] said she was still very green between the two and the one [-furlong poles], but then started to go again after that. We have Neolithic, who is a fair horse as well by the same stallion, and this is a big, rangy filly who will definitely improve plenty as she goes.”
The £120,000 Goffs UK Premier yearling was handily placed in behind the leaders after the initial strides of a six-furlong contest with an illustrious honour roll.
Easing forward to join the front rank passing halfway, the 4-11 choice was given a shake of the reins by Ryan Moore with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and she thundered clear in taking fashion to book her ticket to Royal Ascot by routing the overmatched Green Empress (Saxon Warrior) by five lengths. Ballydoyle's Heaven's Glory (Wootton Bassett) was 2 1/4 lengths adrift in third.
The victory took Moore's record to a perfect five-for-five at this Irish Guineas meeting and Sun Goddess, whose conqueror Carry The Flag (No Nay Never) ran second in the G3 Marble Hill one race later, becomes the second Rising Star for her sire.
Sun Goddess is the latest of three foals and first scorer out of an unraced half-sister to four black-type performers headed by the dual Group 1-placed three-time Group 2 winner Gibraltar Blue (Rock Of Gibraltar) and G3 Phoenix Sprint victrix Scream Blue Murder (Oratorio).
Gibraltar Blue's quartet of black-type performers include the Group-placed duo Battleoftrafalgar (Captain Al) and I'm A Fireball (Vercingetorix), while Scream Blue Murder threw three stakes performers headed by G3 Victor McCalmont Memorial winner Too Soon To Panic (Gleneagles).
Too Soon To Panic is the dam of the Group 3-winning G1 2000 Guineas fifth and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas sixth Thesecretadversary (St Mark's Basilica).
1st-Curragh, €25,000, Mdn, 5-24, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.64, gd.
SUN GODDESS (IRE), f, 2, by Sioux Nation
1st Dam: Etoile Bleu (Ire), by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
2nd Dam: Holly Blue (GB), by Bluebird
3rd Dam: Nettle (GB), by Kris (GB)
Sales history: £120,000 Ylg '25 GOUKPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, €23,855. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Owenstown Bloodstock Ltd; T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore.
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