Arrowfield
stud shuttler Olympic Glory (IRE) had an impressive debut winner overnight at
Newbury in the UK with a stylish victory for promising colt Athmad.
Trained by Brian Meehan and ridden by James Doyle, Athmad raced forward to
share the lead and forged clear to win the seven furlong maiden by more than
two lengths despite racing greenly at the finish.
"We were excited
about Athmad because he'd been
going well at home. We really like him and he's one of the best two-year-olds
we've got. He's definitely a potential stakes horse," said James Ferguson,
assistant trainer.
Athmad was a 92,000 pound purchase from the Goffs Doncaster Sale for Sam
Sangster Bloodstock and is the second winner for Black Mascara, an Authorized
daughter of stakes-winner Pina Colada, from the family of Champion Miler Canford
Cliffs.
Athmad is the ninth first crop winner for Choisir's four-time Group I winning
son Olympic Glory, whose first Australian bred two year-olds will race this
season. They were popular at the sales this year selling for up to $600,000.
Olympic Glory was not at Arrowfield last spring, but is slated to return this
year at a fee of $16,500.