Hudson hits the target on racecourse bow

Alan Magee
June 28, 2020 4:30 pm

Well-bred runner makes successful debut at the Curragh.

Hudson River, the first foal out of top-class sprinter Mecca’s Angel, made a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden at the Curragh.

Coolmore wasted no time in sending the former Michael Dods-trained dual Nunthorpe winner to their champion sire Galileo having bought her privately and it already looks a shrewd move.

Despite his dam excelling over five furlongs, Hudson River made his debut over seven furlongs, but it proved no barrier to success.

Surprisingly weak in the market, he drifted out to 3-1 joint-favourite but having broke smartly for Seamie Heffernan, he never saw another rival, beating Ace Aussie by a length and a half with Wembley, also trained by Aidan O’Brien, third.

“He’s a lovely colt and was just ready to start. He could go to the (Newmarket) July meeting,” said O’Brien.

“He’ll probably end up a miler and it was a nice race to start him in.

“Padraig (Beggy) said his horse (Wembley) reared in the stalls and missed the break, but I’d say he’s a very nice horse too.”

Napa Valley (evens favourite) made it a double for O’Brien and Heffernan as he held off stablemate Keats by three-quarters of a length in the Finlay Volvo Cars Races.

Heffernan had survived a nasty incident earlier on the card when odds-on favourite Snowfall nearly came down in the Barrownstown Stud Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

With Snowfall heavily eased, Jim Bolger’s Aunty Bridy (6-1) just held off Sister Rosetta.

Bolger’s daughter Una Manning, wife of winning rider Kevin, said: “We trained for the owner (David Granville) many years ago and Christy (Roche) rode a winner for him. Jim is delighted to have this filly for him.

“The plan is to upgrade her, so hopefully she can step up into Listed company.”