Saxon Warrior Half Sister Dazzles on Debut at Naas

The impeccably bred More Beautiful ensured Irish racing resumed with a bang June 8 as the 2-year-old half sister to Saxon Warrior recorded a dominant debut success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over five furlongs at Naas.

The performance saw the filly catapulted into 7-2 favoritism for the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot.

Bred by the Coolmore-affiliated outfit Orpendale, Chelston, and Wynatt, More Beautiful certainly has the pedigree to be a high-class juvenile as she is the fourth foal out of Maybe, who was crowned champion European 2-year-old in 2011 after victories in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) and the Keeneland Debutante Stakes (G2).

She is by leading U.S. sire War Front , the source of 21 group/grade 1 winners and arguably Coolmore's preferred outcross option for the many Sadler's Wells-line mares within their blue-chip broodmare band.

Maybe is by Galileo, whose daughters have produced three elite winners by War Front, namely Fog of War and the full-siblings Roly Poly and U S Navy Flag, while the Claiborne stallion has sired a further three top-level winners out of mares by Sadler's Wells.

They are siblings Brave Anna and Hit It a Bomb , both of whom were bred by John Magnier's mother Evie Stockwell, and last year's Preakness Stakes (G1) hero War of Will.

Maybe has now produced three winners from as many runners, with her best offspring to date being Racing Post Trophy (G1) and QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) hero Saxon Warrior, a son of Deep Impact who took up stallion duty at Coolmore last year.

The dual group 1 winner was visited by a star-studded book of 165 mares during his maiden covering season, including the dams of Channel, Coronet, Deep Brillante, Gorella, and Meandre, as well as notable performers such as Cassandra Go, Eva's Request, Gilt Edge Girl, Hazel Lavery, Homecoming Queen, Lily's Candle, and Music Show.

Maybe produced a brother to Saxon Warrior Jan. 27 this year.

The mare is out of Sumora, making her a sister to the Jockey Club of Turkey Silver Flash Stakes (G3) winner Promise To Be True.

Sumora is a three-parts sister to Investec Epsom Oaks (G1) heroine Dancing Rain, whose first runners are Jalmoud, a listed scorer and group 1-placed son of New Approach, and his sister Magic Lily, a dual group 2 winner last seen finishing third to Terebellum in the Betfair Dahlia Stakes (G2).