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Deep Impact Sire Sons Continue To Upheld His Legacy

By September 12, 2023SA Racing
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Lumiere Rock (Ire) by Japanese-bred Deep Impact sire Saxon Warrior easily wins the Gr 2 Moyglare-sponsored Blandford Stakes under a razor-sharp Dylan Browne McMonagle (Picture: TDN)
 

South Africa are fortunate to have a son of Deep Impact in Danon Platina standing here at stud and this was outlined again on the weekend when Deep Impact’s Japanese-bred stallion son Saxon Warrior made headlines again.

Saxon Warrior first hit the headlines when his win in the Gr 1 Racing Post Trophy in 2017 secured a record-breaking 26th Gr 1 win in the season for superstar trainer Aidan O’Brien (he extended that record to 28 by the end of the year).

Saxon Warrior is out of the unbeaten European Champion two-year-old filly Maybe and went on to be a brilliant winner of the Gr 1 2000 Guineas.

He has had only two crops to race to date and has already produced a Gr 1 Breeders Cup winner, a Gr 2 winner, two Gr 3 winners and three Listed winners.

Yesterday, his filly Lumiere Rock made the headlines with a dominant Group 2 win at The Curragh.

TDN’s Brian Sheerin described the victory.

By Brian Sheerin
 
It was always going to take something special to luminate the Curragh against the backdrop of that dark grey sky, but the Joseph O’Brien-trained Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) had just the answer in the G2 Moyglare-sponsored Blandford S. under a razor-sharp Dylan Browne McMonagle.
 
Lumiere Rock has danced every dance this season. Her big moment at the Irish Champions Festival was richly deserved but it was achieved in far more tenacious fashion than the three-length winning margin would suggest.
 
Having gone out on her sword behind the fantastically-talented French filly Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in her own backyard at Deauville last month, Lumiere Rock’s ability was clear for everyone to see, and she confirmed herself a smart sort in her own right in grabbing the Blandford by the scruff of the neck in first-time cheekpieces.
 
 
The race-winning move came over two furlongs out when Browne McMonagle, rightly considered one of the hottest riding prospects in Europe, sent the 6-1 shot to the front. From there, Lumiere Rock was not for catching, with Aidan O’Brien’s Jackie Oh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) coming through to finish a never-nearer second while the sponsor’s Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) finished a credible third.
 
“She has been keeping really good company all season,” O’Brien said afterwards. “She was just beaten at Ascot and narrowly beaten again in France the last day. She really did deserve her win at Group 2 level today and won in the style of a filly who will hold her own in Group 1 company as she gets older.”
 
Lumiere Rock carried the colours of Michael O’Flynn, the property developer who is synonymous for owning top-class jumpers with Mouse Morris, including Grade 1-winning chaser China Rock and one-time exciting novice hurdler Venalmar.
 
However, the striking red and yellow silks have been spotted more frequently on the Flat in recent years, through O’Flynn’s association with the stables of O’Brien and Johnny Murtagh, and the owner explained how he enjoys the balance between the two codes.
 
“I am enjoying it,” the owner said. “I am having more of an involvement on the Flat, which I am really enjoying, but I love the National Hunt. I must say, with Joseph and Johnny Murtagh on the Flat, I have had some really interesting runners and winners. I am favouring a little bit more towards the Flat but I still love the National Hunt.”
 
O’Brien confirmed that Lumiere Rock could take in a Group 1 contest on her next start.
 

He said, “I suppose the obvious targets could be Arc day at Longchamp or Ascot for Champions Day. We’ll see how she comes out of this and she’ll tell us.”

 
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