Trained by Mark Johnston, the son of 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner
Big Brown’s half-brother Afonsa de Sousa was scratched by trainer Aidan
Artigiano, Steeler and Birdman were all in the front rank early. But Birdman
Although Steeler put his head in front, Artigiano came again along the inside
It turned into a family rivalry: Artigiano, owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s
Steeler just proved the stronger. Under a Kieren Fallon drive, he powered up
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By finishing the mile in 1:35.67, Steeler set a new course record for a
juvenile. Sportinglife.com reports that he bettered the old mark for his age
group of 1:35.70 set by Forward Move in 2004.
“Steeler found an extra gear when he hit the rising ground, which we hoped he
would,” Johnston said. “He is very laid back and lazy, and there will be plenty
more to come next year.”
Fallon agreed that Steeler is the type to develop at three.
“He seems to be getting better and better and this extra furlong suited him
today,” the winning rider said. “He is a horse who just keeps finding for you.
“I thought it was a sensible pace for the first half of the race and then we
really picked up. What I like most about this fellow is that he puts his head
down and really wants to run for you.
“He will come into his own next year and could be a Derby horse,” Fallon
concluded, but meaning the Group 1 Derby at Epsom, not Churchill Downs.
There was a gap of 3 1/2 lengths back to Al Waab followed by Birdman. The
third- and fourth-place finishers took home two points and one point,
respectively, on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby.”
The 9-4 favorite Fantastic Moon endured a rough passage further back in the
field, but picked up late to finish fifth of eight.
Steeler has now won three of five starts while finishing second in the other
two. A near-miss runner-up in his debut at Haydock on July 21, he broke his
maiden next time out at Goodwood on August 4. Steeler took runner-up honors
behind the well-regarded Dundonnell in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York August
22, and recorded his first stakes win in the September 4 Stardom back at
Goodwood.
“I took the liberty of dropping him back to seven furlongs last time (in the
Stardom),” Johnston said, “and a furlong out (in the Royal Lodge) it looked as
if that was a bad decision.
“He has shown us plenty at home, and even in April he was showing us that he
was a nice horse, but we knew there would be more to come over longer distances.
“The Racing Post Trophy (Group 1 at Doncaster October 27) is his next
target.”
The one-mile Racing Post Trophy could serve up a rematch with Artigiano,
according to his trainer Mahmood al Zarooni.
“He ran well and the main thing is that he has improved so much since
Goodwood — I have seen a big difference in him,” al Zarooni said.
“There is no plan but he has many options including the Racing Post Trophy or
the Breeders’ Cup. Nothing has been decided yet, but the Racing Post Trophy may
suit him.”
Bred by Airlie Stud in Ireland, Steeler was sold for $57,925 as a Tattersalls
December weanling. In his second visit to the Tattersalls auction ring as an
October yearling, he did not sell when bringing a bid of $35,546.
Steeler is out of the stamina-laden Discreet Brief, the winner of the Group 3
Park Hill who ranked as England’s co-highweight staying filly. The daughter of
Darshaan is a three-quarter sister to another top staying filly, Group 1 heroine
and Irish highweight Key Change.
Discreet Brief has produced one other stakes performer, the German and
Italian stakes-placed Doggerbank. Further back, she comes from one of the Aga
Khan’s notable families, responsible for such stars as Epsom and Irish Derby winner Kahyasi.
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