Hartnett completes first double on O'Brien-bred newcomer

Jockey Paddy Hartnett completed a first career double today, steering Whisperview Trading Ltd's newcomer Teutates (14/1) to a useful winning debut in Dundalk's Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Maiden.

Bred by Aidan O'Brien's family and carrying the colours of his wife Annemarie O'Brien, Teutates was slowly away and raced behind mid-field, but quickened well in the closing stages, defeating another newcomer Signatory by three-parts of a length.

Winning trainer Donnacha O'Brien wasn't present and Harnett said “he was green coming out of the gates and I lost a couple of lengths and had to ride him a little more back in the field than I would have liked.

"They went an even gallop and it rode like a real nice race. I was happy down to the bend, was following the favourite (News At Ten) and had to get him to relax and breathe. He came into the straight lovely, up through the middle of them. I saw a gap to my left which he took and he sprinted away.

"When I got there, I gave him a little flick and he went on again — it was a nice performance.

"He is only learning and as a two-year-old, he took time to start to do things right. There's a big engine there and even to look at him, he's a fine horse. He's all there and is really strong.

"He's nicely bred by Churchill out of War Goddess and there is plenty of staying in his pedigree.

"It is nice to get one for Donnacha (O'Brien), the boss, which is the first start of 2023.”

Churchill-sired Teutates is named after a Celtic god who was worshipped primarily in ancient Gaul and Britain.

Quotes from Michael Graham