Native American to follow Wootton Bassett-trail

Trainer Richard Fahey is hoping to follow the path taken by high-profile Wootton Bassett with Native American which today returned from a mini-layoff to win the Curragh's valuable Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes.

Bought for €75,000 at the qualifying Tattersalls Sales last September, the Sioux Nation-colt today won twice that sum in prizemoney, racing with the pace before winning well, under champion jockey Colin Keane, from fellow UK-raider Mercian Warrior

Fahey said “I thought he was workmanlike but did it well in the end to be fair.

“He grew (since his last run, and win, in May) and just wasn’t scoping great so I couldn’t get stuck into him but he’s done plenty of cantering and we were pleased with him. I’m sure he will improve again.

“He’s quite a nice horse, we do like him but he’s a work in progress. The jockey felt the ground was just dead enough for him and felt he wanted better ground.”

He added “we won some sales races with Wootton Bassett (now standing at Coolmore for a €150,000 stud fee) and he ended up winning the (Group 1) Prix Lagardere. That was in my mind before the race so we’ll see how he is and decide whether he goes or not.”

Quotes from Alan Magee