Nelson has middle-distance potential

NELSON (IRE) - 2015 bay colt

Nelson did not get off the mark until his third start, when taking a mile maiden at Leopardstown by three lengths, but he advertised his Group 1 potential on his next outing, with an impressive three-length defeat of Kew Gardens in the Group 3 Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Stakes over the same course and distance.

In doing so he became the second pattern winner from Frankel's (by Galileo) second crop and a fifth blacktype scorer from his dam's first six foals.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained bay was bred by Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt, he is out of the Group 1 Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone (by Dalakhani) and so is a half-brother to listed race winners Nevis (by Dansili) and Stubbs (by Danehill Dancer), to thrice-raced Group 3 Munster Oaks scorer Words (by Dansili), and to US Army Ranger (by Galileo), the Group 3 Chester Vase winner who chased home Harzand in the Group 1 Derby at Epsom last year.

Nelson was sent off an odds-on favourite for the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket this afternoon, and although he briefly looked like landing the prize, he was caught close to the line by the John Gosden-trained Roaring Lion, who was extending his unbeaten record to three.

Your 2017 winner of the CHAMPION JUVENILE STAKES is NELSON (Frankel x Moonstone); Yet another Group winner for FRANKEL @JuddmonteFarms pic.twitter.com/PDWx8H0JwP

— Jess Samy (@Frankel1313) September 9, 2017

The Curragh classic was the only race that Timeform 119-rated Moonstone won. Her string of blacktype siblings include Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary scorer Cerulean Sky (by Darshaan) – rated 114 by Timeform – and also L'Ancresse (by Darshaan), a filly whose only wins were a maiden and a listed contest but who was runner-up to Vintage Tipple in the Group 1 Irish Oaks and earned her 123 rating from Timeform for her final start, when runner-up to Islington in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Cerulean Sky is the dam of Group 2 Doncaster Cup winner and Group 1 St Leger third Honolulu (by Montjeu), L'Ancresse is the dam of the dual 12-furlong listed scorer Chamonix (by Galileo), and they are all out of the stakes-placed Solo De Lune (by Law Society), as are several other mares of note.

Listed-placed maiden Bywayofthestars (by Danehill) is the dam of Group 3 Chester Vase winner and Group 1 Irish Derby third Orchestra (by Galileo), Hi Ho The Moon (by Be My Guest) is the dam of Grade 2-placed dual listed scorer Latin Love (by Danehill Dancer), and Bright Halo (by Bigstone) is responsible for Group 2-placed stakes winner Nantyglo (by Mark Of Esteem).

Solo De Lune's half-brother Wareed (by Sadler's Wells) won the Group 2 Prix Hubert de Chaudenay, her half-sister Truly A Dream (by Darshaan) won the Grade 2 E.P. Taylor Stakes before going on to become the dam of multiple Grade 1-placed, Group 2 Prix de la Nonette heroine Dream Peace (by Dansili), and they were all out of Truly Special (by Caerleon).

She won the Group 3 Prix de Royaumont, her dam was the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas and Group 2 Moyglare Stud Stakes star Arctique Royale (by Royal And Regal), and her siblings featured the middle-distance Group 1-placed Group 2 scorers Russian Snows (by Sadler's Wells) and Modhish (by Sadler's Wells).

They also include one-time scorer Banquise (by Last Tycoon) who made her name at stud, producing the stakes winner Cold Cold Woman (by Machiavellian) and Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup third Robin Hood (by Galileo) and becoming the grandam of the multiple Group 1-placed Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes winner Aljamaaheer (by Dubawi), whose planned stud career was aborted due to infertility.

The fifth dam of Nelson is the Athasi Stakes and Musidora Stakes winner Arctic Melody (by Arctic Slave), which means that Arctique Royale was a half-sister to Le Melody (by Levmoss), dam of the great stayer Ardross (by Run The Gantlet) and of Group 3 scorer and influential broodmare Gesedeh (by Ela-Mana-Mou).

The latter's descendants include the Group/Grade 1 stars Electrocutionist (by Red Ransom), Robertico (by Robellino), and Royal Highness (by Monsun), whereas Ardross became a leading National Hunt stallion whose early flat-bred crops yielded Filia Ardross and Alderbrook, among others of note.

With all of this on the page, Nelson is clearly among the best bred horses in training, and if live up to his potential then he could be a top-class middle-distance horse in the making.