AN CAISTEAL NUADH will become the latest of our horses to be trained by Gordon Elliot. His pedigree has been boosted by the performances of his full brother Casual Approach who is also trained by Gordon. He is the first horse by Scorpion we have ever purchased and is very pleasing on the eye. Although never the sexiest of sires, Scorpion is steadily climbing the national hunt sire league table with both the volume and quality of winners he produces.
Scorpion was a top class racehorse in his own right, winning 4 races and pocketing over 1.3 million Euros in the process. As well as winning three group 1s (Coronation Cup, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger), he was also second in the Irish Derby to Hurricane Run and the Irish St Leger to Yeats. He is one of the best sons of Montjeu and compares well to his half brothers Authorised, Monmarte, Motivator, Walk In The Park, Por Moi and Camelot.
Scorpion is a striking bay horse with a white star and two white socks. His pedigree is stamina laden as his dam Ardemelody was a daughter of Law Society and Irish Derby winner, and the grand dam Thistlewood was the daughter of Kalamoun a winner over 1m 6f.
His progeny were unlikely to prove precocious as Scorpion himself failed to make the track as a two year old. His debut came in May 2005 in a 1m 2f maiden at Leopardstown where he won under a good ride from Keiron Fallon. Only two weeks later he was stepped up in class and narrowly failed to win a Group 3 at the Curragh going down to I’m Spartacus by a short head. After finishing last but one in the French Derby at Chantilly he lined up in the Irish Derby as a 25/1 shot. Given a positive ride by Colm O’Donohue he quickened away early in the straight, but could not quite hold off the challenge from Hurricane Run. That run was sufficient to send him off 10/11 favourite for the St Leger. Punters were given an anxious time as he proved an absolute handful beforehand. Once the race began he was allowed to dictate his own pace, but continued to create anxiety when losing his back legs inside the final furlong when well in command. Despite this setback he managed to cling on by a length from the David Elsworth trained The Geezer.
Despite having all of the credentials to be a national hunt sire, Scorpion seems to have been a slow burner when it comes to popularity in the ring. With his first crop now becoming six year olds he has done well to produce multiple graded performers in Tell Us More, Blue Fashion, Great Try, Sir Scorpion, and Give Me A Break. His recent crops have proved even more fruitful, both in NHF races and over hurdles.
Casual Approach a six year old full brother to AN CAISTEAL NUADH won a Limerick maiden for Gordon Elliot, making all of the running to win three and a quarter lengths. Gordon sees Casual Approach as one of the brightest chasing talents in his yard. Monkhouse trained by Kim Bailey showed battling qualities to see off 11 rivals in a Bangor NHF contest in April. Preseli Star trained by George Baker may not have faced the strongest opposition on his debut in a Wincanton bumper a day later, but he won by 24 lengths without coming out of second gear. Dantes Way trained by Malcolm Jefferson won a competitive bumper at Kelso in May.The Nipper made a brilliant winning debut for trainer Warren Greatrex at Bangor in May oozing class as she came home 19 lengths of her opposition. Finally Jack The Wire trained by Dennis Hogan had won a 15-runner point-to-point at Dromahane in April 26, before scoring easily in the Point to Point bumper at Tipperary by four and a half lengths (and is bred from a Supreme Leader dam like AN CAISTEAL NUADH). On that note Jessica Harrington’s Don’t Touch It is also a Scorpion – Supreme Leader cross, who was unlucky in bumpers last year but is one for the note book over hurdles this season.
With few runners over fences to date, and producing horses of substance and bone we believe Scorpion will become a great source for top class chasers.
So onto our own AN CAISTEAL NUADH, who represents excellent value at his current syndication price. Acquired from the Goff's Land rover sale In June 2014. AN CAISTEAL NUADH is a striking son of Scorpion, who has looked a natural jumper during his schooling sessions. He wasn’t the most expensive horse we have ever bought, but his pedigree has been enhance considerably since his purchase by the form of his full brother Casual Approach
Coming from a Supreme Leader dam line he is bred to do the job. He is a very correct horse, with strength, size and athleticism. A chaser in the making he has been in pre-training during 2014 at Mounttop Stud in Ireland, and has shown plenty of ability.
He is continuing his education before being transferred to the care of Gordon Elliot to make his racecourse debut in the Autumn of 2015. Gordon already trains his full brother Casual Approach who won a novice hurdle at Limerick this spring and is highly regarded by the trainer. We consider AN CAISTEAL NUADH to be the most exciting chase prospect we have had in the past few years. There are still shares available, at a bargain price.