The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, well bred three year-old colt Scandinavia improved sharply off his last start fifth in the Group II Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.
Sent off as favourite, he was a mile too good bolting clear to win by eight lengths taking his overall record to two wins and two placings from six starts.
“We could have some fun with him over those longer distances now,” said Coolmore representative Paul Smith.
“He seems to be progressing nicely and bounced out of Royal Ascot, where he was out wide for a long way. Ryan said he's uncomplicated and enjoyed the [fast] ground and he could maybe be a Cup horse for next year. We can plot our way towards those staying races later in the year.”
A homebred for the Coolmore partners, Scandinavia is a half-brother to Group I winner Above the Curve and is the second stakes-winner among three winners from blueblood Galileo mare Fabulous, an unraced half-sister to champion racehorse and sire Giant’s Causeway.
Fabulous is also a half-sister to Group II winning blue hen You’resothrilling, the dam of Group I winners Gleneagles, Happily, Joan of Arc and Marvellous with the family also producing this year’s exciting Group winning juvenile Albert Einstein.
Scandinavia is the 49th stakes-winner for Justify, who is available for Southern Hemisphere covers at Coolmore’s US base of Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
2024 Champion European 3YO Colt and Horse of the Year, City of Troy stands at a fee of $49,500, while Storm Boy is priced more affordably at $16,500.
