A couple of key 7f races for 2YOs at The Curragh on Saturday produced interesting winners with Sheza Alibi’s sire Saxon Warrior featuring when Green Empress won the Group II Debutante Stakes, while the Resolute Racing colours are carried by Frankel colt Giant Sequoia, winner of the Group II Futurity.
Sheza Alibi is the best offspring by a country mile in Australia sired by Saxon Warrior, however the Joseph O’Brien trained filly Green Empress might be capable of delivering more G1 success for her sire in the Northern Hemisphere.
Second at her first two starts to boom filly Sun Goddess, Green Empress stepped up in trip to 7f for the first time and despite being held up for a run longer than was comfortable, she accelerated hard when clear to win by a neck.
Green Empress holds entries for upcoming G1 races with the Moyglare Stud Stakes on September 13 seeming the likely first option.
She made €55,000 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale and is the 23rd stakes-winner for Saxon Warrior, who shuttled to Coolmore Australia for four seasons and remains on the roster in Ireland at a fee of €10,000.
Green Empress is a half-sister to Group III winner Amberglen and is the second foal and second SW for her dam Sea Empress, a two time winner by Sea the Stars from a full sister to Group[ II winning sprinter Buratino.
She has a 4 x 4 double cross of Danehill as does Sheza Alibi.
Frankel colt Giant Sequoia is bred to be a Derby contender next year and the Aidan O’Brien trained 2YO produced a tenacious effort to win the Futurity by half a length at his third start running quicker time than Green Empress.
Bred in Kentucky and foaled at John Stewart’s farm, Giant Sequoia has entries for upcoming G1 races and runs for Stewart’s Resolute Racing in partnership with the Coolmore partners.
He is the first winner from stakes-winning Camelot mare Pink Dogwood, who was also placed in the G1 Epsom and Irish Oaks, and is a full sister to Group I Irish Derby winner Latrobe.
Giant Sequoia is the 191st lifetime stakes-winner for Frankel, who has sired 26 stakes-winners in 2026.
