Making his first start of the season and only his third lifetime, GUERRE defeated older horses to win Naas’ five-furlong Woodlands S. by a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths. The 3-year-old colt by WAR FRONT took the lead at the quarter pole and finished with run to the wire defeating 2013 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Maarek. Runner-up in The Curragh’s Blenheim S. in his second start and last of 2013, GUERRE won his six-furlong debut at The Curragh last September. Bred in Kentucky by Ponder Hill, Inc. out of the Hennessy mare, Golden Toast,GUERRE races for Derrick Smith, Mrs. Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor and is trained by Aidan O’Brien.
Earlier in the card, the 2-year-old colt, WAR ENVOY, made a successful debut taking a six-furlong test by a confident length. Racing behind the leaders for the first three furlongs, the also Aidan O’Brien trainee swung out to get a clear run, secured the lead with a furlong to go and won in a snug hand ride. Bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen out of the French stakes-winning mare, La Conseillante, by Elusive Quality, the promising WAR ENVOY races for the partnership of Mrs. Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Joseph Allen.
And on April 24th at Tipperary, the 2-year-old colt, THE GREAT WAR, easily won his debut taking a five-furlong test by 2 1/2 lengths. Stalking the leaders for the first half of the race,THE GREAT WAR then cruised to the lead and was unchallenged to the wire. A $1 Million 2013 Keeneland September Yearling sales grad bred and sold by Claiborne Farm, this colt out of the PULPIT mare, Guide, races for the partnership of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. Susan Magnier & Joseph Allen. He is trained by Aidan O’Brien.