Mehmas the first to 20 as Urban War adds to his tally of winners

Tally-Ho Stud stallion Mehmas became the first of this year's group of freshman sires to field 20 winners when Urban War struck in a mile novice auction stakes at Ripon on his second start on Sunday.

The winner is trained by his owner Amy Murphy, who sourced her latest star for 15,000gns from the Tattersalls Ascot Breeze-Up Sale in June, and coasted home by over three lengths, having finished third on his only previous outing at Lingfield.

Urban War was bred by Michael Buckley and is the first foal out of the unraced Sea The Stars mare Urban Beauty, from the family of the Group-placed Sabbeeh.

Mehmas has established a clear lead in the European first-season sire table, both by number of winners and progeny earnings, with 19 of his 20 winners having scored in either Britain or Ireland. The odd one out is the Italian winner Bridge Dress Me.

So far his offspring have amassed earnings in excess of £240,000.

His representatives have shown plenty of quality as well, with 15 of his runners having achieved a minimum Racing Post Rating of 80, and three have added black type to their names.

Supremacy flew the flag for his sire at Glorious Goodwood when joining him on the Richmond Stakes roll of honour; Method powered home to win the Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury; while Muker was third in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Mehmas - whose first crop of runners were bred at a €12,500 fee - has sired his score of winners from 64 runners at an impressive 31 per cent clip.

The six-year-old son of Acclamation was available to breeders at a €7,500 fee this year.

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