Battaash was a bullet - now it's his two-year-old brother's chance to shine

It might have a smaller field than normal for a maiden in Ireland but the opener at Tipperary on Thursday (3.55) contains a full-sibling to a genuine superstar.

The Antarctic is one of just six declared for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race over five furlongs and most eyes will be on him as the brother to Battaash, the sensational speedball whose 13 wins included a record four in the King George Stakes at Goodwood and at the highest level in the Nunthorpe twice, in which he eclipsed the great Dayjur’s course record in 2019, the King’s Stand Stakes and Prix de l’Abbaye.

Dam Anna Law’s second offspring to make the track, Littlelordconford, by Intikhab, failed to win in eight starts, but there will be high hopes for the Dark Angel full-sibling to Battaash, who was bred by Ballyphilip Stud and snapped up at the Tattersalls October Book 1 sale last year by MV Magnier for 750,000gns.

The two-year-old grey colt runs for a powerful partnership comprising Coolmore, Georg von Opel (through his Westerberg concern) and Peter Brant. His illustrious brother got off the mark at the first time of asking over five furlongs at Bath in 2016, though whereas he was a 14-1 shot, the Aidan O’Brien-trained The Antarctic will most definitely not be.

The opposition includes two who finished fifth on their debut, Wodao, trained by Aidan’s son Joseph, and the amusingly named Holdonfordearlife, from the Ken Condon yard.

Later on the Tipperary card, in the extended mile and a half maiden for three-year-olds (5.30), Olympic Flame makes his debut for Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore.

A homebred by Camelot out of Crazy Volume, the colt is a brother to Listed-placed winner Party House and a half-brother to five more, most notably the Grand Prix de Paris winner Gallante, who also won a Group 1 down under in the Sydney Cup, and Silence Please, winner of the Listed Salsabil Stakes.

Of his rivals, the unraced filly Zawahir is interesting, being bred by Shadwell and initially in their ownership but who will wear the colours of Gene Tsoi.

The filly, who receives 5lb from Olympic Flame, is by Lope De Vega, while dam Fawz was unraced but is a half-sister to Listed winner Aghareed, the dam of none other than Baaeed.

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