Impressive Actress puts Declaration's name back in lights

Declaration Of War's transfer to Ashford Stud in Kentucky, after just one breeding season at Coolmore Stud in County Tipperary, will surely be a hot topic of conversation among Irish breeders after the son of War Front supplied his first stakes winner on Saturday.

From his sole Irish-bred crop of 131 foals, Actress became the first to score in Group company after the filly defeated four opponents - including the smart Kodiac colt Brother Bear - in the 6½f Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh.

Declaration Of War, who was trained for most of his career by O'Brien, won the Queen Anne Stakes and Juddmonte International at four, having appeared late on in his two- and three-year-old campaigns.

The eight-year-old stood the past season in Kentucky at a fee of $35,000.

Among his Irish-bred two-year-olds are Shakour, an unraced half-brother to Order Of St George; Orange Suit, an unraced half-brother to Simple Verse called Even Song with trainer Richard Hannon; and the Jeremy Noseda-trained Blazing Away and William Haggas-trained Avior, unraced half-brothers to Dick Whittington and Rivet respectively.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Actress finished second twice in Listed company earlier this year after winning her Curragh maiden in May.

Bred by Lynch Bages, Actress is the eighth foal out of dual Grade 2 winner Nasty Storm, their page replete with US black-type performers.

Actress was a $250,000 yearling purchase by Cromwell Bloodstock from Eaton Sales at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, while Nasty Storm was picked up as a broodmare by BBA Ireland for $375,000 from the 2009 Keeneland November Sale.

Nasty Storm has also produced a Mastercraftsman yearling colt, while Actress holds early entries to the Debutante and Lowther Stakes in August, both Group 2s, and the Moyglare Stud Stakes in September.