Walk In The Park colt The Mighty Celt gets stallion ambitions off to the perfect start at Auteuil

Coolmore's desire to find the successor to its reigning champion jumps sire Walk In The Park got off to a bright start with the debut victory of his son The Mighty Celt at Auteuil on Saturday. 

The three-year-old ran out a four-length winner of a hurdle contest for unraced colts and geldings, pulling clear of Almanzor's Precious Man, a half-brother to Canadian Grade 2 scorer Crystal Cliffs. 

Trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm in the familiar navy silks of Sue Magnier, the youngster is out of Cathmart Desjy, a placed Maresca Sorrento sister to Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle winner Felix Desjy. 

He was picked up by Gerry Aherne for €56,000 from Thistletown Stud at the Goffs February Sale in 2023 and hopes are high the colt can improve from his bright start.

George said: "He's shown a lot of potential and you always want things to go well. James [Reveley, jockey] said he was still a little bit babyish, and we'd only taken him for one away day at Maisons-Laffitte before today. He worked very well that day and we think he's among our most forward horses for the spring. James was very happy with him.

"He's still an entire and we'll have to take care not to rush him after his first run, but he behaved beautifully, jumping very well and keeping dead straight. He has a great mind and that's why I ran him in this race. He is tough and talented and I hope he can go up in grade." 

It was a good day at the track for Coolmore stallions as Crystal Ocean and Maxios were represented by an impressive winner each. 

Crystal Ocean's Saint Crystal was a seven-length winner of the Listed Prix General de Rougemont, adding to his victory at Pau in January. 

Maxios's Manlaga made the perfect start to her career with a three-length strike in a conditions hurdle for unraced fillies. 

A half-sister to Listed winner and Grade 1 Prix Alain du Breil second Martator, the Marcel Rolland filly looks to have inherited plenty of family talent. 

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