Golden Horn’s growing reputation as a young National Hunt sire of note continued at Kempton on Saturday when the Jospeh O’Brien-trained Nusret landed the Grade 2 Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle in the hands of Daryl Jacob. He was not the only winner by Golden Horn on the Saturday card and Mark Of Gold later claimed his eighth career victory in the Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle.
Nusret, who was bred by Nurlan Bizakov’s Hesmonds Stud, was a €62,000 purchase as a yearling at the Arqana Select Sale, and was bought by Anthony Bromley for the successful partnership of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. Starting his career at the Curragh, he was fourth on debut in a mile maiden in his sole juvenile run, before notching four placed finishes, leading to his impressive Flat win over a mile and a half at the Curragh last July.
Switched to hurdling in November, Nusret won at the first attempt at Punchestown and was then third in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown’s competitive Christmas meeting.
“He’s a lovely horse,” said Jacob after Nusret’s latest victory. “I thought his Punchestown win in November was very good. He did a few things wrong that day but still came out on top in a tidy race. The ground was a little bit soft for him on his last two starts and coming back to a sounder surface has definitely helped him. I think right-handed is his preferred angle.”
Mark Of Gold, bred by Fergus Anstock, is another son of Golden Horn to have proved himself to be a useful dual-purpose campaigner. The six-year-old won twice on the Flat over ten furlongs for Richard Hannon before moving to the stable of Gary Moore, for whom he was won six times over hurdles from 12 starts, including three wins this season.
Like Nusret, Mark Of Gold could be seen next at the Cheltenham Festival, where he may contest the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle. Their sire has enjoyed notable success with his young runners over jumps, which include the Grade 2 Leamington Novices’ Hurdle winner Stag Horn and Grade 3 Gerry Feilden Hurdle winner First Street.
Golden Horn has a 59% winning strike-rate over jumps, with 20 winners from 34 starters.