Muscogee Nation rises to the occasion Trainer Michael O’Callaghan’s Muscogee Nation (16s — 12/1) was a second expensive breeze-up purchase to score at Dundalk today, as the Canadian-bred colt landed Dundalk’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden to give jockey Seamie Heffernan a double. Bred in the same country as Nijinsky and named after a native American tribe, sizeable Muscogee Nation today faced stiff opposition, including Royal Ascot’s Chesham Stakes runner-up On Just Terms (5/4f) and well-touted Drive On There (6/4). Racing behind the leaders, the son of Golden Pal was produced by Heffernan to lead inside the final furlong, eventually scoring by a half-length from Naval Gazer. On Just Terms met trouble in-running to finish fourth, while Drive On There faded in fifth. Today’s second race had been won by €170,000-breeze-up purchase Ladies Gossip, and following Muscogee Nations’ success, trainer O’Callaghan commented “we always thought plenty of him but it took time for the penny to drop with him. “We started him over six (furlongs) as we thought he was a fast horse but it just looked like it all happened a bit soon for him. Mentally he is probably a little bit immature all the way though. Seamie came back in after the Curragh and said to use his stride the next day, stepping him up to a mile on a better surface. "That was a good maiden and he won well. It is not a surprise and we were always hopeful that he could do something like that. He always showed plenty and is a strong-travelling horse who always impresses in the morning. "Both physically and mentally, he is immature, so for him to go and do that on his third start, I imagine next year he will only be better." Quotes from Michael Graham
