High Award became the first stakes winner for young Coolmore sire Holy Roman Emperor when scoring a professional win in the Listed Woodcote Stakes (1200m) on the English Derby undercard on Saturday.  Showing fine early speed and prominent throughout, the handsome bay colt was always travelling strongly for jockey Johnny Murtagh before striding clear for a comfortable 1.5 length victory.

High Award (2c Holy Roman Emperor – Tarascon by Tirol) was sold as a foal to Demi O’Byrne for 425,000gns at the 2008 Tattersalls November sale.  He is trained by Tommy Stack who also prepared his dam to win the 1998 Irish 1000 Guineas.

He was bred by Stack’s wife Liz and Jane Rowli, he will now be set for the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.  “He’s a very laid-back horse,” Stack’s son Fozzy said.  “Since he arrived at Epsom he has done nothing but sleep, eat and drink.  He was asleep an hour before the race.”

Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill) was a G1 winner of the Phoenix Stakes and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere but was drafted into stud duties at Coolmore at short notice in 2007.  He replaced ill-fated colt George Washington who had fertility issues.

He covered 150 mares in his first season at stud in Ireland and later that year shuttled to Australia to serve another 131 mares.

High Award was Holy Roman Emperor’s first ever winner when he saluted on debut at the Curragh on March 21.  His tally has grown to six individual winners to date making him the leading European first season sire.  His recent maiden winner Crying Lightening is also on target for Royal Ascot in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes.

Holy Roman Emperor’s eldest Australasian progeny will be 2YOs in 2010-11.  They were well received at recent Australasian majors and have been placed with trainers like Gai Waterhouse, Chris Waller, Peter Moody, Gerald Ryan, Mark Wallace and Roger James.

Holy Roman Emperor will stand the 2010 season at Coolmore Australia at a fee of $27,500 (inc gst).