Coolmore stallion Holy Roman Emperor has taken an early lead in the UK-Ireland first-season winners’ premiership.  The Danehill freshman sired his fourth individual winner when Irish bred filly Jollywood scored on debut at Bath on Monday.

Jollywood (2f  Holy Roman Emperor –  Save The Table by Tale Of The Cat) continued the great run being enjoyed by trainer Richard Hannon when she won the High Five Racing Maiden Stakes.  The filly had been passed-in for 24,000 euros at the 2008 Goffs Foal Sale but was subsequently purchased by Julie Wood.

“We wanted one of Holy Roman Emperor’s first crop,” Wood said.  “This was a fact-finding mission and hopefully there is more to come.”

The Bath winner is from a half-sister to old warhorse Royal Dignitary who has won 18 races.  The first was on debut at Sandown in July 2002 and the latest at Southwell on May 11.  Along the way, he added the LR Classic Trial at Thirsk and a placing in the G2 Italian 2000 Guineas.  Jollywood’s second dam is a half-sister to Aqueduct G1 winner Dreamy Mimi.

Hannon will still on a high after cheering home Paco Boy in the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last Saturday and he will be counting on another G1 with Canford Cliffs in the Irish 2000 Guineas this Saturday.

Holy Roman Emperor stole a march on his first-season rivals when Coolmore colt High Award won at the Curragh on March 21.  He sired a daily double when his fillies Hortensia (Newmarket) and Catherineofaragon (Dundalk) won last Friday, May 14.

Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill) was a G1 winner of the Phoenix Stakes and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere but was drafted into service 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.

Coolmore will stand Holy Roman Emperor for a $27,500 (inc gst) fee in the Hunter Valley this year.