Coolmore sire Holy Roman Emperor stole a march on his rivals in Europe’s freshman sire ranks by supplying the winner of the first juvenile race of the year at the Curragh on Sunday.

High Award finished strongly in the closing stages of the Tally Ho Stud EBF Maiden to deny Suntan (Bachelor Duke) by three quarters of a length, with Clondinnery (Choisir) a neck back in third.

High Award (2c Holy Roman Emperor – Tarascon by Tirol) was one of two representatives by Holy Roman Emperor in the race and are both owned by Coolmore.

High Award is trained by Tommy Stack and Emperor Hadrian, who was unplaced, is prepared at Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien.  The winner was sold as a foal to Demi O’Byrne for 425,000gns at the 2008 Tattersalls November sale.

His dam Tarascon was also trained by Stack to win the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and Irish 1000 Guineas.  Her other foals include Mayano Sophia who was runner-up in the Listed Prix Coronation.

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.

The traditional English juvenile opener is the Brocklesby Stakes.  It will be run at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting this Saturday.