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Catena Zapata breaks maiden at Dundalk

The Henry De Bromhead-trained Catena Zapata (2 c ex Pretty Priceless by Pearl Of Love) got off the mark at the second attempt as he landed a maiden over a mile at Dundalk on Wednesday and in the process handed Rich Hill Stud shuttler Vadamos (Monsun) with his 14th winner. 

The two-year-old colt kept on strongly to beat Dha Leath (Mehmas) by a neck, while Irwin (Australia) was another half a length away in third. 

The colt was purchased by Emerald Bloodstock for €7,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale in 2018, before being bought by Kevin Ross Bloodstock for €27,000 the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale the following year. 

Catena Zapata himself is out of unraced Pearl Of Love (Peintre Celebre) mare Pretty Priceless, who is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Drawnfromthepast (Tagula), while further afield this is the same family as fellow stakes scorer Bazelle (Fabulous Dancer) and Group 3 scorer Leading Time (Lead On Time). 

Pretty Priceless’ filly by Mehmas (Acclamation) was purchased by the 5K Club for £22,000 at this year’s Goffs Sportsman's Yearling Sale from the Woodtown House Stud draft. 

Vadamos’ first-crop includes Group 3-placed Spycatcher and he has 21 lots catalogued at next year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, which gets underway January 24.