Michael Dods : Racehorse Trainer

Denton Hall News

  • 22-Jan-2025: Latest News from Denton Hall Stables the home of Michael Dods Racing
  • 21-Jan-2025: Glenfinnan and Hale End early entries for the William Hill Lincoln

First foal of Mecca's Angel impresses on debut at The Curragh

AIDAN O'Brien has described Hudson River - the first foal of Mecca's Angel - as "a lovely colt" after the two-year-old impressed on his debut at The Curragh today.

The O'Brien-trained Hudson River made a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden despite drifting out to 3-1.

Top class sprinter, Mecca's Angel, pictured, was trained at Denton by Michael Dods and she made history by becoming the first horse in more than 30 years to win back-to-back runnings of the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

She was bought privately as a brood mare by Coolmore who sent her to their champion sire Galileo. The combination of stamina and speed led to Hudson River starting his career over seven furlongs and showing a great attitude to fight off the opposition.

Having broken smartly for Seamie Heffernan, he never saw another rival, beating Ace Aussie by a length and a half with Wembley, also trained by Aidan O'Brien, third.

O'Brien said: "He's a lovely colt and was just ready to start. He could go to the (Newmarket) July meeting. He'll probably end up a miler and it was a nice race to start him in."