19 Aug Alther Walden becomes rare Hungarian-bred winner with first strike at Catterick

A bit of history was made at Catterick on Monday when Alther Walden became the first Hungarian-bred winner on the Flat in Britain since the Racing Post’s comprehensive records begin.

George Scott’s gelding was second favourite among the four runners for the 1m4f novice but could not have been a more effortless winner as he coasted 14 lengths clear under Liam Wright.

Only three imports from the country have even competed on the Flat since 1988. Charlie’s Destiny beat only one rival in two starts for Gerry Enright in 1999, while Gringo had won twice over fences ten years earlier.

Alther Walden, a son of Study Of Man, was bred by Hungary’s Babolna National Stud and has a poignant story. He was part of a project driven by stud manager Zsolt Hegedus, who had planned to offer four Hungarian-bred yearlings at Baden-Baden in a bid to promote his country’s bloodstock industry but died before it came to fruition.

He had been bought in utero through Oliver St Lawrence for 18,000gns at Tattersalls as his dam Alternanthera is from Lanwades Stud’s famous family of Alpinista.

Billy Jackson-Stops secured Alther Walden for €34,000 in Germany, when offered through Gestut Luenzen and he was scoring on his third start in the colours of Blue Starr Racing.

The other registered Hungarian runner, Andersen, was from that same draft and is with David Simcock for Jim and Fitri Hay. The Kameko gelding is getting close to a victory himself, having stayed on for second at Kempton last week.