A review of the action and free video replays from Saturday's meeting at the Curragh.
O'Brien filly bounces back
Truly Enchanting put a lacklustre Royal Ascot run behind her with victory in the Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly was returning 10 days after coming home 13th in the Queen Mary Stakes in Berkshire, but punters’ enthusiasm was undimmed as she was sent off the 2/1 market leader.
Winner of a Tipperary maiden on her first start, Truly Enchanting had to work hard for a second career success as California Dreamer, who finished fifth in the Albany at Ascot eight days ago, went toe to toe from the early stages.
A furlong out it was clear the leading duo had the measure of the field and after racing neck and neck through the closing strides, it was Truly Enchanting and Ryan Moore who edged it by half a length, with January a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
The race was run in wet conditions, with the ground officially changed to yielding to soft from good, good to yielding in places after the Group Two contest.
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“We thought she was a five/six furlong filly who would handle any ease in the ground,” said O’Brien. “Ryan gave her a great ride, she was very green. Conditions suited her. She took the race in Ascot very well. She was just a bit green and babyish in the Queen Mary. It was kind of a last-minute decision to go five with her.
“Because she had won at Tipperary, we said we’d chance it, but when she ran at Tipperary it was soft ground, so she found it a big change on the fast ground. Ryan gave her a great ride, she’s tough and hardy and we’re delighted with her. He didn’t go until he really had to and he kept cajoling her, he didn’t want to get into a bumping match with her.
“He said to change the bit. She’s very straightforward at home but I suppose she was coming up there on the stand’s rail by herself. She runs in a happy bit, a very soft bit, and it’s as soft as you can put on them. He said to put a ring bit in her, it’ll help to keep her straight as it keeps the bit very balanced in their mouth. She’s not really able to catch hold of it when there is a ring on it.”
O’Brien suffered disappointment in the opening maiden when favourite Rock Of Cashel was well beaten, but he felt the ground had perhaps gone against those runners.
He added: “Some of them are running well but the horses in the first were a bit disappointing. They found the soft ground a big change and we probably didn’t have them prepared for soft ground.
“We were hoping to come here for fast ground and the preparation is usually a bit different when it’s soft and we were probably a bit gentle on them. They’ll probably improve a lot. This filly had the two runs and obviously won on soft ground first time and then went to Ascot so was probably fitter.”
Of the third-placed January, O’Brien said: “Wayne’s (Lordan) filly ran a stormer and when she steps up to seven, she’ll be lovely.”
Hazdann (right) wins at the Curragh
Weld strikes in opener
Hazdann put his previous experience to good use as he ran out a game winner of the Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden at the Curragh.
Derby hero City Of Troy made a winning racecourse bow in the seven-furlong heat last year and much of the attention was centred on his fellow Aidan O’Brien-trained runner Rock Of Cashel on his first trip to the track.
A Wootton Bassett half-brother to Snowfall, Rock Of Cashel was sent off the 7/4 favourite under Ryan Moore but never really looked like taking a hand in the finish, coming home eighth behind 10/1 Hazdann.
The Dermot Weld-trained victor had to work hard though, with Chris Hayes’ mount showing the benefit of a previous ninth at Gowran when fending off newcomer Green Impact by a neck in the colours of the Aga Khan.
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“He did it nicely. He just got no run in Gowran but he came home very well that day,” said Weld. “He’s progressed well for the race, worked very well the other morning and I thought he’d represent us very well. That’s what he did. I said to Chris that he would have learned a lot from Gowran, that he had a good draw and to use his experience.
“He’s a lovely colt, a very genuine colt. Obviously we’ll look at a stakes race with him next. We’ll hasten slowly with him. You’ll find he continues to progress as the year goes on. He’s from the Harzand family so there is a nice bit of toughness there as well. It’s a very important winner with the Princess (Zahra Aga Khan) here to see it.”
Ice too hot for rivals
Apricot Ice (100/30 favourite) added to her maiden win at the track last month with a one-length verdict for trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane in the Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Handicap.
“You can see by the size of her, she’s still on the leg. We ran her in a Listed race at Leopardstown last year, that’s what we thought of her,” said Lyons. “She’s only going to get better with age. She’s turned a wee corner there, she won her maiden and she’s backed it up today. I’d say we only got away with it on the ground. She’s all about top of the ground and if the race was in two races time, I’d say we would have been in trouble.
“Obviously, the aim is that they grow into black-type fillies – and I’d say that will happen at four.”
Elliott makes his Point
The Gordon Elliott-trained Set Point (14-1) gave Sophie Carter a memorable first winner on the racecourse in the Kildare Village Ladies Derby Handicap.
She said: “That was my first winner on the track as well. Most of my rides are pointing and I had a good season this year. I didn’t expect to be riding on the track this summer, especially Flat racing. I never expected to even get the ride. I’m delighted now after sitting in the bath this morning that it worked out. I’ll look forward to the dinner on the way home!”
Galen (4-7 favourite) was an easy victor in the Molton Brown Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden for Joseph O’Brien, while Arnaman (11-10 favourite) made a winning start for new trainer Ken Condon in the closing La Celia Wines Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden.
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