LORD Massusus timed things to perfection to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown on Wednesday. The Joe Murphy-trained gelding went to post a 4/1 shot as he aimed to improve on a ‘disappointing’ return at the Curragh.

Gary Carroll was rowing along turning for home on the Markaz gelding but he picked up well in the closing stages to nab 5/6 favourite Mutasarref late on for a neck victory.

“He was good today. He got a little bogged down in the ground at the Curragh the first day.

“We expected a better run that day and were very disappointed coming home,” said Joe Murphy junior.

“When he looks like he’s not going to win two out is probably when he’s at his best. He sees out the mile well and we’ll probably try 10 furlongs again somewhere during the year.

“We’ll keep him to listed and Group 3s here and maybe come back on Champions Weekend for the Boomerang Stakes.”

Impressive debut

Catalina Delcarpio looks set for a classic trial after making an impressive winning debut in the opening 10-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Maiden. Paddy Twomey’s charge went to post an 11/4 shot and quickened up smartly to lead over a furlong from home.

Billy Lee’s mount soon asserted and had four and a half lengths to spare at the line over Tswalu.

“She’s a nice filly. She’s always trained well and I was looking forward to coming racing today,” said Twomey of Robert Moran’s Lope De Vega filly.

“I told the owner last week I was putting her in the Epsom Oaks, but then I decided not to, I don’t know whether that was a good or bad idea. I just thought Epsom might come a bit soon with her development starting today. I haven’t thought about plans. I wanted to come here and start and see what happened.”

ANOTHER horse who entered the classic picture after a winning debut was Ballydoyle colt Stay True. The colt is from the last crop of the great Galileo and went to post a 3/1 shot on debut in the Student Style Awards Maiden.

Ryan Moore was pushing along from halfway on his mount, but the penny dropped in the straight as he swooped inside the final furlong to post a two-and-a-quarter-length win over Game Point.

“Ryan said he’s a lovely horse. He was very babyish but he liked him,” said O’Brien. “We’ll see how he comes out of it and then see if we go to a trial with him.”

Stakes bound

The Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden may also have thrown up a future stakes performer in the shape of the Johnny Murtagh-trained Alakazi.

Ben Coen produced the 9/4 shot to lead over a furlong from home and the Footstepsinthesand colt showed an impressive turn of foot to post a seven-and-a-half-length win in the colours of the late Aga Khan.

“I ran him here last year just to get a bit of experience into him. I was a bit disappointed leaving, because I thought he was nice but maybe it was a bit much for him first time out on heavy ground,” said Murtagh. “We’ll stick him up into a stakes race the next time and see what he’s made of.”

Poignant win

Michael O’Sullivan was in everyone’s thoughts after the victory of Harbanaker in the concluding O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Handicap.

The 15/2 shot was a first winner for trainer Willie Harvey and ran in the colours of Niamh Harvey, but a big team were involved in the Camacho gelding, who ran out a length and a half victor under Joey Sheridan.

Jump jockey Ben Harvey, son of the handler, said afterwards: “It’s huge, it’s Dad’s first winner. We put this syndicate of lads together after Michael O’Sullivan died. He was our best friend and everyone was in my house one evening and this horse came up for sale.

“It’s a little bit emotional because you’d love if Mick was here with us. It’s all kind of in memory of Mick. It’s great that he’s won and he did it well. He’s definitely looking down on us.

“Dad took over the licence when my grandad (David) passed away. He stepped into the role very well and, hopefully, this is the first of many.”

IT was a double on the card for Sheridan, who had also scored on the Tony Mullins-trained Enchanted Garden in the FM104 ‘Giddy Up’ Handicap. The 7/2 favourite ran out a cosy winner, leading over a furlong out and holding Desert Haven by half a length.

“I didn’t handle her the best last year. She won here unexpectedly first time out and I got excited and I rushed her,” said Mullins.

“I rang the owners and I said ‘I’m after ruining this’ and they said to me to throw her out and try and get it right next year! We all laughed and here we are.

“I don’t know whether we can go the whole way, but she’s way better than 72 anyway. There is a premier handicap at the Guineas meeting and I’d imagine that’s next.”

Great Heights

Ger Lyons is also hoping there is a nice prize in Himalayan Heights after he made a winning return to action in the ‘Domin OH HOO HOO’ Handicap.

The Camelot gelding kicked on over a furlong out in the mile and a quarter contest to post a two-and-three-quarter-length win under Colin Keane.

“Last year, he was doing everything wrong, he was pulling and dragging out of Colin, and then we gelded him,” said Lyons, who trains the winner for Abdulla Alkhalifa. He’s after maturing. Fingers crossed over 10 or 12 there is a good pot in him.”

In the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap Are You In Or Out made a breakthrough success, giving trainer Paul Stafford a welcome winner. Chris Hayes drove his mount into a narrow lead inside the final furlong, as the Inns Of Court filly got the better of Browned Off by half a length.

Hayes said of the 5/1 winner: “I got a lovely run, they didn’t go much of a gallop and the split came. She was threatening to do that, she had two nice seconds last year, but didn’t handle the polytrack.”