A RESURGENT Gordon Lord Byron showed that the class that has carried him to a succession of memorable wins throughout his career still burns brightly as he captured an intriguing edition of the Group 2 Friarstown Stud Minstrel Stakes.
In its first running as a Group 2 contest, the Minstrel attracted a decent field, but nothing in the line up could boast quite the calibre of form of Gordon Lord Byron. After struggling to find his form earlier in the season, Tom Hogan’s charge enjoyed a victory in a conditions event at Tipperary last month.
The 16/1 chance was well placed in second for Billy Lee and from some way out he looked the only one who was likely to reel in the front-running Toscanini. The last-named drifted left when challenged and this, in turn, forced Gordon Lord Byron into the path of Flight Risk. However, when the eight-year-old was able to straighten up, he saw off the front-runner before battling on well to contain the English challenger Sovereign Debt by half a length.
In recent years European racing has been enlivened by the presence of some geldings of the highest quality, such as Cirrus Des Aigles and Sole Power, and Gordon Lord Byron is another who belongs in this exalted group.
“In his work he has shown that he was back to his best. He’s had lifelong problems with allergies and it looked like we were losing the battle in the spring, but we are winning it again,” said Tom Hogan, who trains the winner for Dr Cyrus Poonawalla and Morgan Cahalan. “The plan would be to come back here for a Group 3 next month and he’ll definitely go back to Haydock for the Sprint Cup.”
“It’s great for everybody involved in him at home as they put so much work into him. He probably takes the same attention as about 10 horses, but he’s worth it,” added the trainer.
Fresh from a cracking second to Minding here last month, Bocca Baciata (4/1) claimed a well-deserved first Group 2 success in the Kilboy Estate Stakes. Grade 1 events in Canada and America and the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera are among the possible targets for this quality filly, who has looked better than ever lately.
Clearly Jessica Harrington’s charge came out of her brave front-running effort in the Pretty Polly in good shape as she was going conspicuously well throughout this nine furlongs contest. In a race where very few of the runners got involved, the Flaxman Stables-owned Bocca Baciata was well placed as the German 1000 Guineas heroine Hawksmoor and Earring did battle from the turn in.
Colm O’Donoghue’s mount had to bide her time to get a run and then took a few moments to pick up when she did get into the clear. However, she did get on top late on to defeat Earring by half a length with Hawksmoor just a short-head back.
“She was only getting going there, a mile and a quarter would suit her better,” stated the trainer whose charge could now head to Chicago for next month’s Beverley D Stakes. “She’s gone on improving and she’s now won a Group 2 so it would be great for her if we could win a Group 1 now. We’ll just try and find the right one.”
MOYGLARE’S ROSE
Rose De Pierre (5/4) produced a display befitting one who belongs at an appreciably higher level of competition as she made short work of her opponents in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap for the Defence Forces Trophy.
On her first outing since making a winning debut here in early May, the Moyglare Stud-owned filly looked most assured at all stages under Pat Smullen. Over the last furlong and a half she only needed to be nudged along to assert her superiority and she ran out a comfortable two-length winner.
“She’s an immature filly and her maiden win took a bit out of her so we gave her time. She’s progressive and we’ll look for a listed race next,” stated Weld. “We won’t really see the best of her until next year.”
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Istan shrugged off the burden of top weight to justify 15/8 favouritism in the six-furlong Gabriel Curran Memorial Nursery. After showing promise in several useful maidens, the Excelebration colt was handed a mark of 82 in the first nursery of the season in Ireland. Ryan Moore had to come over to the far side of the field to get into the clear but once Istan got room he finished well to cross the line a length ahead of Rock In Peace.
“We always liked him at home but he was a bit disappointing. Maybe he’s just starting to come and looking at that you’d say he’ll stay another furlong. He could go for another of these or else a stakes race,” reported Aidan O’Brien.
After showing plenty of promise on her debut at Naas in April Velveteen (6/1-9/2) had to wait until the QIPCO EBF Fillies Maiden to have her second start of the season, but it was a worthwhile wait for all concerned. The Qatar Racing-owned daughter of Exceed And Excel was burdened with a low draw but broke alertly to show in front. She then showed a fine attitude for Colin Keane over the last furlong and a half to hit the line half a length in front of Hunaina.
“She’s a nice filly and we’ve been waiting on the ground with her,” declared Ger Lyons. “Every time she was ready to run the ground went on her. That was a brave performance and we’ll look to follow a route similar to the one we took with Ainippe when she was a two-year-old and try to get stakes form with her. There’s very little of her and I don’t imagine we’d be looking at her as a three-year-old.”
Patrick Prendergast could have a nice prospect on his hands in Lina De Vega (16/1) who made a successful debut in the Chapman’s Mitsubishi Kildare Fillies Maiden. This daughter of Lope De Vega and the Group 1-winning Caerlina, who is owned by Ballylinch Stud, quickened up smartly for Ronan Whelan inside the last furlong to pull almost three lengths clear of fellow newcomer Pocket Of Stars.
“She’s been going well and working well at home and I think she is a stakes class filly. We were just waiting for the boss (John Malone) to be here to see her,” remarked Prendergast. “She’s a lightly framed filly and we’ll keep her off extremes of ground and I think we’ll keep her at a mile too.”
The amateur riders’ handicap at Galway on Monday could be next for Asbury Boss (4/1) following his all the way triumph in the Download The Ladbrokes App Handicap. This thorough stayer relished every yard of this two-mile trip and he responded well to Shane Foley’s urgings to deal with the threat posed by Kalann in the straight. The latter was the only one who looked dangerous in the closing stages but he still went down by a length and a quarter.
“He loved the good ground and went a nice, even gallop which suited. He stays well and if he comes out of this okay he could go to Galway,” report Halford, who trains the gelding for Nicky Hartery.
Corinthian winner
THE second leg of the Corinthian Challenge went to Alice Kavanagh and Vivat Rex, who pounced late to deny the Tracy Piggott-ridden Rock The World. It appeared as though Rock The World was keeping his rivals at bay for most of the straight but he was unable to withstand the winner’s late charge.
Ms Kavanagh, whose parents Peter and Antoinette own Kildaragh Stud, was improving on her fifth in the opening leg of this series at Naas a couple of months ago.
The Sally Ann Grassick-ridden Jack Blue came through to secure third while Sheikh Fahad Al Thani finished fifth on Beau Et Sublime.
Acting Stewards
T. Hunt, P. McLernon, M.C. Hickey, N. McCaffrey, P.D. Matthews
Horse To Follow
LIGHT LAUGHTER (D.K. Weld): This filly shaped up nicely in taking fourth in the maiden won by Velveteen. She was beaten less than two lengths and will be all the better for this run while another furlong should her well.