PADDY Twomey looks to have another classic filly on his hands in A Lilac Rolla (9/2) who battled hard to stay unbeaten in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud Priory Belle Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The daughter of Harry Angel sat in fifth for Billy Lee for much of the seven-furlong contest. The pair looked to be travelling best after the two-furlong stage, but once moved up to challenge long-time leader Kitty Rose, a battle ensued with Natalia Lupini’s game runner, and there was only a head separating the pair at the line, with two and three quarter lengths back to the running on Buttons.
The Mutual Admiration Society Partnership-owned filly was two from two last season, taking the notable scalp of Opera Singer at the Curragh. Given time to develop after that contest, she added another string to her bow by handling the heavy ground conditions here, and should improve. The same applies to the runner-up, who showed fine battling qualities once headed. A Lilac Rolla is in the Irish Guineas while Kitty Rose has entries for the 1000 Guineas and at the Curragh as well.
“I think she’s a good filly and I’d hoped she would do something like that,” Twomey said. “I haven’t run her since she won the second time last year as she just grew and I wanted to give her the time. I’m glad I did and she’s trained well all winter.
“I was looking forward to coming here today although the heavy ground was a concern as her form was on good ground. She’s uncomplicated and she’s tough. She had every chance to curl up if she wanted to but she didn’t.
Red Rocks
The colts version, the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” Stakes, featured a one-two for Aidan O’Brien with the Ryan Moore-ridden Battle Cry (10/1) seeing off his much lesser experienced but better fancied stablemate Samuel Colt.
This turned into a bit of a pace collapse with the patiently ridden winner probably in the right place when still last heading into the straight. He came down the outside to challenge, and just about held off the runner-up who is probably the one to take out of the race going forward.
“Ryan gave him a very good ride,” said O’Brien. “He’d prefer better ground and looks like he’ll get a mile. It’s tough out there and you have to get home there today.
“He could be a horse for the French or the Irish Guineas.”
to continue fine Amo run
IT was a statistical quirk that in nearly three decades riding for Aidan O’Brien, Seamie Heffernan never won the Group 3 P.W. McGrath Ballysax Stakes, but he corrected that in ironic fashion when partnering 50/1 shot Dallas Star to win the Group 3 contest for Adrian Murray and Amo Racing.
Rated just 89 after one win in five starts for Dominic Ffrench Davis, the son of Cloth Of Stars stripped a different proprosition on his first start in Ireland. Heffernan had him front from the early stages, didn’t panic when taken on by Deepone before the straight and once he got back to the lead, the writing was on the wall for the likes of Illinois and The Euphrates in behind.
The winner has no entry in the Derby but will likely come back here for the Derby Trial Stakes next month to further advertise his potential.
“We were on a mission today to see how we were going or where we were going to go next,” said Murray. “He kept finding for him. Twice during the race I thought he was done for and he kept coming back.
“I never thought I’d see the day where we would be competing in the same race as Aidan O’Brien. I was so near to packing it in a few years ago and It’s amazing the way things can turn around.
“He’ll be entered in all the big races now I suppose and we’ll see where we go. I’ll have to chat to Kia and Robson and see where they want to go.”
Heffernan took the first on the Edward O’Grady-trained debutant Ecuriel Secret (15/2) who got the better of another debutant in Thequietman in the opening one-mile maiden for three-year-olds.
Stayed on strongly
The son of Wootton Bassett, owned by Aidan J Ryan, raced prominently and stayed on strongly to hold off the late challenge of the runner-up, with odds-on favourite Autumn Winter back in third.
“He’d been working nicely and very kindly Joseph (O’Brien) allowed me do a bit of work with him after racing at Naas recently. The funny thing is himself and the second (Thequietman) worked together and they finished about the same way.
“This fellow was in a sale at Deauville in July,” said O’Grady. “He was only five miles up the road from me and I went to see him and loved him. The stallion is on fire and it’s brilliant to have him.
“It’s very exciting to buy something like that and I’d say that was a fair maiden. He has a great attitude, and the dream is still alive.”
UNIQUELY, there was back-to-back first ever winners for trainers in the concluding two races, with Charles Weld and Don Browne getting off the mark.
The former took the one-mile Lecagy Wine Bar Handicap with Morse (10/1) who overcame a slow start and significant traffic problems to get up the inside of Perfect Poise and win snugly for Niall McCullagh.
“That’s my first winner and I took out the licence about two years ago,” said Kildare-based Weld. “I have about 10 in at the moment, mostly our own. I set up at the parents farm.
“He’s the third generation of a family we’ve had at home. He got injured and missed all of last year. He’d a couple of good runs on the all-weather this year. He probably didn’t let himself down the last day and was well-handicapped as a result.”
Speckled Meadow (11/2 joint-favourite) took the concluding one-mile handicap for Cork-based Browne. The daughter of Footstepsinthesand, owned by the trainer also, was in a good position for Adam Caffrey heading into the straight and despite running a little wayward inside the final furlong, was a comfortable winner over Starting Monday.
“I owned this horse when he won before for Terence O’Brien,” Browne said. “I have four horses in training in Carrigtwohill. I had a licence years ago and then renewed it again last year. She handles that ground and did it well. It’s a dream come true!”
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combined to land a treble on the day and perhaps the most notable winner among the trio was Wingspan, who made a winning debut in the Ballylinch Stud “Bayside Boy” Fillies Maiden over a mile.
The daughter of Dubawi and dual Group 1 winner Hydrangea raced prominently and won in spite of clear signs of greenness in the straight, leading to her left when coming under pressure to take the measure of Nativity Square.
“She’ll have no problem going up into an Oaks Trial,” said O’Brien. She’s a baby and should improve plenty. “She was first off the bridle and you would have to be happy with her.”
O’Brien and Moore completed their treble with Chantilly (7/4 favourite) in the 10-furlong handicap.
The son of Galileo raced prominently, took it up at the two-furlong pole and went right away from Slaney Swagger to run out the easiest winner of the day by four and a quarter lengths. He could be in line for a Royal Ascot handicap now.