Everlasting made the most of a drop to listed company in the Darley Irish EBF Kooyonga Stakes at Navan on Saturday.
Back to form ????
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 8, 2024
Everlasting bounces back from her below-par Irish 1,000 Guineas run by landing the Listed Kooyonga Stakes @NavanRacecourse.@DarleyStallions | @IrishEBF_ | @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/mJ1BirmK5A
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the Kingman filly has been highly tried this term, finishing fourth in the Park Express Stakes on her seasonal bow before being just a length in third by subsequent Oaks victor Ezeliya in the Salsabil Stakes.
Sent off a 25/1 outsider in the Irish 1000 Guineas last month, Everlasting was a well-beaten 11th, with O’Brien moving back in class in search of a second win in six career starts.
There was plenty of confidence in Ryan Moore’s mount as she was sent off the 10/11 favourite and she looked the winner when assuming control a furlong from home.
Asian Daze made a late dash for glory, but Moore had a bit up his sleeve and Everlasting asserted again to win by half a length.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “Ryan gave her a lovely ride. Obviously she had a good run here in the Oaks trial over 10 furlongs (the Salsabil).
“Dylan (Browne McMonagle) rode her in the Irish Guineas and in fairness he realised from a long way out that it wasn’t happening for him, so he looked after her. That gave us the option of coming here to get the black type.”
Everlasting is entered in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot but a trip to Berkshire is far from certain.
Armstrong added: “She’s had two runs in quite quick succession. She’s in a few races at Ascot, but we’ll see whether we give her a bit of time and look towards the summer, let her go up the grades and look to a Group 3.
“She’s a filly with an awful lot of talent and she’s still putting everything together. Once she puts it together there is a real good race in her down the line.”
Celtic Chieftain could enter Aidan O’Brien’s Royal Ascot calculations after a debut victory in the Lynn Lodge Stud Irish EBF Maiden.
Once-raced stablemate Alfred Tennyson was the pick for Ryan Moore and he was sent off at 7/4, with Wayne Lordan taking the reins aboard newcomer Celtic Chieftain at odds of 8/1.
The No Nay Never colt travelled well, making smooth progress before grabbing the lead and fending off 11/8 favourite Red Evolution by a neck.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He’s a smart colt, he’s a typical No Nay Never with loads of natural speed.
“Wayne was very happy with him. He had been coming along nicely in the last few weeks at home, at this time of year you just have to get them out and see exactly where they fit in.
“Wayne thought he was still very green but once he grabbed a hold of him, he really stretched to the line and there is plenty of improvement in him. He has a good change of gear.
“We’ll see over the next week how he pulls up and comes through it, but he could be in the Ascot mix as well, for something like the Windsor Castle.
“He’s not short of boot and he’ll come on plenty mentally.”
Following the victory of Everlasting in the Listed Kooyonga Stakes, Old Faithful (9/4 favourite) made it a Ballydoyle treble in the TRI Equestrian Handicap.
Old Faithful denies Gibbs Island to land the @TRI_Equestrian Handicap under Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O'Brien ???? pic.twitter.com/vZQDKN62JO
— Navan Racecourse (@NavanRacecourse) June 8, 2024
The Moore-ridden Old Faithful had beaten the reopposing Gibbs Island into second last time out and confirmed that form, with that rival edged into a narrow third by Going Remote.
Armstrong said: “He’s a horse that’s educating himself from race to race and we’re just bringing him along slowly.
“He’s a real strong traveller and Ryan gave him a lovely ride just to ease him into it.
“Once he puts everything together there is a really good pot in him. We’ll see how he is in the handicap now and possibly look at the Britannia in Ascot or the mile-and-a-quarter handicap (Golden Gates Stakes).
“He’s got no problem with the trip over a mile or a mile and a quarter.”
Thunderbear ended a barren spell with a length-and-a-quarter victory in the Navan Racecourse Handicap.
Jack Davison’s runner last struck gold in a Newbury Group 3 back in September, with five subsequent runs in a mix of Listed and handicap company yielding no joy, but he regained his sparkle in slightly easier company.
“He’s a legend, he’s been great for us and won a Group 3 in England last year for us,” said Davison.
“He’s actually developing into a nice sprinter as he gets older. He had been a bit disappointing this season, so it was nice to get him back into calmer waters and get the win. Hopefully we can build from here.
“It was all about getting a win this season and we’ll use that as a springboard. I doubt if we’d look at a handicap in Ascot as he’d have a lot of weight. We’ll pick his shots for the rest of the season.”