THE old adage about a group horse running in a handicap rang true after Johnny Murtagh’s new recruit Raadobarg impressed with a decisive success in the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire.

Formerly with Roger Varian, this 98-rated four-year-old looked a cut above his rivals on a day when the increasingly powerful AMO Racing Limited celebrated their first venture into ownership in Ireland with a double.

In a competitive edition of this €100,000 mile, the winner was well back at halfway and had only three horses behind him with three furlongs to run. Ben Coen knew exactly what he had underneath him and deftly threaded his way into the reckoning before the heavily backed 9/2 favourite stormed clear to score by two lengths from Comfort Line with Star Harbour a further nose away in third.

“If you’d have asked me two weeks ago would he make it, I wasn’t sure as he’s a big horse who takes his work very well but after his last bit of work I felt he was nearly there,” commented Murtagh who has had Raadobarg under his care for the last five or six weeks.

“He came to me in great shape from Robson (Aguiar) and he looks like he could be a stakes horse . Seven furlongs or a mile is a good trip for him I’d say and he’ll probably always like a little ease in the ground.”

AMO double

Earlier the AMO colours were carried to victory by Michael O’Callaghan’s newcomer Malex (7/1) who edged out the odds-on Boundless Ocean in the Finlay Volvo (C&G) Maiden over seven furlongs.

The 100-rated Boundless Ocean gave this a good go from the front but Leigh Roche and Malex closed in steadily over the last furlong and in the last stride they landed in front to score by a head.

“He’s the first we have run for AMO so I’m delighted to have a winner for them,” declared O’Callaghan.

“He was as green as grass and was one of the first off the bridle but when Leigh switched him to the outer he kept picking up and after that he might be entitled to go for the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown.”

Mother Earth back in business

SOME 17 years after his only previous win in the race, Aidan O’Brien struck gold in the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes as last year’s 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth set herself up for a return to the big time.

After 12 consecutive starts at the top level, Mother Earth was sent off at 4/5 to become the first Ballydoyle winner of this race since Kitty O’Shea prevailed in 2005.

Ryan Moore’s mount picked up well to join the dangerous pace-setter Insinuendo inside the last quarter of a mile and she was soon showing in front. The last-named stuck to her task splendidly but Mother Earth always looked to be doing enough and she carried the day by three-quarters of a length.

“We’re delighted with her and she came here with a view to going on to the Lockinge Stakes,” said O’Brien.

Billy Lee picked up a one-day whip ban for his efforts on the runner-up.

Mighty Mogwli

After producing Insinuendo in fine shape for her comeback Willie McCreery went a place better with Mogwli (9/1) in the 50-70 rated TRI Equestrian Handicap over six furlongs.

A three-time winner in 2020, this McCreery-owned five-year-old was travelling powerfully for Nathan Crosse when moving into the front rank over a furlong out and he knuckled down well under pressure to defeat the top-weight, Karlsberg, by half a length.

Massaman returns

After signing off for 2021 with a win on the Polytrack at Dundalk in December, the Jack Davison-trained Massaman made a victorious return in the Barberstown Castle Handicap over a mile for the JPD Partnership.

The 20/1 shot struck the front for Gary Halpin well inside the final furlong and reached the line half a length ahead of the oncoming Knocknakilla.

The winning jockey was given a two-day whip ban.

FOR the first time in her training career, Jessica Harrington bagged the opening two-year-old race of the season as Ocean Quest (11/2) captured the Alkumait Standing At Castlefield Stud With A €100,000 Bonus Irish EBF Maiden.

From the first crop of the Phoenix Stakes winner Sioux Nation, this filly made a very taking start to her career as she was locked away on the inner for most of the last quarter of a mile. When the John Kirkland-owned filly got into the clear though she picked up smartly to nail the front-running Forceful Speed in the final yards.

There was a further neck back to the favourite Midnight Toker.

“She’s only been away once but Shane said she was very professional. She is more of a six-furlong filly and because of that I nearly didn’t run her, but with the little ease in the ground I said we’d let her take her chance,” commented Harrington.

Thundering result

Joseph O’Brien wasted no time making his mark on the opening day as his first runner, Perfect Thunder, landed the Cavalor Equine Nutrition Fillies Maiden over seven furlongs.

In the colours of Shapoor Mistry, who campaigned the Group 1-winning Thundering Nights with the trainer last year, this Night Of Thunder filly showed plenty of promise in two runs last term.

Perfect Thunder (5/2) and Declan McDonogh always gave the impression that they had the odds-on Toy covered over the last couple of furlongs and they eventually bested the favourite by half a length.

“She had good form last year. Most likely she will move into a stakes race next,” stated O’Brien.

McGuinness laughs

A spectacular day for Adrian McGuinness also featured success on the home front as Laugh A Minute landed the five-furlong DMG Media Handicap shortly after A Case Of You’s famous Al Quoz Sprint triumph.

The 11/4 favourite was produced to pounce by Colin Keane inside the last furlong and reached the line a length and a half ahead of the staying-on Swift Flight.

The Shamrock Thoroughbreds-owned seven-year-old was winning his first race since a listed event at Cork 51 weeks previously and that race could figure on his agenda this weekend.

“The best 10 minutes of our lives,” exclaimed a thrilled assistant trainer Stephen Thorne. “He was weighted to win a race like this, particularly on his second at York last October (second to Volatile Analyst). He needs cover and to be produced late and he got a great ride from Colin.”