AFTER three years of domestic domination the Tote Rockingham Handicap went for export once again as the top-weight El Astronaute produced a weight-carrying tour de force to make a second successful visit to Ireland in two weeks.
In the middle of the month, the John Quinn stalwart blitzed a field of stakes race regulars in the Midsummer Sprint Stakes at Cork but this was a better effort as the six-year-old had to concede chunks of weight to various rivals.
Just as he did at Cork, the 7/1 shot bossed this race from the front after getting over to the stand’s side rail early on with the result that not many of the runners ever threatened to be meaningfully involved.
Indeed, the home team struggled to make much of an impression here as the trail blazing winner hit the line a length clear of compatriot Manshood.
John Grogan’s Rapid Reaction took third ahead of two more members of the raiding party. A crack at the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes back here on Oaks weekend could be next for the victorious six-year-old who is in the form of his life.
Valiant bid
The Derby Festival regular Sea The Lion made a valiant bid to land the €50,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ragusa Handicap for the third year in succession but, on his first start since finishing third in last year’s Ebor, he was edged out by John Murphy’s War Diary.
The latter was making just the fourth appearance of his career and his first since bolting up in a Clonmel maiden in April and it is testament to his abilities that he made a seamless transition to this grade to cut down Sea The Lion in the dying strides.
On this showing War Diary (6/1) will at the very least continue to be a potent force in premier handicaps through the second half of the season. Although beaten, Sea The Lion showed that he is at least as good as ever, bearing in mind he was 11lbs higher than when winning this race last year. He will again be a lively Ebor contender if connections opt to head back to York.
Quality two-year-old performances
JESSICA Harrington’s increasingly impressive array of two-year-old talent has been further strengthened following the successful racecourse debut of the highly promising Windracer in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
A €240,000 purchase at last year’s Orby Sale and out of a half-sister to the top-class middle-distance runner White Muzzle, this 11/4 shot produced a really taking effort to win this traditionally hot seven-furlong maiden.
Shane Foley was positive from a wide draw and got his mount across to the rail to lead from early on. Over the course of the last couple of furlongs Windracer battled well to hold the 11/10 favourite Love and did so without Foley ever having to get too animated.
This daughter of Showcasing, who is owned by American outfit Stonestreet Stables and recently won a barrier trial at Naas, could be aimed at the Debutante Stakes ahead of crack at the Moyglare Stakes.
Harrington and Foley’s irresistible form continued into the Silken Thomas & Lock 13 Irish EBF Maiden over 10 furlongs where Leo De Fury (9/1-7/1) made a winning debut. The Zhang Yuesheg-owned son of Australia swept to the front with some purpose approaching the last furlong en route to an authoritative five-length victory over the 71-rated Macquaire.
Following on from the success of Windracer, there was another highly interesting two-year-old event in the shape of the Irish Stallion Farms C&G Maiden and the odds-on Armory (4/7) produced quite a display to score for Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien.
This son of Galileo was full of running at all stages but couldn’t get an opening until the furlong. However, when he did get into the clear he produced a tremendous turn of foot to sweep by Arranmore and win by an ever increasing two and a quarter lengths.
Armory was building on an eye-catching debut run at Leopardstown and it is interesting to note that Aidan O’Brien’s last two winners of this race were Gustav Klimt and Gleneagles.
The Superlative Stakes at Newmarket next could figure on Armory’s agenda and whatever direction he takes he won’t be long in making his mark at pattern level.
FOR the second year in succession, Jim Bolger and Gavin Ryan claimed the Apprentice Derby as the Godolphin-owned Trossachs (15/8) ran riot off a mark of 78 in his first handicap.
Just under two weeks after landing a maiden at Limerick, Trossachs looked a fast-improving three-year-old in defeating his 18 rivals by seven and a half lengths.
This was Ryan’s third ride in this race and his victory last year was preceded by a runner-up finish in 2017.
“The horse is just coming to himself. He stays well and I’d expect there will be further improvement to come from him although there will need to be after winning like that,” declared the trainer.
Meanwhile, the 2017 champion apprentice Oisin Orr, whose previous best tally for a season was 20 winners, made it 26 victories for the campaign when Dermot Weld’s Kattani dominated the Troytown Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden over a mile.
On his fourth start of the season, the 72-rated son of Tamayuz stormed clear of the field over the last furlong to score by five lengths. The 6/1 chance is owned by the Aga Khan.