ON his first start at the Curragh since seeing off three English raiders in the Irish Derby last June, Los Angeles (10/11 favourite) again showed commendable battling qualities to deny White Birch in the Group 2 Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh’s May Bank Holiday fixture.

The Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe bronze medallist, trained for the Coolmore partners by Aidan O’Brien, and ridden by Ryan Moore, wasn’t completely straight-forward on the way to post.

In running though it was relatively smooth as he tracked Galen, hit the front over a furlong out, and then did well to contain last year’s winner and fellow seasonal debutant White Birch by a neck.

“He’s a big, honest, powerful horse, as big as a bull. He’s lazy and when he gets there, he doesn’t do much, but he’s very hard to get past,” said O’Brien.

“The plan has always been to come back here for the Tattersalls Gold Cup and then look at the Prince Of Wales at Ascot. The King George is in his plan too. He’ll have a break before a prep, probably in the Royal Whip, on his way back for another crack at the Arc.”

First Officer

A Ballydoyle brace was earlier initiated when Officer, a close third in the Gladness on his return to action in March, justified 10/11 favouritism in style in the Listed Coolmore Stud Henry Longfellow Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes, powering home to beat Currawood by a length and three-parts. The colt is bred in the purple by Dubawi out of Hydrangea.

“They went a good gallop and he quickened nicely. Ryan was very happy with him. He said he got there in two strides and too early.

“The Irish Guineas looks perfect for him. Later on, he could step up to 10 furlongs,” commented O’Brien.

Atsila makes it two from two

DONNACHA O’Brien was also on the mark when he saddled Atsila (11/1), successful on her recent debut in Bellewstown, and she came forward beautifully to take the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes, besting Cercene and Barnavara by half a length and a neck.

A daughter of the 2019 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain, Barry Fowler’s representative found room from off the rail in the hands of Gavin Ryan from a furlong and a half out, to get on top inside the final 100 yards.

“She’s lazy at home, so we didn’t really know what we had. She bolted up at Bellewstown though, and we decided to throw her in at the deep end here,” stated the winning handler.

“She travelled well, was tight for room but quickened nicely to win and is obviously a smart filly. I suppose we could supplement her for the Irish Guineas.”

Lady sparkles

The other stakes race fare saw the Ger Lyons-trained odds-on favourite Lady Iman (4/7), a winner at the first time of asking in Dundalk, again look very exciting as she sluiced to a comfortable length and a quarter win from Ballydoyle debutant True Love in the Listed Holden Plant Rentals First Flier for the juveniles.

After tracking a steady pace, Colin Keane guided the Starman filly through between the runner-up and previous winner Power Blue, inside the final furlong, with Anne O’Callaghan’s filly quickly taking command.

“She’s a lovely filly, with plenty of speed and I don’t think six furlongs will be a problem,” observed Lyons.

“I’m delighted for the Tally-Ho team - they gave me the filly to promote her sire, and that’s what she’s doing. I’m looking forward to going to Naas with her next (for a Group 3 on May 18th).”

Andab makes it O’Brien number three

ON a good afternoon for the O’Brien family, Joseph was also on the scoresheet through Andab (8/1), a wide-margin winner of the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden.

Andab, a son of Saxon Warrior and a half-brother to Victoria Road, may return to the Curragh for the Marble Hill on Guineas weekend, and surely more progress is likely given that he was described post race by his trainer as “a bit of a messer at home, a bit wayward mentally.”

O’Brien elaborated on Dylan Browne McMonagle’s mount: “The dream is that he might be a Coventry horse” - music to the ears of breeder and part-owner Trevor Stewart, no doubt. The Saxon Warrior colt won in the Al Shaqab Racing silks here.

A horrible-looking spill for Ronan Whelan from O’Brien’s Mveve at the start of the Keadeen Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Handicap saw the local pilot sustain a bad cut to the back of his head, but thankfully nothing was broken and all scans were clear.

Whelan was keen to stress how grateful he was for the great care he received, and how well looked after he was, in the aftermath of the incident.

Improve further

At the business end of this seven-furlong event, gambled-on joint favourite Murkala (7/1 into 7/2) won in the manner of a filly that can improve further from her first attempt outside of maiden company.

The Exors of the late Aga Khan-owned three-year-old kept Ballydoyle’s strong-finishing Sweet Chariot at bay by a length, with the principals four lengths clear of the third, Hugo’s Girl.

Johnny Murtagh trains, and Rory Mulligan did the steering on the winner, and the daughter of Too Darn Hot may go up a furlong on return on Guineas weekend.

“I thought she wasn’t a bad filly at the start of the year. You could put a line through the last run, the way she behaved, she just didn’t settle at all. She settled well today and Rory gave her a great ride. I’d say fast ground, seven furlongs, is ideal. It was nice and smooth today for her,” her trainer said.

Billy Lee had to briefly sit when there was movement from the horses inside him, but ultimately Orchidaceae (7/2 joint favourite) was well-beaten in 12th place for the Andy Oliver yard.

Later, Oliver and Lee signed off the card in much better fashion as they struck with the Trevor Dalzell-owned 50/1 shot Prime Sign in the Treacy Group Supporting Newbridge Parishes Day Handicap.

This 27-runner six-furlong race had highly drawn runners completely sweeping the boards, Prime Sign defeating Velvet Skies by three-parts of a length.

“She’s a big filly, so she only ran late on last year and she had to come to herself,” reflected Oliver. “Nice ground was what she wanted and everything fell into place.”

Serve well

Very experienced eight-year-old Free Solo (10/1) continues to serve connections well and, for owner Margaret Ahern and trainer Pat Murphy, he attained a fifth career win in the PG Duffy & Sons Citroen Apprentice Handicap with Wayne Hassett up.

They came through from midfield, making good progress towards the near side over a furlong out.

Ridden and running on well to lead from over a 100 yards out, Free Solo won going away by three lengths from Finsceal Annie.

“It was well-deserved, he’s an honest horse and he tries every time,” said Murphy. “He’s obviously not as good as he was in his younger days, but still he’s a nice fun horse. He’s often in the money.”

D.J. O’Connor was in breach of the frequency whip rule on El Bello and, as it was a second offence, the stewards suspended him for four racedays.