AIDAN O’Brien unleashed future Group 1 winners Diamond Necklace, Hawk Mountain and Mission Central on this card last year and his pair of juvenile winners on the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes undercard look bound for the same level.
Ibelieveicanfly has always been held in high regard and showed the benefit of three previous runs when bolting up in the Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race under Ryan Moore.
The 13/8 favourite, owned in the partnership of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Flaxman Stables, put five lengths between herself and the rest with the benefit of a first-time hood.
Asked whether the Frankel filly could be a candidate for the Moyglare Stud Stakes or Fillies’ Mile, O’Brien said: “Yes. I’ll try to go slow and gentle because she’s so big but I’d say that’s what she’ll want to do. She’s a big powerful thing, a monster. She has such a high cruising pace. She has a lot of class.”
Pure poetry
Shakespeare is bred to be top class, being by Dubawi and out of Group 1 winner Lady Bowthorpe, and he opened his account at the third attempt in the seven-furlong Guidenstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden.
The recent Leopardstown runner-up, representing the Brant-Magnier-Tabor-Smith-Westerberg partnership, briefly looked as though he could have a challenge on his hands when Joseph O’Brien’s eye-catching newcomer Benown made a promising late run, but Moore’s mount always gave the impression there was more in the locker if required.
O’Brien said: “He’s a lovely big horse who does everything right. He’s a little bit of a baby; that’s why it took two runs for him to get to where he is - and he’s still not there. He has a lot of ability and is in the ‘could be anything’ category. He has size, power, quality, speed, stamina. He has everything.”
Boat burns rivals
Michael O’Callaghan has another high-quality two-year-old on his hands in the shape of Push The Boat Out, who came home strongly from off the pace to win the six-furlong Follow Us On Instagram @ GuidenstownStud Irish EBF Maiden under Colin Keane. It was a taking performance from this 16/1 newcomer to get on top close home with a touch of class..
O’Callaghan said of the Push The Boat Out Partnership’s 85,000gns breeze-up buy: “He’s one we’ve held in high regard from the moment we got him. I had him slightly undercooked coming here because he’s very natural at home.
“He quickened up well and Colin was quite taken by him.
“He felt he’ll have no problem stepping into stakes company and I think he’ll go another furlong. We’ll see what’s between now and the National Stakes.”
TOM Marquand is no stranger to success in Ireland and he provided trainer Mick Appleby with his first Irish winner in the Group 3 FBD Hotels And Resorts Phoenix Sprint Stakes when the Breeders’ Cup-bound Big Mojo got his season back on winning tracks.
Last year’s Group 1 Sprint Cup winner had been undone by keenness and unsuitable track position when down the field in the July Cup on his previous start but appeared to relish this smaller field and less competitive affair to beat the rock-solid Bucanero Fuerte by a length and a quarter.
Appleby said of RP Racing Ltd’s 5/4 winner: “He’s done it well and is as good as ever. I think he was just lacking a bit in confidence with the big races he’s run in. Now that he’s got his head back in front, hopefully he’ll do it again. He’s got a bit more laid back and there’s a lot more there. We’ll have a chat about what’s next but Paul [Teasdale, owner] is up for a crack at the Breeders’ Cup.” Curragh favourite Big Gossey was eased up and reported to have taken a false step by Billy Lee.
Murphy’s Man
Over the same distance later on the card, Pat Murphy cashed in on a career-low mark of 66 with the capable Mint Man (5/1), who appeared to relish the fast conditions in the Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Handicap under Chris Hayes. Having been rated 83 at his peak, this was career win number three for the Real Horse Degen Club’s five-year-old - sparked by a first-time visor to beat Hugo’s Girl by half a length.
Murphy said: “Chris felt he was a bit difficult in the first furlong so made his mind up and went forward. He won comfortably enough in the end. He can be a bit quirky but is a nice horse with plenty of ability.”
Hayes double
It quickly became a brace for Hayes when the Dermot Weld-trained Kalir made it back-to-back wins, following a recent Killarney maiden success, in the Money Back Daily Specials With Tote.ie Handicap over a mile.
The Aga Khan homebred, by Night Of Thunder, followed in the footsteps of Esherann - winner of this race 12 months ago for the same connections - and could now be set for higher company (raised 6lb to 91 for this). Weld said: “He’s a consistent, honest horse who battled well to win a decent maiden and did it well again. We’ll take note of what the handicapper does and make a plan. It worked out nicely with the pace of the race.”
Magee ace
Paddy Magee’s dream summer continued with a €35,000 Sheehy Motors Volkswagen Handicap success thanks to battle-hardened sprinter Rosie Firth under Colin Keane.
The 11/2 winner has been a terrific flagbearer for the Kathmag Syndicate. Having started life with a mark of 61, she’s now climbed to 96 at the age of three following this gutsy display. Keane, bringing up a double of his own, said: “She’s a solid little filly. Paddy’s done a great job with her. She’s very quick and proper quick ground is where you see the best of her.”