Giant Sequoia was forced to dig deep to land the Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.

Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel colt was locked in a sustained scrap for the lead with stablemate Florida Bay throughout the final furlong and a half.

Florida Bay had cut out the early running from Fozzie Stack’s Chesham Stakes winner Nola Soul, with Giant Sequoia sitting just behind in third ahead of Green Dreamer, Nail House and City of Dubai, who were all content to track the pace.

The winner challenged Florida Bay between two furlongs out and the furlong pole – and under a strong drive from Wayne Lordan, the 2/1 favourite asserted close home to land the seven-furlong Group 2 by half a length.

Giant Sequoia maintained his position at the head of ante-post lists for next year’s Derby at Epsom with bookmakers, generally at around 16/1.

O’Brien, winning the Futurity for the 19th time, said: “He’s a lovely horse and I’m delighted with him. He’s still a baby and he’s still learning, but he learned a lot today because there was a proper pace on.

“The other horse was leaning on top of him early so he did well to keep his position. He had to stay in there earlier than he wanted.

“I’d say he’s a fair horse. I’d imagine he might come back for the National Stakes here.”

Stewards' enquiry

The raceday stewards enquired into the running and riding, with particular emphasis on the final 50 yards, of the runner-up Florida Bay.

Jockey Ronan Whelan told the stewards that his instructions were to go forward and be handy. He further added that he had gone hard and his mount made an abnormal respiratory noise close to the line.

Chris Armstrong, authorised representative for the trainer concerned, confirmed the instructions given and added that the trainer had expressed his satisfaction with the ride.

The stewards also received a report from the IHRB veterinary officer who stated that Florida Bay

was post-race normal. Samples were taken for further analysis.

Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the stewards noted the explanations given and took no further action in relation to Rule 212, which deals with horses not running on their merits.

They were, however, satisfied that Whelan was in breach of Rule 213, in that he had failed to

report anything which might have affected the running of his mount in a race. Having considered his record in this regard (first offence) the stewards suspended Whelan for one raceday.