SERGEI Diaghilev bounced back from his Royal Ascot defeat when landing the Churchill Stakes at Gowran Park last Friday night. Owned by Westerberg and Mrs Magnier and M Tabor and D Smith, the Wootton Bassett colt had gone to post favourite for the Windsor Castle Stakes, following his Curragh maiden win, but could only finish ninth in the listed event.
Stepping up to a mile at the same level, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt ran out a convincing winner.
Wayne Lordan sent his mount on under two furlongs from home and he was always holding City of Dubai late on to record a three-quarter-length success.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said afterwards: “For some reason, it never happened for him in Ascot.
“Coming here, we thought the trip wouldn’t be an issue. First time around a turning track, Wayne gave him a lovely ride from drawn wide.
“He could go for something like the Champagne Stakes. He won’t be short of options come the end of the year.”
Making all
Former listed winner Benevento bounced back to winning ways when taking the following 1XBET.ie Community Champions Race.
Donagh O’Connor made all on the Amo Racing-owned gelding in the mile contest, as Robson de Aguiar’s charge recorded a length-and-a-quarter win over Rahmi. The winner proved friendless in the market, starting an 8/1 shot.
O’Connor said afterwards: “We went along for the first couple of furlongs and then up the hill I was able to get a sit into him and let him freewheel down the hill.
“He lost his way a bit in England but he did that well there tonight. He was only doing enough inside the furlong pole. I felt if something had got to his girth he’d have gone on again.”
BEING on the front end proved crucial on the night and Profit Surge set the trend when landing the opening 1XBET.ie Optional Claimer.
Gerry Keane’s charge was quick out of the gates, under the trainer’s son Colin, and kept on well in the closing stages to post a three-parts-of-a-length win over Mo Anam Chara.
The winning rider said of the 9/4 favourite, owned by Eva Forde: “She deserved that. She’s very consistent without winning.
“It wasn’t fair, because she was creeping up the whole time for running well. Maybe the handicapper was right. Back into claiming company, you can kind of excuse the ratings some days.”
Quick start
A quick start also helped Beau Army as she claimed the 1XBET.ie Racing Legacy Handicap for Ado McGuinness.
Chris Hayes sent the 9/1 shot clear over a furlong from home to record a comprehensive four-and-a-quarter-length success for owner Trevor Dalzell.
“I rode her the last day and, to be honest, I thought I made a hames of it. I got a real good jump from the gates from a wide draw and I got across, but I took a sit.
“As soon as I got her in, I half felt like I broke her rhythm and then I was asking her to chase up the straight and she kind of said to me ‘no’.
“I said to Ado, I’d like to be positive on her and maybe change up the headgear, because I just felt she was a little bit starey going down the last day.”
Well-judged ride
The Denis Hogan-trained Alfred Tennyson was also given a well-judged front-running ride by Joey Sheridan to land the Edward Doran’s Birthday Handicap.
The 13/2 shot stuck his head out in the closing stages to hold the challenge of Tokyo Treasure by a neck.
Sheridan said: “I probably should have gone and made it on him in Galway, but I was a little bit more reserved because of the hill. In hindsight, I should have kicked on.
“It was nice to get one on the board as well, because I picked up a little bit of a holiday in Galway.”
JESSICA O’Gorman had obviously been watching on earlier, as she had L’un Deux Trois prominent throughout in the concluding 1XBET.ie Ladies Handicap.
Oliver McKiernan’s charge kicked for home early in the straight and the 20/1 shot held on gamely late on to see off Vervain by a head in the mile-and-a-half contest.
O’Gorman said: “It was brilliant. He travelled lovely. I was able to dictate the race a bit and let him roll from the four. He just stayed galloping to the line. He took a lot of pulling up, so I’d say he’d go further too.”
Wave continues to roll
Rebel Wave proved popular on her handicap debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF-sponsored fillies event and proved a game winner under Billy Lee.
The Willie McCreery-trained filly went to post 9/4 favourite, having been 3/1 in the morning, and came to dispute in the last 100 yards with Rion Rubette.
She edged ahead close home to secure a neck victory, following up on her Curragh maiden win last month.
“She’s a lovely filly. She stepped up again and she’s doing it all nicely. She’s doing everything right,” said McCreery of the New Bay filly, owned by Valmont and Ballylinch Stud.
“She’s in the Fairy Bridge over seven furlongs, but Billy’s adamant she wants a mile. She has a lovely pedigree, so we’ll try and get a bit of blacktype with her. We’ll see what the handicapper does as well.”