GOING one better than he did in 2025, Aidan O’Brien, who was busy saddling runners at Ascot, sent out six winners for the Coolmore partners on Leopardstown’s all-juvenile card, with all of them being ridden by Wayne Lordan.
The latter’s previous best had been a four-timer at this course and it was, apparently, the first time, in either code, for a trainer-jockey combination to win six races at one meeting in Ireland or Britain. It was deja vu all over again one year on for stable representative Chris Armstrong, who was on debriefing duties for all of the Ballydoyle-trained winners, including Capability Brown (10/3), who made all to take the Group 3 Mongey Communications Killavullan Stakes over seven furlongs. Dropping back two furlongs after a maiden success at the Curragh, the Dubawi colt scored by a length from odds-on favourite Trean.
“He’s unbelievably genuine and has kept progressing from run to run. He thrives on racing.
“If he came through today well, Aidan might even look at France next weekend.”
Workmanlike
Wall Street landed odds of 4/7 in workmanlike fashion in the other Group 3 on the card, which was the Mongey Communications Eyrefield Stakes over a mile and a furlong.
A maiden winner at the south Dublin track in August, the son of Sea The Stars improved to lead a furlong out. After edging left in front, Lordan’s mount was almost joined by Zarak Pasha before pulling out more to post a half-length verdict.
“He has the makings of a smashing colt for next year,” Armstrong enthused.
“All being well, he’ll come back here for one of the trials.
“Obviously, his maiden (beating Jesus Green and Drumbeat) couldn’t have worked out any better.
“He was still pretty raw with Wayne, but I suppose with the way the track is set up turning today (the chase course was in use until the final four furlongs), he could never really get him balanced and into a rhythm. In fairness, when he asked him, he went forward nicely.”
HAVING helped force the pace for Sun Goddess in the Cheveley Park Stakes on her previous start, Snowing (5/4 favourite) made the most of a significant drop in class in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Laidlaw Cup Fillies Maiden over seven furlongs.
The daughter of No Nay Never led early in the straight and her four-length success over Sensational Filly was the widest margin of victory of the afternoon.
“She had a very good run around here in the Ingabelle on Champions Weekend.
“We thought she’d be hard to beat coming here. All being well, if she winters well and comes through the spring, we’ll bring her back here for a Guineas trial.”
Speckles off mark
Third in Doncaster’s May Hill Stakes on her previous outing, odds-on favourite Speckles got off the mark in the Irish EBF Fillies Maiden (Smullen Series) over an extended mile.
The 8/15 chance was prominent throughout, along with Duchessofaquitaine and, harder ridden in comparison to that promising newcomer, got on top close home to win by half a length.
“She obviously had a couple of lovely runs coming into this and Wayne said it rode a very good maiden.
“For a No Nay Never, she’ll be well able to stay in the future. She’ll be a lovely middle-distance filly, all being well.”
Newcomer wins
Wootton Bassett newcomer Accumulation (5/2) took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden over seven furlongs.
Lordan’s mount sat second to stablemate Imposing and took over early in the straight to defeat that rival by two lengths. “He was just ready to start at home,” explained Armstrong.
“He left the gate like an absolute rocket and that was a major advantage as he could just sit off Jack (Cleary on Imposing). Jack’s horse gave him a lovely lead into the straight.
“Once Wayne grabbed a hold of him, he really hit the line well. He’s a horse that Wayne has thought a bit of for the last couple of weeks.
“It’s the same script as the last ones; all being well, he’s one to look forward to for a trial in the spring.”
Gold strikes in finalé
THE Ballydoyle winner number six arrived in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery over the extended mile, as blinkered top-weight City Of Gold (13/8 favourite) battled back, after being headed inside the final furlong, to thwart Admired Beauty by a head.
“For Wayne to get six winners, and six winners for the stable, is incredible,” Armstrong reflected.
“Minnie Hauk topped it off in Ascot. Across the two tracks, it’s been a stellar day.
“We thought, off 91, that this horse might be harshly enough treated, but when Wayne needed him in the finish, he really dug down and got stuck into it.”
Twomey finds a slot
On a day of utter domination for Ballydoyle, Paddy Twomey was the only one to wave a flag of resistance as Louis De Foix (6/4 joint-favourite) came from well off the pace under Billy Lee to make a winning debut in the Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden over the extended mile.
The son of New Bay, owned by Tony Bloom and Ian McAleavy, led close home to beat fellow joint-favourite Mount Meru by three-parts of a length.
“He’s a big horse. I haven’t done much with him, but anything I did, he’s done easily,” said Twomey of his 12th individual juvenile winner of the campaign.
“At halfway, I was still confident he’d come home well, but didn’t think he’d win.
“I think he could be a classy horse next year.”