THE Lion In Winter set himself up for a return to top-class company with victory in the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown on Wednesday.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge had been placed four times in Group 1 races last season and went to post an 11/10 shot in his return in the listed event.
Wayne Lordan sent the Sea The Stars colt to the front two furlongs from home and he asserted heading into the final furlong. Stablemate Expanded finished off well in the mile contest to get within half a length at the line.
“We’re delighted with him, he was just ready to start,” said O’Brien of the winner. “The plan was to come here and then go to the Lockinge. He went there and just got a bit tired, but Wayne was very happy with him.
“He has a lot of racing to do this year, so we didn’t want to have him too ready starting off. He had to have a run, obviously, before he goes to Newbury. I’m delighted with the second horse, the plan was the same with him. He’ll go to the Lockinge as well.”
Classic hopes alive
Donnacha O’Brien is eyeing classic trials with Eretria, after the Camelot filly opened her account in impressive fashion in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Gavin Ryan sent the 5/2 shot to the front passing the two pole and she opened up in the closing stages to record a six-and-a-half-length win in the 10-furlong contest.
The trainer said: “She’s a smart filly. I knew she had plenty of pace, but the way she stuck at it, I thought, was very impressive. I’ll give her a little bit of time now, she’s only two weeks back from her first run.
“Maybe something like the Naas Oaks trial could fit in nicely. She’s in the Irish Oaks and also the Epsom Oaks. We also have the option of something like the Ribblesdale as well.”
Group race ambitions
Joseph O’Brien is hoping that Mixed Feelings can develop into a stakes performer after a similarly easy success in the Irish Stallions Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden.
The Sioux Nation filly showed a smart turn of foot to lead a furlong and a half from home and quickened away to record a six-length win over Bang Bang in the mile contest.
“I thought it was an impressive win and she looks like a nice filly,” said O’Brien of Carmel Acheson’s filly. “I thought she still looked very green today, so we might look at having another run somewhere before we go into a group race.
“We obviously could jump into a Guineas trial, but she did still look a bit green there. We’ll see how she pulls up and we can decide then, but she’s a nice filly for the future hopefully.”
THE maidens on the card proved informative and Asakir also looks destined for better things, after his win in the Student Style Awards Maiden.
Ben Coen, in the colours of the late Aga Khan, made most of the running on the Johnny Murtagh-trained colt and he asserted a furlong and a half out before beating Cannes by a length and a half.
“Ben was very happy and said he stayed well,” said Murtagh of the 85/40 winner. “He ran really well the first day and we knew he would improve. I don’t have him in any big races, but next time out will tell us where we’re going to go.”
Queso on top
Diego El Queso came with a wet sail under Colin Keane to land the spoils in the ‘Domin Oh Hoo Hoo’ Handicap for Ger Lyons. The 4/1 shot got on top close home to score by three-parts of a length from Abbey Actress.
“It’s lovely for the lads (Kevin and Peter Blessing), as they are involved with Domino’s Pizza,” said Lyons.
“It just depends on which horse turns up, he has been very disappointing. He’s here for fun. Kevin is mad about having a runner at Ascot, so I’d say if he has a heartbeat, he’ll go there.”
Coonan collects
A big crowd of students cheered home Star Mind as Ger O’Leary’s mare landed the Student Derby under Billy Coonan. The 3/1 shot led over a furlong out for a cosy three-and-a-quarter-length win in the nine-furlong contest.
O’Leary also saddled 11/8 favourite Zipster to finish third and said afterwards: “It’s brilliant to win it. I couldn’t split them in my own mind before it. Zipster probably had a bit of a harder race at Gowran last week.
“The filly, Star Mind, had a very easy two-week break. We only cantered her at home, didn’t work her, and Billy said she actually took a blow turning in. We just got away with it nicely.”
THE FM104 ‘Giddy Up’ Handicap saw Glory To Be record a game success.
Michael Grassick’s charge led passing the furlong pole for Billy Lee, and the 9/1 shot stuck on well to record a half-length win over Goal Exceeded.
“All she wants to do is get into a battle. She stayed the seven furlongs today really well,” said Grassick.
“We kept her in the five and six-furlong maidens last year because they are less competitive.
“She had no problem staying there and probably didn’t know herself, as she was in her comfort zone early on and seemed to enjoy it.”
The tightest finish came in the concluding BuzzBallz Handicap as Exceeding prevailed after a prolonged duel with Methgal.
Andy Slattery’s charge came to tackle the front-runner inside the final furlong and led late on for a short-head success under the trainer’s son and namesake.
The winning trainer said afterwards: “I have a few girl apprentices and I want to get him up the handicap, so that he doesn’t get banned and they can have a few spins on him to get them going.
“He’s actually worth having as a lead horse, he’s a very good lead horse for two-year-olds.
“He’s actually better than what he lets on he is!”