CAUSEWAY defied top weight in the Irish Racing Writers Association Madrid Handicap to form the middle leg of a treble for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
Sent to post 13/8 favourite, the Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs John Magnier-owned colt had to be pushed along from stalls to gain a prominent early position. Tracking the leaders into the straight, the son of Wootton Bassett came through to lead over a furlong from home, showing plenty of heart to hold off the late challenge of Controlled by a head.
“He was tough and he learned a lot,” said O’Brien. “He took a run last year; he was a little bit lazy. He’ll obviously stay a lot further. Ryan was good on him.
“I think he’ll be very comfortable going a mile and could get further. He’s brave, he stuck his head out. He can go into a winners’ race now and we’ll go gentle with him and let him mature away.”
Smart colt
O’Brien got off the mark for the season when €1,000,000 buy Accredited got on top late on to land the Space Traveller At Compas Stallions Maiden.
The Siyouni colt had been fourth on his sole previous outing at Dundalk and went to post a 13/8 shot here. Ryan Moore produced the Westerberg, Mrs Magnier, Tabor, Smith-owned runner to challenge inside the final furlong, leading inside the final 100 yards for a two-and-a-half-length win.
“We’re delighted with him. He had one run in Dundalk, Ronan (Whelan) rode him and said seven with an ease in the ground,” said O’Brien. “Ryan said he’d have no problem getting a mile. He’ll have to go for a winners’ race now.”
Blueblood
Drop Dead Gorgeous brought up the three-timer when living up to star billing on her debut in the Aesop’s Fables At Compas Stallions Irish EBF Fillies Maiden. An impeccably-bred daughter of Dubawi, the evens favourite tracked stablemate White Sand Beach and improved to lead over a furlong out. Keeping on well inside the final furlong, Moore’s mount went on to score by a length and a quarter for Coolmore partners.
“We’re delighted with her; she’s a lovely big filly,” said O’Brien. “She’s still a baby, learned plenty today. She was very green when she got there but we’re very happy. She’ll stay further.”
When asked if she could line up in an Oaks trial he added: “She probably will, something like that I’d imagine.”
BESET formed the opening leg of a double for Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh when winning the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Devoy Stakes.
McDonogh was soon in front on the 11/4 chance, who was pressed from before halfway by Iowa City. Asked for an effort passing the two-furlong pole, she asserted inside the final furlong to score by three lengths for Kevin Blake, Mrs E Palmer, Matt Wilson and Nick Luck.
O’Brien said: “She’s a tough filly. She finished off the year great last year and she’s picked up where she left off. She likes soft ground, so we had planned to start early.
“She’ll probably go for a group race somewhere now. There is a race in Newbury over a mile and a half. She’d have options in France. In Ireland, the Munster Oaks in Cork is probably the obvious race for her, if the ground was soft.”
Group aim
O’Brien and McDonogh doubled up as Hardy Warrior proved well named when showing plenty of heart to win the concluding TRM Nutrition Best-Turned-Out Series Back For 2026 Race.
The Millennium Stud-owned 13/8 chance made all the running, staying on strongly to beat Take Charge Star by four and a half lengths.
“He has good form in the book. I thought he might need the run today to be honest, but he does like soft ground,” said O’Brien. “It’s nice to get him started and he’ll step back into a group race of some sort now.”
When asked if he could go for a classic trial, he added: “I’d say he will, that would be the obvious step for him.”
A WINNER of the corresponding race 12 months ago, the Gerard O’Leary-trained Noble Nation followed up when landing the opening Westin Homes Supporting Kildare LGFA Handicap.
Owned by Lance Bloodstock Limited, the 4/1 favourite was always to the fore under Shane Foley and came through to throw down a challenge at halfway. Leading over a furlong out, the five-year-old kept on strongly to hold the fast-finishing Exceeding by half a length.
O’Leary reported: “Shane said he just got tired in the last 100 yards and he was glad the post came. Hopefully, we’ll stay in the ‘70’ and find a six-furlong race on soft ground somewhere.”
Support justified
Oh Cecelia landed a gamble on her stable debut for Ken Condon, when getting up close home to win the DAR Golf Handicap.
Available at 14/1 in the morning, the David Kelly-owned filly was supported down to 9/2 joint favourite. Prominent throughout under Billy Lee, the three-year-old stayed on strongly inside the final 50 yards to beat Shadow Run half a length.
“She was fit from her all-weather runs and we didn’t do a whole pile with her,” said Condon. “We weren’t sure about the very deep ground, but Billy said she travelled everywhere. When he needed her, there was a bit of fight in her as well and she went to the line well.”
Late surge
Lee had to settle for runner-up honours in the Colm White Bookmaker Handicap, as Independent Expert (25/1) got up close home to win on her second start for the Denis Hogan yard.
The James McAuley-owned seven-year-old was soon settled in mid-division by Joey Sheridan. Making ground on the outside of runners once the race began to develop from over two furlongs out, Independent Expert showed great resolve to get back up in the dying strides to beat Quatre Bras half a length.
“I knew she’d love conditions. She had been running at Dundalk and she probably shouldn’t have been, as she likes a cut in the ground,” said Hogan.
“I wasn’t sure if she was fully revved up for today. She’s a filly that doesn’t carry much weight and takes no work to get ready. A mile is probably better for her as well.”