CARMERS put himself firmly in the Royal Ascot picture after quickening away in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats Stakes over a mile and five furlongs. The Wootton Bassett colt won his maiden just over a week ago in Ballinrobe and took the step up in his stride.
Billy Lee rode the 6/4 favourite to the front a quarter of a mile out and he readily asserted by the furlong pole. He stayed on strongly to beat What’s Your Game by three lengths for owner Ms Fiona Carmichael.
Trainer Paddy Twomey said: “I was very happy with the way he did it in Ballinrobe. He came home, licked the pot, rode out this week, didn’t care, and I said to Billy ‘I’m going to put him in the Yeats and see what happens’.
“I said it to the owner there, that race (Queen’s Vase) in Royal Ascot is probably the right race for him. He’s a stayer and he has enough experience to go to a race like that.”
Lee on the double
Lee was earlier successful aboard The Highway Rat, who brought up plenty of bets in defying top weight in the Best Of Luck On Your Retirement Joey Martin Handicap over five furlongs.
The 7/2 favourite had plenty of work to do in rear at the halfway stage, but really covered the ground to move into a threatening position a furlong out.
He collared Harry’s Hill in the closing stages and swept in by a length and a quarter in the colours of Mrs S.M.L. Oliver. Andy Oliver said: “It is a lot of weight to give away, but he was a group horse in his day, so a group horse in handicap company and, if he revisits that form, he is always a danger.”
AIDAN O’Brien enjoyed a treble at the Co Meath venue with Gstaad (7/1) getting the ball rolling under Chris Hayes in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over the extended five furlongs.
The half-brother to Group 1 Middle Park Stakes winner Vandeek showed plenty of toe on debut as he chased down and passed stablemate and 2/5 favourite True Love close home to score by three-quarters of a length at 7/1 for Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier and Michael Tabor. Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He’s a horse with an unbelievable pedigree, great physical (specimen), and all being well, he is in the Ascot mix now.”
Expensive purchase
Seattle, who made a whopping 2.2 million guineas in the August Yearling Sale at Arqana a couple of years ago, got off the mark on his second start in the Navan Racecourse Maiden over five furlongs.
The Siyouni colt made eye-catching headway off a fast pace a furlong and a half down and stormed into the lead in the final 150 yards. From there, the 13/8 favourite went on to score by a length and a quarter under Wayne Lordan for Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Peter M Brant.
Armstrong said: “It (Commonwealth Cup) is the only big entry he has at the moment. I suppose you’d like to try and get another run into him in a winners’ race or something, but he is a horse with potential and there’s no doubt he has got stakes ability.”
Popular
Scandinavia (1/2 favourite) was all the rage for the Book Your Summer BBQ On June 7th Maiden over an extended 10 furlongs and took the honours in decisive fashion for Lordan, who brought up a double.
The son of Justify raced prominently and grabbed a share of the lead after half a mile. He went on at the two pole and climbed the hill well to scorch his rivals by three and a quarter lengths for owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs John Magnier.
Armstrong reported: “He’s a horse that is going to appreciate going up to a mile and a half and even further. He could make into a horse for the mile and a half handicap in Ascot. Towards the back end of the season, I’d say you could even see him over a mile and six.”
DEVIL’S Angel, who won eight times in Britain, secured his first victory on Irish turf in the Flower Hill Apprentice Handicap. The nine-year-old grey gelding raced in mid-division on the outer and made headway for Jack Kearney in the final quarter of a mile.
From third a furlong down, he ran on to lead in the final 100 yards and saw it out by a length and a quarter at 16/1 for trainer Kevin Coleman and the One In A Million Partnership.
Kearney said: “He relished a good pace early. It got him taking me the whole way and he loved it and, in fairness to him, when I asked for him he put his head down and galloped out to the line.”
Made all
Sunriseontheboyne (22/1) poached a healthy lead from the gates in the Royal County Handicap over an extended 10 furlongs and clung on in the hands of Wesley Joyce.
Joyce got after him into the straight and, although Dakota Blue came hard at him in the closing stages, there was a short head between them at the line.
Owner/trainer Michael Mulvany said: “He has been coming out well, so that was the plan to make the running and kick two and a half or three (furlongs) down to see if we could get home.”
Consistency is key
Makaiah’s consistency was rewarded with a victory in the Troytown Bar Handicap over a mile and five furlongs. The 10/3 favourite tracked the leaders and came with her challenge approaching the final quarter of a mile.
She disputed the lead a furlong and a half down and led a furlong from home. Joey Sheridan then drove her in by two lengths for Lance Bloodstock Limited. Ger O’Leary said: “She is so honest and she will pick up a hurdle race as well, we have a nice mark over hurdles.”