Lordan takes full advantage of Moore absence in juvenile double

AIDAN O’Brien made it 16 two-year-old winners at the Curragh alone so far this season when Mission Central blitzed his rivals from the front in the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower Stakes under Wayne Lordan.

The potential for the No Nay Never colt to become a stallion ended once connections opted to geld him following defeat on his debut, but he showed major promise when winning a maiden here by eight lengths immediately after and confirmed that here.

The Tabor-Smith-Magnier-Westerberg-Brant-owned juvenile was always doing enough in front as 11/8 favourite, though there was a highly eyecatching showing in second from Joseph O’Brien’s debutant The Publican’s Son, who highlighted just why connections gave him an entry in the Group 1 Tattersalls Middle Park Stakes.

“Unusually, Wayne felt he was still green,” said the Ballydoyle handler.

“He said he was there at halfway and waiting, but he has a lot of natural speed. He learned a bit today; he had to get down and knuckle down. I’d say he’s quick, and five furlongs would be no problem to him. That’s slow ground today.

“Wayne said he felt he was only hacking and the lads in the race felt they were flying, that’s the sign of a speed horse. I suppose he could be a Flying Childers type of horse. He’s very fast and I’d imagine that’s the type of horse he is.”

Mighty Mountain

A double for connections was kicked off the beautifully-bred Hawk Mountain (10/11 favourite) stayed on best to land the John Ormonde Wexford Sand Irish EBF Maiden over a mile.

By Wootton Bassett and out of the stable’s dual Group 1 winner Hydrangea (making this colt a half-brother to Group 1-placed Wingspan and Tetrarch Stakes winner Officer), the mount of Wayne Lordan coped well with the rain-softened ground to beat Jessica Harrington’s 50/1 outsider Mr Vettori by a length and a half.

Speaking after the Smith-Magnier-Tabor partnership success, O’Brien said: “I’m delighted with him. He came forward lovely from the first day [when fifth over seven furlongs here earlier in the month]. He’s a lovely straightforward horse.”

The winner holds entries for the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes, Beresford Stakes and Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Lordan was taking advantage of spare rides after Ryan Moore was earlier on the day ruled out for a number of months due to a fractured femur.

Talented Hawaii has big targets

JOSEPH O’Brien knows exactly what it takes to win the Bet365 Fillies’ Mile, having trained Pretty Gorgeous to do just that in 2020 and ridden City Of Troy’s dam Together Forever to victory in 2014, and he could be eyeing up another crack at the Newmarket Group 1 with Queen Of Hawaii.

The market was strong on the claims of 5/4 favourite Sugar Island in the Group 3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes but Philip Antonacci’s filly was much the best in posting a two-and-a-quarter-length victory over Chesham Stakes third Moments Of Joy.

Speaking after Dylan Browne McMonagle continued his red-hot run on the 100/30 winner, O’Brien said: “She was very well bought [for €250,000] by in Goffs Orby Book 1 and won her maiden well. We thought she was a smart filly and you kind of come here to find out. She looks very smart - you’d have to be excited about her.

“She went through the line strongly and Dylan said that she always feels like there’s more in the locker. I’d imagine that she’ll either go for the Goffs Million or the Fillies’ Mile, though we could also look at the Moyglare. She’ll be heading for a Group 1 if it’s not the Million.”

Bright Bear

O’Brien might have been a shade unlucky not to register a double when Which Wolf Wins was stopped in his tracks but still ran on for second in the seven-furlong Kildare House Hotel Nursery Handicap.

There were no such issues for the useful-looking winner, however, as Jordi Bear (6/1) made a smart winning handicap debut for Joey Sheridan, Fozzy Stack and owners John Barrett and Craig Bernick. Leaving behind a disappointing last-time-out effort at Down Royal, he returned to much more like the promise he showed when fourth and sixth in decent maidens to start his career.

Stack said of the length-and-a-quarter success: “His first couple of runs were all right but I’d say at Down Royal he didn’t act on the track. He was gelded afterwards too. I’m delighted for John and everyone. Hopefully this horse is progressive. He’s in the Goffs Million so we’ll see about whether we roll the dice in that or not.”

Letter has Irish Champions Festival in sight

GER Lyons is hopeful that the best is yet to come from Red Letter after the high-class Juddmonte filly notched back-to-back wins for the first time in her career in the Group 3 Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes.

Last season’s close-up Moyglare Stakes fourth got her confidence up with a listed win at Killarney over a mile six weeks earlier, and thrived for the step up in trip on her first start at nine furlongs under Gary Carroll.

The 6/5 favourite found generously for pressure to beat British raider Sand Gazelle by a length and a half.

Lyons, notching his second win in the race after striking with Acanella in 2021, said: “That was lovely. As I said to Barry [Mahon, Juddmonte’s European acing manager], she’s crying out for that trip but is probably only ready for it now. You can see it in her physically - she’s only filling her frame.

“We’ve had to be so patient with her. She was angular and should only be starting now. Hopefully she’ll fulfil all of her potential in the next 12 months. She’s a filly to look forward to. Obviously the family have their say, but we’ve been training her with the back-end of the season and next year in mind.”

On what lies ahead immediately, Lyons added: “We’ll look at the Blandford Stakes back here at the Irish Champions Festival, which is a very important weekend for us. She needs an ease in the ground - that’s important. We’ll have a lovely horse to look forward to next year. When she fully matures, she can stay a mile and a half no problem.”