THE talented Armory overcame a troubled passage to head a Group 3 double for Aidan O’Brien and Seamie Heffernan at the Curragh yesterday as he landed The Irish Field Celebrating 150 Years Royal Whip Stakes.
Last year’s Futurity Stakes winner came here off two honourable runs at the highest level and displayed more than a touch of class to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
For much of the straight, the 13/8 favourite had nowhere to go and then disaster looked to have struck when he could find no way through on the inside of Numerian.
At this stage, Armory had less than a furlong to retrieve the situation but he picked up very smartly when coming back out to challenge and he collared the game Numerian in the final stride.
“I was doing more pulling than pushing in the straight. He has class and he got me out of trouble.
“He was the best horse in the race,” was Heffernan’s summation after making it five winners since he returned to action on Wednesday.
Four wins
Earlier, the O’Brien-trained and Heffernan-ridden Delphi continued his tremendous progression by making it four wins on the spin in the Group 3 Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes. This Galileo colt started off his season with a maiden success over a mile and then stepped up to 10 furlongs to win a premier handicap before going a mile and a half last time to score at listed level.
Even better was to come this time though as Delphi tackled a mile and three-quarters. In customary style, the odds-on favourite set off in front and he was unyielding at all stages. A strong late challenge came from the former Ascot Gold Cup third Master Of Reality but Delphi was always doing enough and he got home by a short-head.
Micro Manage ran a splendid race to take third on his first outing in 14 months.
“He doesn’t know when he’s beaten and he’s 100% genuine. In fact he’s one of the most genuine horses I’ll ever ride and he’s done it over all sorts of trips,” reflected Heffernan who lost his whip inside the last furlong. “You don’t have to be the best if you give the most.”
AFTER a couple of recent defeats, the very speedy and very smart Frenetic got back on track in the Listed Holden Plant Rentals Curragh Stakes.
After being touched off by Aloha Star in a Group 2 here last month, the Ger Lyons inmate was then beaten in a listed race at Naas but she bounced back to form with a straight forward display.
The SBA Racing Limited-owned filly showed in front for Colin Keane from the outset and the former champion jockey never had to get too animated for her to assert over the last furlong and a half. At the line, Frenetic had one and three-quarter lengths to spare over Chief Little Hawk.
“I blame myself for Naas. The best horse won on the day but I went there as an afterthought which you can’t do in a stakes race in Ireland,” remarked Ger Lyons.
“If she came out of this race well she could run in the Ballyhane race at Naas next Sunday but she will tell us and we’ll do the right thing by the filly.
“Another option is the Flying Childers but with all that’s going on with Covid-19 I’d prefer to keep her at home.”
Next week’s Futurity Stakes entrant Charterhouse followed up an excellent fourth in last week’s Tyros Stakes with victory in the seven-furlong Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden for which he was returned the 8/11 favourite.
An inspired 3,000gns yearling purchase, this son of Charming Thought cruised through the race for Robbie Colgan and asserted in good style to pull two and three-quarter lengths clear of newcomer A Taad Moody. The winner was making his second start in the colours of Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez.
“It’s nice to get that out of the way and we’ll talk to the owners about where he goes now. He’s had three races in six weeks so maybe he will have a short break before running again.
“From around February onwards we thought that he could be a very nice colt,” declared trainer John Murphy.
There was another nice juvenile on show in the Loder Irish EBF Fillies Race where the Dermot Weld newcomer Shandra (7/2) looked the part.
This Aga Khan-owned daughter of Sea The Stars produced a strong finishing effort for Oisin Orr over the course of the last furlong to take the measure of the front-running Talacre.
At the line Shandra had a length and a half to spare.
“That was a lovely performance and we hope that she will make a very nice three-year-old,” commented Kris Weld. “She’ll probably have one more run this season in a stakes race and she might go up to a mile next time.”
Gold Maze finds easier path
AFTER contesting the Derbys at Epsom and the Curragh, the Jessica Harrington-trained Gold Maze availed of a huge drop in class in the Big Picture Communications Maiden. This Golden Horn colt, who was sixth to Santiago here in late June, was untroubled up front at all stages under Shane Foley to win by four and a quarter lengths and justify his position as the 6/5 favourite.
“It’s good he’s done that and he enjoyed making the running. He has various entries so we’ll see where he goes but I think he’ll be better as four-year-old,” commented Mrs Harrington who trains the winner for the Long Wait Partnership.
Roving Mission (5/1), who was picked up for just 2,000gns last December, was rewarded for some solid runs in defeat lately in the Derek O’Sullivan Memorial Apprentice Handicap.
The Nathan Crosse-ridden filly had most of the field to pass with over two furlongs to run but she came with a strong and sustained charge to carry the day by one and three-quarter lengths.
“Nathan was very good on her from a wide draw. He got her settled and into a lovely rhythm and she deserved that,” commented Willie McCreery whose winner is owned by the Kilkenny and Dubai-based Highland Bloodstock Limited.
The card concluded with an eighth winner of the season for Johnny Levins as Eleuthera (9/1) and Donagh O’Connor got up in the dying strides of the TRM-sponsored five-furlong handicap. The DMS & John O’Riordan Partnership-owned gelding edged out Snow Patch to score by a head.