AS expected last night’s Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes went to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Armory who became the latest in a distinguished line of horses to have followed up a victory in the Tyros Stakes by taking this Group 2 contest but the favourite did have to work for victory.

On his last two start Armory had established himself as one of the standout Irish juveniles of 2019 and he duly maintained his winning sequence under Ryan Moore.

However, after coming between his stablemates Toronto and Iberia to lead with over a furlong to run, he had to dig deep to hold off the rank outsider Rebel Tale who ran an absolutely huge race for Andy Slattery and Ben Coen. This was a fourth Futurity in succession for the trainer and his 13th win in this race in all.

Amazing

An amazing season for Jessica Harrington’s juvenile fillies continued apace as Alpine Star, a Sea The Moon half-sister to her trainer’s brilliant champion Alpha Centauri, edged a cracking finale to the Group 2 Debutante Stakes.

A second winner of this race for Mrs Harrington following the victory of Laughing Lashes back in 2010, the Niarchos Family-owned and Shane Foley-ridden filly came out the right side of tremendous last furlong duel with Petite Mustique. Victory could have gone either way throughout the last 150 yards but the bobbing finish, which was fought out two Galway Festival maiden winners, just went the way of Alpine Star (2/1).

The talented bunch of two-year-olds at Michael Halford’s disposal this year was once again in evidence as Sinawann (9/1) progressed from a pleasing debut fifth to Lady Jane Wilde a fortnight ago to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over a mile. The victorious Aga Khan-owned son of Kingman, who has plenty of good entries, led a furlong out and found plenty for Ronan Whelan to score by a length from Agitare who had previously been touched off in a Leopardstown maiden. Halford has now won with four of the nine two-year-olds that he has run this season.

“He had a lovely introduction here and he had stepped forward well in his homework. He was always going to be better stepping up a furlong,” said Halford. “He has entries in a good few races but he’s still quite babyish and will probably probably have one more run this year.”

Newcomer

Halford and Ronan Whelan then followed up with the newcomer Sendmylovetoyou in the Sycamore Lodge Equine Hospital Maiden over six furlongs. This three-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit, who is owned by her breeder Michael Enright, is an own-sister to the Group 1-placed Emblazoned and they are out of the Cherry Hinton Stakes heroine Sendmylovetorose. The 25/1 chance came through on the stand’s side late on to account for the 95-rated Healy’s Double who was making his Irish debut after a spell in France.

“We just had to wait for a bit of an ease in the ground with her. I thought she was ready to start and she came alive well when she got here,” reported the trainer. “I think she’ll make up into a smart filly and she’ll improve plenty for the run.”

The evening began with an interesting Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for two-year-olds that had never previously run and the seven-furlong affair produced quite a taking winner in Wichita.

Seamie Heffernan was on board this Aidan O’Brien-trained son of No Nay Never and a German stakes winner and without ever being subjected to strong pressure the Ballydoyle inmate pounced late to edge out Fiscal Rules. The 5/1 shot holds an entry in next month’s Beresford Stakes back at the Curragh.