WAYNE Lordan bagged his second treble in as many days and it featured a pair of Group 3 triumphs for Joseph O’Brien and owner Lloyd Williams, with the first of these coming courtesy of Buckhurst in the Dubai Duty Free Jumeirah Creekside Hotel Alleged Stakes.

This son of Australia has been a formidable competitor at 10 furlongs for some time now and a fully merited crack at the highest level is the next step for the likeable four-year-old who made it three course and distance pattern race victories.

Just three went to post and Buckhurst and Wayne Lordan controlled this race from the outset. Sir Dragonet and Numerian both closed up with strong efforts inside the last quarter of a mile but when the 13/8 second favourite had to raise his game, he did so in typically smart fashion to contain the odds-on Sir Dragonet by a length and a half.

“He was unlucky to be beaten in a bobbing finish at Navan a few weeks ago and he improved from that run and the longer trip,” reflected O’Brien. “With three runners something was always going to get control of the race and Wayne gave him a lovely ride. The obvious race to go for now is the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the end of July.”

Bounced back

Later it was the turn of Twilight Payment to strike for O’Brien and Lordan in the Group 3 Comer Group International Vintage Crop Stakes.

This hardy and durable performer, who is a staple of good staying races, put his comeback second in the Saval Beg Stakes to good use. He bounced out for Lordan to make all and had any amount left in reserve in the straight to contend with various challengers.

The strongest effort came from Barbados but he was still two and a half lengths adrift at the line. Last year’s shock Irish Derby scorer Sovereign ran a solid race in third on his first run since then.

“He’s a good hardy horse who likes it around here and he’s hard to pass. He’s come on since the Saval Beg. He’ll campaign in all those nice staying races and might be back here for the Curragh Cup next. I think putting cheekpieces back on him today helped,” said the trainer.

Lordan’s day kicked off with a wide-margin Ballydoyle winner as Serpentine finished nine lengths clear of his nearest rival in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Village Irish EBF Maiden over 10 furlongs. This colt sported first-time cheekpieces as he looked to build on a decent fifth to Galileo Chrome on his reappearance, and he was sent into a commanding early advantage.

The 5/2 favourite had a strong tail wind in the straight to guide him home and, while a couple of rivals closed up a quarter of a mile out, Serpentine galloped on relentlessly to clear away once more.

“He’s a horse we’d see as a St Leger type and it will be interesting to see him over a mile and a half next time. Possibly he’d be one for a Great Voltiguer at York,” said Aidan O’Brien.

Ancient Spirit and Frenetic impress

THE former German classic winner Ancient Spirit, who defeated Buckhurst in last month’s Heritage Stakes, continued his resurgence in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Celebration Stakes. He is now trained by Jessica Harrington.

Inhale gave this a good go from the front but began to falter approaching the last furlong and the Shane Foley-ridden Ancient Spirit (100/30) closed in along with several others. The Zhang Yuesheng-owned five-year-old moved on and he defeated the Lincoln hero Bowerman by a length.

“It’s nice to see him back up what he did at Navan and he’s growing in confidence all the time,” stated the trainer’s daughter Kate. “He’s in races like the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Meld Stakes but Mum will talk to the owner and Michael Donohoe about options.”

Bolted up

The Ger Lyons-trained Frenetic (10/11) absolutely bolted up in the Listed Gain First Flier Stakes which was the first two-year-old stakes race of the season in Ireland.

This SBA Racing Limited-owned daughter of Kodiac impressed on her debut at Navan last month and once again looked the part with a powerful display.

The 10/11 favourited ploughed a lone furrow for Colin Keane towards the stands’ side and was simply in a different league to her opposition as she finished with five lengths to spare over Mooneista.

By way of context, a winning time of just over 59 seconds has been bettered in only two editions of the Marble Hill Stakes (when it was run over five furlongs) over the last 26 years.

“I felt she was the fastest we have and had things worked out differently she would have been our Queen Mary Stakes filly,” stated Lyons. “We are going to work back from the Cheveley Park Stakes with her.”

Hogan’s value buy hits the jackpot

THE 16,000gns paid by Denis Hogan to secure Big Baby Bull from Richard Hannon’s yard last October is looking like exceedingly good value after Joey Sheridan’s mount won the €75,000 Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Handicap in clear-cut style.

The Big Blue Star Syndicate-owned gelding made a pleasing debut for Hogan to finish fourth at Leopardstown six days previously and stepped forward from that to indicate that he could well have another major handicap prize in him over the coming months. Big Baby Bull (11/1) seized control of this seven-furlong contest with well over a furlong to run and went on to defeat Current Option by a length and a quarter.

“We went a fair clip but my horse kept going forward for me and looks like he will get a mile,” observed the winning rider. “He came forward well from Leopardstown and he’s another very clever purchase by Denis who does so well with these horses.”

Big Gossey was a taking winner of a Dundalk conditions race just before Christmas and he more than confirmed that promise by returning to action with victory in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Handicap.

This three-year-old-only six-furlong race looked competitive but from some way out the eye was drawn to the 82-rated Big Gossey (14/1) who travelled powerfully, asserted in good style with well over a furlong to run and sustained that effort in good style for Michael Hussey to finish half a length clear of Flaming Moon. Charles O’Brien trains this talented son of Gutaifan for the Allegro Syndicate.

“The fact he stayed the six furlongs well gives him a lot more options. The trip was a concern beforehand but he saw it out. He could well come back to five for a three-year-old handicap here at the end of July,” reported the trainer.