Wand weaves her Magic

THE teak-tough Magic Wand put the seal on a tremendous four-timer for Aidan O’Brien and Seamie Heffernan as she ran away with the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes on a rare domestic outing.

Over the course of her remarkable 25-race career, Magic Wand has raced in eight different countries and only five of her starts have been in Ireland. Indeed she had yet to win on home soil coming into this one-mile Group 2, but this looked a gilt-edged opportunity for 4/5 favourite as she had just three rivals to contend with, and she comprehensively outclassed them.

Heffernan made the five-year-old’s confirmed stamina count by setting sail for home early, and over the last furlong and a half it was all one-way traffic as Magic Wand dominated to defeat Hamariyna by four and a half lengths. This was just the second time that this race has fallen to O’Brien, whose previous success came with Airwave back in 2005.

“She’s got a lot of class and she loves fast ground which is why we opted to come here rather than Ascot where there was the chance of the ground being on the slow side,” stated O’Brien. “Next up we’d be looking at either the Eclipse or the Pretty Polly for her.”

Masterful House

For only the second time since Giant’s Causeway won the race in 2000, Aidan O’Brien claimed the Group 3 Coolmore Calyx Gladness Stakes as Seamie Heffernan produced a masterful front-running ride on Lancaster House.

The Gladness attracted just six runners and when Lancaster House (6/4) poached a lead of around four lengths shortly after jumping off it was clear his rivals faced an uphill task. The favourite Speak In Colours loomed up menacingly approaching the last furlong but an unfaltering Lancaster House was not for catching and reached the line with two and a quarter lengths to spare.

“He’s a very pacey Galileo and he’s happy to bowl along in front. Last season we backed him up pretty quickly in all his runs and I’d say he might have gone off the boil when he ran last. He might be back here on Oaks weekend for the Minstrel Stakes,” stated O’Brien.

O’Brien and Heffernan were also successful with Snow in the Irish EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile and a quarter. The O’Brien duo of Snow (5/1) and Salsa battled up front from the outset of the race.

St Clerans joined in for a period in the straight but she was soon beaten and it was left to the Seamie Heffernan-ridden Snow to fight off Salsa, whose jockey Wayne Lordan had to do without his whip for the last furlong. The front pair were separated by three-quarters of a length at the finish.

“She’s a sister to Kew Gardens and is tough. She’ll get farther and we’ll look at the Oaks for her or maybe a trial beforehand,” said O’Brien.

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Premier first for Fahey

TRAINER Mark Fahey secured his biggest success to date on the track as stable stalwart Edification turned out better than ever on his first outing since October to bag the Irish Stallion Farms Ragusa Handicap.

A close fourth at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend served notice that Edification (14/1) had a quality win within his grasp, and the very promising apprentice Gavin Ryan was nothing short of inspired on the seven-year-old.

Ryan, riding his first winner since fracturing a vertebra at Dundalk in March, timed everything to perfection on this confirmed hold-up performer. The Michelle Deane Murray-owned gelding had just a couple behind him turning in but Ryan deftly guided his mount through the field before unleashing him with a sustained burst to cut down Tartlette in the last few strides.

“That was a brilliant ride. He has to be ridden that way and Gavin could not have timed it better,” said a delighted Fahey. “At a big, galloping track like this he didn’t need too much luck in running. I’d say we might look towards Galway with him now.”

Versatile

The versatile Mutadaffeq (16/1), who was last seen winning over fences at Clonmel at the final Irish meeting before lockdown, successfully switched his attentions to the flat in the EquiNectar Handicap over two miles.

Gavin Cromwell’s charge responded to Wayne Lordan over the last furlong to come out the right side of a bobbing finish with Jerandme. The Get The Round Back Syndicate-owned gelding was notching up his third success since joining Cromwell.

“He was in great nick coming here and I thought he had an each-way chance. He’ll mix it between jumping and the flat over the summer,” commented Cromwell.

Colin Keane just lost out on Jerandme but better luck awaited in the five-furlong Platinum Bloodstock & Eyrefield House Stud Handicap over the minimum trip where Strong Johnson readily defied top weight.

The strong-travelling 7/2 favourite, who is owned by his breeder David Mooney, scored by a length and three-quarters to continue what has been a notable upswing in fortunes for trainer Kieran Cotter over the last year and a half.

“He’s improved a lot and we entered him in the Rockingham Handicap last week so hopefully he will get in at the bottom of the weights for that,” reflected Cotter, who has won with two of the five horses he has run this season.

Jessica Harrington sent out her second two-year-old winner of the week when Dickiedooda produced a nice display in the Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Fillies Maiden over five furlongs.

This 30,000gns daughter of Starspangledbanner, who is related to some decent stayers, produced a sharp and professional display under Shane Foley to race on the pace before coming home a length and a quarter ahead of Grammata.

The well-backed 5/2 favourite looks another promising type for owners Alpha Racing and should be quite at home when she moves up to stakes level.

“It’s nice she’s won as we’ve had a couple of disappointments with our two-year-olds over the last few days. She’s a lovely, uncomplicated filly,” reported Kate Harrington.