REST OF THE CARD
MICHAEL Halford reached the notable landmark of 1,000 career wins in style as the Irish Derby hopeful Platinum Warrior built on a cracking effort behind Hazapour two weeks previously to land the Group 3 Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes.
A first Irish pattern race triumph for owner Zhang Yuesheng, this son of Galileo took a major step forward last time with his fourth in the Derrinstown Derby Trial and this effort cements his position as a coming force in the three-year-old middle-distance division.
Shane Foley was on board the 7/2 second favourite and the pair set sail for home with well over a furlong to run. Platinum Warrior got lonely in front and drifted out to left late on but he had still done more than enough to hold on and he finished with two and a quarter lengths to spare over the favourite Latrobe.
In victory Platinum Warrior did his bit to underline the prospects of Hazapour and Delano Roosevelt in this afternoon’s Investec Derby at Epsom.
“We don’t get many Galileos but he’s a colt with a big engine and he loves that ground. He just got a bit lonely in front but the better the race the better he will be,” declared Halford.
“I don’t think a mile and a half will be a problem for him and he will go for the Irish Derby now. Our horses were a bit slow to come to hand and we’ve just had to be patient.”
HALFORD DOUBLE
Halford then struck with the Godolphin-owned Saltonstall (7/1) in the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Habitat Handicap where the trainer saddled five runners and supplied four of the first six home.
The winner, whose season began with a second in the Irish Lincoln, led just under a quarter of a mile from home and soon had his rivals toiling. Master Speaker finished well to lead the chase but was still a length adrift at the finish.
“He’s a lovely, big horse who is still just furnishing and coming to himself and he just got stuck in the ground when he last ran at Cork,” remarked Halford. “A mile is a good trip for him and he likes this ground. He might well go for the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot.”
A splendid afternoon for Zhang Yuesheng began when Indigo Balance (7/1) further bolstered Jessica Harrington’s enviable array of juvenile talent with a debut success in the Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden.
In common with the fillies’ race run over the same six furlongs the previous afternoon, this race is often one of the most interesting two-year-old maidens in the calendar and the latest renewal wasn’t short on quality types.
One of these was the Zhang Yuesheng-owned winner who is an own-brother to the former Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Cable Bay. After picking up invaluable experience in a Dundalk barrier trial several weeks ago, Indigo Balance was thoroughly professional.
He made good headway from the rear for Colm O’Donoghue to lead with over a furlong to run and stayed on nicely to finish a length and a half ahead of fellow newcomer Decrypt who recovered well from a slow start.
“He’s a smashing horse with a lovely temperament and he ran very well in his barrier trial.
“He was very professional there and is a very straight forward colt,” reflected Mrs Harrington. “I’ll speak to the owner and Michael (Donohoe) before deciding where we go next.”
The Kevin Prendergast stalwart Aared (14/1) defied a near year long absence from the track to bag the €50,000 K Club Handicap under Dylan Hogan.
The six-year-old, who was back to the same mark (85) that he last won off, got to the front for Dylan Hogan inside the last quarter of a mile. The strong-finishing Espoir D’Soleil was bearing down menacingly as the line loomed but the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned gelding held on to score by half a length.
“He’s been with us since he was a baby. He’s had plenty of problems but he’s been a great lead horse for us – he used to lead Awtaad.
“He got a good ride from Dylan and it’s good that Dylan has his 7lb claim back,” reported Prendergast.
Emmet Mullins registered his first Curragh success as his flagbearer St Stephens Green (13/2) justified some good support in the two-mile handicap. Now a winner of six of his 18 career outings, the Annette Mee-owned gelding was travelling smoothly for Ronan Whelan early in the straight and he took over in front just inside the last furlong before a length and a half defeat of the top-weight, Clongowes.
“It had always been the plan to mix it between the flat and hurdles with him this summer.
“We’ll probably look towards Galway with him and he’ll have plenty of options. I must thank Mrs Mee for keeping him with me,” remarked Mullins.
ASCOT
Lucius Tiberius could have Ascot on his agenda after he built on some solid runs in defeat to land the 10-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The 6/5 favourite led for Donnacha O’Brien entering the last quarter of a mile and after first subduing Dawn Trouper, he stayed on well to finish a length and a quarter ahead of Escapability.
“He’s a nice staying type of horse. We’ll see what sort of a mark he gets and he might go for the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot,” reported Aidan O’Brien.
Lee ban
BILLY Lee picked up a three-day whip ban for his efforts on Bumbasina, who finished fifth in the handicap won by Aared
ACTING STEWARDS
F. Clarke, Ms. M. Cosgrave, J.F. Gillespie, P. McLernon, P.D. Matthews
Horse To Follow
MASSIF CENTRAL (M. Halford): On his first run since October, this gelding shaped up well under top weight to finish third in the handicap won by stablemate Saltonstall. He should be a major force in quality handicaps throughout the summer.