REST OF THE CARD

IN addition to landing the day’s feature, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore also came out on top in the Group 3 At The Races Phoenix Sprint Stakes with Washington DC.

A regular in major sprints over the last 12 months, Washington DC was stepping up to six furlongs for just the second time this year and he benefitted from a superb waiting ride from Moore. The Zoffany four-year-old was going notably well in behind the leaders from some way out but it was only nearing the last furlong that the 11/4 favourite made his move.

When he got into the clear Washington DC picked up very well and he swept by stablemate Cougar Mountain and Gordon Lord Byron to win by half a length and the same. This was a first win at pattern level for the 2015 Phoenix Stakes runner-up.

“He has loads of ability. Over five furlongs you just need a little bit of luck to deliver him – he loves going through horses,” commented O’Brien.

“I wouldn’t rule out the Nunthorpe Stakes for him and he also has the option of the Sprint Cup at Haydock next month.”

The opening leg of the O’Brien-Moore treble came when Mendelssohn took the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Irish EBF Maiden.

This son of Scat Daddy, who topped last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, finished in midfield behind The Pentagon on his debut but much better was expected this time. Mendelssohn was a well-backed 5/4 favourite and made most of the running.

FULL STRETCH

From over a furlong out he had his rivals at full stretch and he remained in command despite drifting right across the track. At the line, Mendelssohn, a half-brother to the outstanding American filly Beholder, had a length to spare over the newcomer Andesh.

“He came forward lovely from his first run but he’s still very babyish,” reflected O’Brien.

“Hopefully he’ll get the hang of things but it can take some of them two or three runs. As he’s still green you’d like to go for a winners’ race rather than head for a group race next.”

Eddie Lynam could have quite a prospect on his hands in Muirin who is under consideration for the Moyglare following her debut triumph in the Loder Irish EBF Fillies Race. This Robert Moran-owned daughter of Born To Sea was a 16/1 chance for this seven-furlong affair but turned in a cracking effort to account for the odds-on Sizzling.

Wayne Lordan’s mount was noted making good headway on the outside of the field from a quarter of a mile out and she put herself in a position to challenge. She soon looked to have the measure of Sizzling and crossed the line with three-quarters of a length to spare.

“We do like her and Wayne liked her when he sat on her recently. She is entered in the Moyglare. Her dam (Girouette) was a very good filly for Tracey Collins a few years ago,” declared Lynam.

TARGET

A tilt at next weekend’s Cambridgeshire is the target for the Paul Rooney-owned Vincy who made a taking return to action in the Gabriel Curran Memorial Handicap over a mile. The three-year-old was running for the first time since winning a Dundalk maiden in March and he made short work of some seasoned rivals.

The 9/1 chance cruised to the front for Conor Hoban nearing the furlong pole before a smooth two and a quarter-length victory over Dinkum Diamond.

“He’s a very good-moving horse and handled this ground well. He did a bit of growing after his last run so he had a break and this was a nice race to start him back in. He’ll come back for the Cambridgeshire now,” said Michael Halford.

A deserved success came the way of Jessica Harrington’s Brick By Brick in the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. The 5/4 favourite had filled the runner-up position on three of his four previous starts and enjoyed a straightforward success under Colin Keane who had him up with the pace from the outset.

Brick By Brick was in control once he dealt with the attentions of the newcomer Betsey Trotter and he went on to defeat that one by two and a quarter lengths.

“He’s done very little wrong, he’s just kept getting chinned,” declared Harrington, who trains the gelding for Anamoine Limited. “I think he’ll be better in a better race as he’d have a good chance of getting a lead. He’ll stick at this trip.”

A good first season for the capable Snowstar continued as Willie McCreery’s charge landed the Mongey Communications Apprentice Handicap under Nathan Crosse. The Godolphin-owned winner picked up nicely to strike the front in the last furlong and kept on to contain the rallying pace-setter Flawlessly by half a length. Snowstar has only finished out of the frame once from eight starts this year.

Crosse picked up a one-day careless riding ban.

“The hope was to win here and then head to Tipperary at the end of the month for a five-furlong listed race. She’s learning how to sprint and I though she got a lovely ride from Nathan who did exactly what he was told. She’s improving all the time,” stated McCreery.

ACTING STEWARDS

N.B. Wachman, Mrs T.K. Cooper, P.J.A. O’Connor, T. McDonogh, P.D. Matthews

Horse To Follow

ANDESH (M. Halford): He shaped up nicely on his debut to chase home Mendelssohn in the mile maiden. He will find a maiden success well within his reach this season.