After placed efforts in listed and group-race company, Order Of St George stayed on strongly to land Her Majesty’s Plate at Down Royal.
Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old colt went off at prohibitive odds of 1/5 to account for his three rivals. He soon led, asserted a furlong and a half out and galloped away to score by five and a half lengths.
Afterwards, Joseph O’Brien said: “He did what he was entitled to do and kept it simple. He won snug and will be better when he steps up in trip. He didn’t have to improve to win today.
“He definitely could have a run before the Leger but it’s not a necessity. He’s still a lightly-raced, inexperienced horse. He has the prospect of making a very nice stayer.”
This was Order Of St George’s seventh career start and second victory.
HAYES DOUBLE
Chris Hayes was the jockey to follow on the card as he guided home a double in races five and six. Annagh Haven (13/2) cut into Oceania Queen’s lead in the final furlong of the extended mile and two fillies’ handicap and got up to win by a short-head.
Handler Michael Mulvany trained the five-year-old mare to win for his brother Laurence and said: “That was long overdue. It’s not that she is not honest, she kept finding one too good. It they were all as honest as her in the yard you’d be delighted.
“We’ve probably been running her over a bit far in her last few runs. That’s her real trip. She’s entered up in the mares’ hurdle at Galway but whether or not we go for it we’ll see.”
Annagh Haven was winning for the second time on her 33rd start.
Hayes doubled up on Paul Deegan’s Park Rebel in the Apple Orchard Handicap for three-year-olds. The 6/1 shot proved too strong for 7/4 favourite Monolight who was unable to reel him in and went down by two lengths.
Deegan said of the colt: “It was nice to get his head in front. He has always shown a little bit. He has had a couple of issues but we got those ironed out. Hopefully there’s another one or two in him. He’s progressive. He was very green in front and he idled a little bit coming to the line.
“He’ll make someone a nice jumper. He’s a big, strong, staying type of horse. He’ll go for something similar then to the sales at the end of the year. Chris is riding really well.”
LYONS AGAIN
Ger Lyons won the seven-furlong juvenile maiden last year with Belle Et Bete and repeated the feat with Roibeard. The newcomer made headway under Colin Keane to lead a furlong out and kept on well to take the spoils by two and three-quarter lengths in justifying 5/2 favouritism.
Lyons said: “He’s a typical Big Bad Bob. He’s owned by a syndicate (Roibeard Partnership) including Peter and Ross Doyle. It’s good for connections as they bred it and own the mare.
“He’s not there yet. That’s as fast as he wants. He’ll improve buckets for it as he’s a big, green baby. I could have waited a bit longer with him.
“We’ll stick to seven (furlongs) with him. I’m lucky up here for some reason. That’s why we brought him up here and for the good ground. I’m a huge supporter of the bonus initiative.”
Roibeard won his connections an extra €12,500 under the terms of the Plus 10 Bonus Scheme.
Boughtforasong had slipped down to her last winning mark of 54 and she duly obliged in the five-furlong handicap at 8/1 for trainer Georgios Pakidis. Sean Corby kept up her momentum in the final furlong to fend off hat-trick-seeking Catwilldo by half a length.
“I’d like to see her back at Dundalk. She worked really well there last week over six furlongs so I thought she would run well. She could go anywhere next over five or six furlongs on good ground,” Pakidis commented.
Peace Mission prevailed in the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden for trainer Thomas Mullins and owner Melvyn Kennedy. The three-year-old made all, with Gary Carroll in the saddle, and stayed on stoutly to score by three and three-quarter lengths.
Carroll said of the 7/4 shot: “The last day she boiled over, I don’t know what happened to her. We put ear plugs in her today and she was a different filly. She galloped the whole way. She had a lovely run on debut.”
Plough Boy followed up on his win in Tipperary at the start of the month when delivering in the seven-furlong handicap for Garvan Donnelly and Robbie Downey. The 6/1 chance came to collar Octavia inside the final furlong and got on top close home to win by a short-head.
Donnelly said: “You need to leave it as late as possible as he doesn’t do a lot in front but he is very genuine. We got him gelded. I’m delighted for (owner) John Duffy who is a neighbour of mine.
“He needs a fast run seven furlongs. He was drawn 14 but I didn’t mind as he got cover. He’s in Galway on the Wednesday I think over a mile. He probably will run under a penalty.”
Clinically abnormal
THE Turf Club veterinary officer examined Sheeba, trained by David Marnane, at the request of the stewards and reported the animal to be clinically abnormal post race.
ACTING STEWARDS
C.P. Magnier, L. McFerran, Mrs T.K. Cooper, J. Hunt, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
ACROLEINA (H. Rogers): She has dropped a long way in the handicap but finished her race very well to be a close-up third on her first start for Rogers. Looks on a good mark.