REST OF THE CARD
A NOTABLE absentee through the first half of the season and off the track since finishing second to Australia on this card last year, Free Eagle made an electrifying return in the Group 3 KPMG Enterprise Stakes to earn himself a shot at Group 1 glory later this autumn.
After looking a prodigious talent on his debut at this track 13 months ago, Free Eagle served notice that he remains a colt of the highest calibre to set up a possible clash with Australia and The Grey Gatsby at Ascot next month.
A stress fracture of a tibia had kept the High Chaparral colt out of action through the first half of the year but that absence didn’t prove the slightest hindrance to the 9/10 favourite.
By the time the runners were nearing the straight in this 10-furlongs contest Pat Smullen had Free Eagle stalking the pace and when the Moyglare Stud-owned colt was asked to quicken he produced a stunning display. He led a quarter of a mile from home and then stormed clear under a hands and heels ride to run out a hugely impressive seven lengths winner.
“He did it very impressively,” commented Weld. “Who knows what might have been (with regard to missing the first half of the year) but such is life and the English Champion Stakes is the logical next step. I think he’s entitled to go there although I wouldn’t totally rule out the Arc de Triomphe.”
“He had to stand in his box for 12 weeks and he’s such a laid back colt I wasn’t sure if he was as fit as I wanted him so there should be improvement to come. He’s just a very good horse,” added Weld.
On an industrious day for the raiders from across the Irish Sea, the Mark Johnston-trained Bow Creek (7/1) accounted for a strong home defence in the Group 2 Clipper Boomerang Mile.
As he looked to follow up his win in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood, the three-year-old found himself pitted against a field headed by Mustajeeb and Gordon Lord Byron and he duly turned in a career best effort.
For much of the race Bow Creek was well positioned in second for Joe Fanning and he took over the lead when the front running Leitir Mor gave best nearing the last furlong. Mustajeeb soon arrived with his effort but Bow Creek found plenty when pressed to succeed by half a length.
“It’s great to see him follow up his win at Goodwood and he would have been very unlucky had he been beaten that day (hung markedly left),” declared Johnston.
“It’s great to see what he can do when he keeps straight and I’d love to step him up to a Group 1 now. Full credit to John Ferguson for deciding to come here and I think we will look at a Group 1 for him next.”
Twelve months ago the race went to stablemate Australia and the latest running of the Group 3 John Deere Juvenile Turf Stakes signaled that John F Kennedy is ready for a crack at some of the luminaries of his generation.
Tapestry’s brother was looking to build on a decisive Curragh maiden triumph and he recorded another clear-cut success to prompt thoughts of a Dewhurst or Racing Post Trophy bid.
The 4/7 favourite went for his race early in the straight and soon held a decent lead over his rivals which saw him come home three and a quarter lengths clear of the Tyros Stakes runner-up Tombelaine.
“He came forward a lot from his first to his second run and he’s come forward again today,” commented Aidan O’Brien. “He’s a horse that you could go anywhere with, he has lots of pace and we’d be thinking of a Dewhurst with him, he’ll possibly have one more run this year. The Racing Post Trophy would be another possibility. He should improve again.”
A masterful waiting ride from Fran Berry enabled Toe The Line (7/1) to record a poignant success for the Lillingston family and give John Kiely his most lucrative victory on the flat in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Petingo’ Handicap.
In the colours of the late Alan Lillingston, who passed away last month, the daughter of Shantou had reached the frame in premier handicaps on her last two starts and picked an opportune time to add to her Roscommon maiden success. Toe The Line had plenty to do from midfield with over a furlong to run but came with a whirlwind finish under Berry to lead inside the distance and hold off Cassells Rock by a neck. “She’s always shown a lot of promise and she ran well behind the Galway Hurdle winner (Thomas Edison) at the Curragh in May and the trip was just a bit sharp for her at Killarney last time,” reflected Kiely.
“Everything went well for her today and they went a good gallop which suited and I’d say she’ll stick to the flat for a while longer - I thought we might be going jumping after this. It’s a good day to have a horse to run in races like these.”
Brian Ellison’s Baraweez (12/1) bagged his second premier handicap win of the season in Ireland as he outpointed compatriot Almargo in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Sovereign Path’ Handicap.
Colm O’Donoghue’s mount, who was furthering trainer Brian Ellison’s increasingly formidable record in major Irish handicaps, was running for the first time since his win on the concluding day of the Galway Festival.
In the straight Baraweez launched a sustained charge from midfield and this carried him past Almargo as the line loomed.
Remarkably the first two home both overcame the potentially mortal blow of being drawn in stalls 17 and 18.
“He obviously likes it over here and it’s great to have won two very valuable pots with him. He’s been very good to us considering he cost thirty grand and he’s down very well to win from a bad draw,” said Ellison.
After filling the runner-up spot on her first two outings, the Kevin Prendergast-trained Tamadhor (5/1) gained a deserved success in the seven-furlong Ballylinch Stud EBF Fillies Maiden. The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned daughter of Arcano did well to get into a good position from a wide draw and launched her challenge early in the straight.
She steadily took the measure of the front running Bocca Baciata and stuck to her task well in the last furlong as newcomer Stellar Glow finished with real purpose to get to within half a length.
“She did it well from her draw,” commented Prendergast. “I just think at the Curragh the last day (second to Run The Red Light) the ground was impossible for her. Subject to the owner’s agreement she will go next for the Group 3 C L Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh later this month.”