THE Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is the target for Radanpour after he dug deep to stay unbeaten on quicker than ideal ground in the Listed King George V Cup last Friday night.
A debut victory at Tipperary and a facile success in a three runner contest at Gowran saw the Aga Khan-owned son of Sea The Stars returned the 4/5 favourite for this mile and a half contest.
Those two wins were achieved on testing ground and Radanpour was stepping into the unknown as he switched to good to firm but he showed a very willing attitude to carry the day.
Pat Smullen made the running on the market leader who responded gamely to pressure off the last turn to maintain a slender lead over Morning Mix and Wooden Heart.
To his credit Radanpour fought all the way to the line but Morning Mix and the patiently ridden Bondi Beach were bearing down menacingly as the finish loomed. However, the market leader held off those dead-heaters by half a length.
“That was mission accomplished but the ground has gotten pretty quick and I don’t think I’d run him on ground that quick again,” said Dermot Weld.
“If we get nice ground he will go for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. He hits the ground hard and will always appreciate a little ease and he’s a lovely, genuine colt who will have learnt an awful lot from that race.”
The Ascot Gold Cup hopeful Kingfisher gave Donnacha O’Brien (16) his first victory at stakes level as he swooped late in the Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Savel Beg Stakes.
Last year’s Irish Derby second, whose jockey is currently sitting his Leaving Certificate, was paying a handsome compliment to fellow Gold Cup contender Forgotten Rules who beat him almost eight lengths in last month’s Vintage Crop Stakes.
Kingfisher (4/1) bided his time in midfield and he found himself with plenty to do from seventh as the runners filed into the straight.
When he got into the clear and was asked to go forward,the Galileo horse responded well and moved into a closing fourth approaching the last furlong.
At this stage Panama Hat was fending off all challengers up front but Kingfisher’s surge was irresistible and he led in the final strides to succeed by half a length. Drifting Mist took third ahead of Shu Lewis.
Afterward Aidan O’Brien’s wife, Annemarie, commented: “The object coming here was to get him to relax and he did that and he stayed very well. After that you’d have to let him take his chance in the Gold Cup.”
A Royal Ascot bid is on the cards for Tonkinese who easily justified 8/11 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden where he built on his promising debut third to Air Force Blue.
Shane Foley made the running on the Godolphin-owned son of Authorized who went into a clear advantage with well over a furlong to run. Tonkinese wasn’t doing much in front in the closing stages but he still finished three lengths clear of Pleascach’s half-brother Brontide.
“He’s very straightforward and he had a good draw so the plan was to jump smart and hopefully get some company,” remarked Michael Halford.
“Shane said that he still felt very green and that he didn’t do much in front but he gave him a lovely feel. We’ll consider the Chesham for him next.”
A cool Connor King guided Long Journey Home (7/1) to his first win since August 2013 in the William Fry Apprentice Handicap.
The John Donnelly-owned seven-year-old, who had run a number of good races in defeat since his last win, was poised in behind the leaders turning for home.
King exuded the utmost confidence at all stages before allowing his mount to saunter to the front inside the last furlong. Long Journey Home quickly put the result beyond doubt to defeat Stronger Than Me by three and a quarter lengths.
“He got a good ride from Connor. He’s been running consistently since he last won and has picked up plenty of prize money,” reflected trainer Danny O’Sullivan. “He might go for a premier handicap at Cork on Sunday.”
Sang Tiger (11/1) gave trainer James Lambe his first winner since September as he came out the right side of a five way finish to the RSM Farrell Grant Sparks Handicap.
Entering the last furlong there wasn’t much covering the leading quartet but the Declan McDonogh-ridden winner, who was hard at work in fifth for some time, swept to the front late on to account for the strong travelling Storm Away by three-parts of a length.
“He’s a summer horse and was brought in with Galway in mind,” reported Lambe of the Orla Cleary-O’Kane-owned winner. “He might have another run before Galway and hopefully he’ll be one for a nice staying handicap hurdle there.”
Law Major, who comes from the family of some talented Jim Bolger inmates, made a winning debut for the Coolcullen trainer in the mile maiden.
Also a relation of the Dewhurst Stakes hero Belardo, the Ballylinch Stud-owned colt wasted no time opening up a good lead when Manitobian dropped away early in the straight.
Kevin Manning’s mount did tire somewhat late on but got home by half a length from Monolight. The latter compromised his chances with a slow start and was under pressure some way from home but did come home well.
“I thought he’d run well but you never know what you are taking on in these maidens,” commented Bolger. “He didn’t have a lot to spare at the line. We’ll see what the handicapper rates him.”
Pat Smullen added to his victory on Radanpour when teaming up with the Tracey Collins-trained Beat The Ballot in the Tierone Handicap over a mile.
After looking on from second Beat The Ballot headed the front running Mezogiorno early in the last furlong en route to a two lengths triumph. The 7/1 co-favourite of three carries the colours of the trainer’s mother, Barbara.
ACTING STEWARDS
C. Cunningham, L. McFerran, J.F. Gillespie, J. Martin-Smith, S. Quinn
HORSE TO FOLLOW
MORNING MIX (J.S. Bolger): This colt showed significant improvement on his comeback fifth in a Curragh maiden to dead heat for second in the King George V Cup. He won’t have to wait long for his first victory and could pick up a decent prize at some point.