REST OF THE CARD

A BACK-to-form Awtaad did exactly what his best form entitled him to as he returned to winning ways and showed all his customary style and class in the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes.

This mile contest saw Kevin Prendergast’s stable star looking to bounce back from a disappointing trip to Goodwood for the Sussex Stakes. Chris Hayes had him ideally placed in third and the Irish 2000 Guineas winner turned for home travelling with consummate ease.

Off the last bend the English raider Custom Cut tried to steal a march on the field but Awtaad (2/1) had his every move covered and Hamdan Al Maktoum’s colt got to the front early in the last furlong. He then went to the line well to defeat Custom Cut by a length and a half, with Hit It A Bomb a further half-length back in third.

“He just wasn’t himself at Goodwood and the ground there was a bit quick for him. This ground was perfect and he did what he was entitled to. He’s just a very good horse,” stated Prendergast. “The plan is to head to British Champions Day next for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.”

In recent years, Dermot Weld has used the KPMG Enterprise Stakes as the springboard to much greater things and a similar route beckons for Zhukova following her victorious reappearance in this Group 3.

On her first outing since mid-May, Zhukova squared off against a pair of high-class three-year-olds in the relentless improver Stellar Mass and the Epsom Derby second US Army Ranger. Neither could live with the Fastnet Rock filly though as she followed in the footsteps of Rosewell House luminaries Free Eagle and Fascinating Rock by landing this mile and a half contest.

highest level

A step-up to Group 1 level will be next for Zhukova and, given the manner in which she has progressed this year, she may not have to wait long to bag a precious triumph at the highest level. Given how the race unfolded, the Pat Smullen-ridden filly was nicely placed in second from early on and when she was asked to assert inside the last quarter of a mile she took several lengths out of the field.

US Army Ranger put in some good late work, having afforded the winner a dangerous amount of leeway, but he could never get on terms with the Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez-owned filly, who prevailed by half a length.

“That was a good performance and she will have one more run this season in the Group 1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot next month,” stated Weld. “Hopefully, she’ll be a Group 1 filly before the end of the season and the best is yet to come from her. I’m looking forward to her staying in training next season.”

LANDFALL

He certainly looked the part when making a winning debut at the Curragh and Landfall more than delivered on that initial promise to claim a memorable Group 3 win for Ken Condon in the Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Stakes.

The impressive course and distance maiden winner Douglas Macarthur went off at odds-on to give Aidan O’Brien a sixth consecutive win in this mile contest. However, favourite backers knew their fate early in the straight as Landfall (9/1) was travelling much better at this point.

It wasn’t long before Shane Foley struck for home on the Myboycharlie gelding, who maintained a relentless tempo to score by two and a quarter lengths from Firey Speech, who edged out the favourite for second.

“We did really like him and he was just ready to start when he ran at the Curragh,” declared Condon, whose charge carries the colours of Carl Anthony Howell. “He acts like the good ones do, he improves week to week and work to work. He’s as good a horse as I’ve had and we’ll put him away now and aim towards some nice races next year. Shane did say that the ground was probably as quick as he would like.”

Tony Martin’s all out three-strong assault on the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Handicap could hardly have worked out better as the admirable Quick Jack edged out stablemate Pyromaniac. Now a winner of the Galway Hurdle, the amateur riders’ handicap on the opening night of Galway and this €150,000 prize, Quick Jack has the happy knack of striking at the most opportune of times.

Following his brave third in the Ebor, Quick Jack (5/1) was once again partnered by talented apprentice Oisin Orr, who rode out his 7lb claim with this success. In truth this mile and three-quarters event looked all over when Pyromaniac cruised to the front with over a furlong to run but his effort started to peter out as the line loomed.

The patiently ridden Quick Jack was produced with

a sustained bid which carried him to the front in the last couple of strides. The Martin duo were separated by a neck and there were two and a quarter lengths back to the English raider Intense Tango.

“It was a great result and the young lad gave him a fantastic ride, he took his time and went around the inside and got him there at just the right time,” commented Martin who trains the winner for John Breslin. “This horse was perhaps a bit unlucky at York when he banged his head coming out of the stalls but it worked out well today and he’s been a great servant for us. Where he goes now it all depends on the weather.”

perseverance

As the old adage goes if it first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again and Colour Blue (10/1) provided ample evidence of the rewards of perseverance as she prevailed on her third outing in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap.

Following her seventh in 2014, Willie McCreery’s charge took fourth last year but this year as she routed a competitive field.

A wide draw was no barrier to success for Billy Lee who ploughed a lonely and advantageous furrow down the centre of the course in the straight. With over a furlong to run the Garrett Freyne-owned filly was in command and she stayed on well to the line to finish with three and a quarter lengths to spare over last year’s second Withernsea.

“We were drawn wide but I was happy for Billy to sacrifice ground as I walked the track and the ground was way better where she came up. Both of the Group 1 winners came up there,” stated McCreery. “I’m delighted for the owners as they’ve been very loyal and it’s a fantastic pot to win. She’s already got blacktype and she may go to the sales later in the year.

Rain Goddess belied odds of 50/1 to make a winning debut in the Ballylinch Stud EBF Fillies Maiden where she served notice that she could be a filly of some potential for 2017. One of two runners in the race for David Wachman, who will retire at the end of the campaign, the granddaughter of Virginia Waters travelled nicely through the race for Declan McDonogh.

In the straight, the daughter of Galileo had to angle out to make her challenge and she also had to bide her time to get fully into the clear. However, when she got a chance to launch her challenge in earnest she picked up with some purpose and there was a genuine element of style about her one-length victory over Holiday Girl.

“She’s a grand, straightforward filly and got a lovely ride from Declan. She’ll be a nice filly for next year,” reported the trainer.

ACTING STEWARDS

M. O’Donnell, T. Hunt, P. Caffrey, N. O’Byrne, P.D. Matthews

Horse To Follow

ANEEN (K. Prendergast): Awtaad’s younger half-sister got her career off to an encouraging start as she took fourth in the fillies’ maiden won by Rain Goddess. She finished out her race in good style and shouldn’t be long in picking up a maiden.