HE further enhanced his tremendous record in the penultimate pattern race of the domestic season, but a 12th Killavullan Stakes triumph for Aidan O’Brien came from a somewhat unexpected quarter as the Michael Hussey-ridden Coral Beach took centre stage.

After beginning her career with an excellent third to Fairyland at Naas in May, Coral Beach had to wait until her 11th outing to get off the mark in a Cork maiden 10 days before this. She then had to settle for fifth in a Navan listed four days later and here the 16/1 shot took on some decent colts over seven furlongs.

Hussey, who won this race on the O’Brien-trained Craftsman in 2013, took his time on Coral Beach as she looked to become the fourth filly to win this race in the last seven years. As the chief Ballydoyle hope Old Glory led the field into the straight, Coral Beach cruised into contention and she then stole up the inside of her stablemate to edge ahead passing the furlong pole.

After finding herself in front, she went to the line well to prevail by a length. Jim Bolger’s Guaranteed took second with Old Glory third and the favourite, No Needs Never, having to settle for fifth.

“She’s a filly with plenty of ability and travelled really well through the race,” said Hussey. “I probably got there too soon on her but she did it well. She got her head in front at Cork recently and that’s done her confidence a lot of good.”

WELD TREBLE

The remainder of the day belonged to Dermot Weld and Declan McDonogh who reeled off an impressive treble that offered the promise of some big days ahead in 2019. The third winner of the afternoon for the Rosewell House team was supplied by the classy Flavius (9/4) in the Listed Trigo Stakes.

This Khalid Abdullah-owned son of War Front had been restricted to just one previous outing this season and he progressed markedly from that run to leave his trainer contemplating Group 1 targets next season. The strong-travelling Flavius looked to have everything covered from early in the straight and he ran out a cosy half-length winner over Flight Risk.

“He’ll be a nice horse for group races next season,” declared the winning trainer. “The Tattersalls Gold Cup might be a race for him. He’s got the physique, the pedigree and a very good turn of foot. We’ve had our little problems getting him right but I’m really looking forward to next year with him.”

The juvenile maidens at this meeting often see promising Weld inmates and he duly secured both the colts’ and fillies’ mile races with decent types. The trainer has lots to look forward to with Rakan, the first foal out of his Oaks runner-up Tarfasha, who announced himself as a middle-distance prospect of real substance in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden.

The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned son of Sea The Stars was all the better for a recent debut third to Norway at Naas and he made much of the running.

Mr Secretary was a threat for most of the straight but Rakan (4/1) lengthened away in style in the closing stages for a commanding two and three quarter-length triumph.

POTENTIAL

“He’s a lovely-actioned horse. He improved nicely from Naas and he’ll improve again,” stated Weld. “He’ll be a lovely horse over 10 furlongs or a mile and a half next season and he could reappear next spring in the Derrinstown Derby Trial.”

Earlier the Weld-trained Lightning Amber (6/1) got her turn in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile. The Moyglare Stud-owned daughter of Dutch Art struggled in a Group 3 last time but had previously been placed in races won by a Group 2 winner, a Group 1 second and a listed winner so she deserved to her turn.

Declan McDonogh got her across from a stall 17 draw to hold a good position and from early in the straight she appeared to have the front-running Flowering Peach covered. Lightning Amber took charge of the race over the course of the last furlong and then held the staying-on Heliac by a neck.

“She’s a very genuine filly who got a good ride from Declan and I hope that she will make up into a stakes filly next season,” observed Weld. “She was big and immature earlier in the season but she’s filling into her frame now.’’

Apprentice Shane Crosse, who only recorded his first success in April, moved on to the 21-winner mark as he teamed up with Joseph O’Brien for a double.

The brace was completed by the progressive Perfect Tapatino (5/2) made it three wins from his last four starts in the mile and a half handicap.

Seven of the runners were still in with every chance deep inside the final furlong but the Charles Fipke-owned and bred four-year-old edged ahead late on to see off One Cool Poet.

Earlier, Crosse and O’Brien struck with Arcturus (8/1), one of four runners in the race for the trainer, in the mile nursery. An initial mark of 78 didn’t look too harsh for the Listowel maiden winner and he picked up well from the rear of midfield to strike the front with over a furlong to run.

The Annus Mirabilis Syndicate-owned winner finished with a length and a half to spare over Harvest Bow.

Innamorare (12/1) has certainly rewarded the faith of Gavin Cromwell and owner Peter Michael since they paid €17,000 for her out of a Gowran Park claimer last month.

On her second start for her new connections she picked up over €18,000 when winning a Cork handicap and she topped that up with a further €15,000 by landing the Tote Handicap over a mile. Andy Slattery’s mount just got the better of a last furlong tussle with Dream Of Words.

“It was another step up in class for her today but she’s handled it. Hopefully, we can pick up another one with her before the end of the season,” commented Cromwell.

stablemates

Michael Halford sent out a one-two in the Tote Maiden over nine furlongs as the Godolphin-owned and Ross Coakley-ridden Cockalorum (10/1) outpointed Pienta.

The stablemates went toe to toe over the last furlong and a half with the 77-rated Cape Cross gelding shading the verdict by a neck on his first outing since June.

“He showed a bit early on and then we gelded him after he ran on quick ground at Listowel in June. I’d just been waiting for a little ease in the ground with him and he’ll go to the Goffs Horses In Training Sale next month,” reported Halford.

ACTING STEWARDS

T. Hunt, T. Breen, R. Hall, G.V. Magee, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

DREAM OF WORDS (J.S. Bolger): A dual winner earlier in the season, this filly bounced back to form when finishing a neck second to Innamorare in the mile handicap. She could be placed to advantage soon.