REST OF THE CARD

HE looked the part when bolting up in a maiden at Killarney last month and Johannes Vermeer took another notable step up the two-year-old ranks in the Group 3 Willis Champions Juvenile Stakes.

A fifth consecutive winner of this race for Aidan O’Brien, the Galileo colt looks tailor-made for a further rise in class this autumn and he appeals as being a leading contender for next month’s Racing Post Trophy which is his target.

Joseph O’Brien sent the winner into a challenging position at the entrance to the straight and the pair steadily mastered Waipu Cove to enter the last furlong with a useful lead.

Hard as his rivals tried they couldn’t get on terms with the 5/1 chance who finished with a length and a half to spare over True Solitaire. The favourite Sanus Per Aquam was half a length back in third.

“We’re delighted with him. He was a little disappointing the first day but he won very nicely at Killarney. He’s been working nicely and Joseph was very pleased with him there,” stated O’Brien.

Fascinating Rock made it four wins at Group 3 level with a towering display in the KPMG Enterprise Stakes and a first success at the top level later this autumn remains a very live possibility for this very talented four-year-old.

As he looked to bounce back from a somewhat below par comeback at Windsor recently, the Tattersalls Gold Cup second was allowed to go off at 2/1 under Pat Smullen.

Admittedly his market rival and favourite Answered ran no race (found to be lame behind) but the Newtown Anner Stud-owned Fascinating Rock turned this into an utterly one-sided affair. He took over the lead from the pace setting John F Kennedy with well over a furlong to run and coasted home by half a dozen lengths from Panama Hat.

“He’s a class horse and was in excellent form in the spring,” reflected Weld, whose charge does have the option of tackling next month’s British Champion Stakes at Ascot.

“He needed his run at Windsor more than I thought. I was a little disappointed with his run there but he came on a lot from it and it gave me the idea that we should try further with him. He’s won well over a mile and a half today and that opens up a lot more options for him and he has a Group 1 entry in Germany much later in the year.”

Earlier the Weld-trained Silwana (8/1) was simply different class to her rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Handicap.

Twelve months ago this Aga Khan-owned filly finished an excellent third in the first edition of this very well-endowed mile and three-quarters contest. She was 7lb higher this time around and she had a stone more to carry but that made no difference to the four-year-old. She strode purposefully to the front for Pat Smullen early in the straight en route to a resounding four and three-quarter lengths defeat of Western Boy.

“She battled very well to win a handicap on Derby weekend and ran well here behind Fields Of Athenry last time and she’s been progressing all year,” reported the trainer. “She appreciates an ease in the ground and the Loughbrown Stakes at the Curragh later this month would look the obvious race to aim towards with her.”

The admirable Custom Cut notched up the sixth pattern race triumph of his career as he led home an English one-two-three in the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes.

Trainer David O’Meara did endure disappointment with Amazing Maria in the Matron but this Danny Tudhope-ridden six-year-old made the trainer’s latest raid to Ireland a fruitful one.

The 11/4 chance wasted no time stamping his authority on the race when he made his way to the front early in the straight and it wasn’t long before victory was in the bag.

Custom Cut eventually finished with a length and three-parts to spare over Top Notch Tonto while the market leader, Lightning Spear, filled the minor placing.

“It was a great performance and he’s a tough little horse, he won a Desmond Stakes here last year,” stated O’Meara’s assistant Jason Kelly of the Gary Douglas and Pat Breslin-owned gelding.

“He often dictates but we were happy when Sir Isaac Newton went on and he gave him a nice lead. He’s won seven races for us and that’s his best so far.”

Kelinni became the second English-trained winner of the day in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap. The 4/1 favourite and jockey Gary Halpin were cruelly denied a valuable pot at York last month when collared late on after a brave effort.

A slight drop back to seven furlongs was ideal for Kevin Ryan’s charge who blitzed his rivals from the front. Halpin set sail for home off the last bend on Kelinni who kept going well throughout the last quarter of a mile. The field did close in somewhat late on but Kelinni held on well to defeat compatriot Withernsea by a length and three-parts.

“That was straightforward. We were unlucky at York when I probably went a stride quick on him and I thought that this seven furlongs around two bends was tailor-made for him,” stated Halpin (21) who was recording the biggest success of his career. “Kevin has been very good to me and has given me a good few opportunities and I’m delighted the horse won for him.”

Michael Halford will be on good terms with himself throughout the winter as he has quite a prospect on his hands in Anamba (12/1) who made a winning start to her career in the Ballylinch Stud EBF Fillies Maiden.

This Godolphin-owned daughter of Shamardal turned in a cracking effort to deny the odds-on Coolmore and one couldn’t disagree with the winning trainer’s assertion that she will shorten the winter.

The always prominent Anamba improved for Shane Foley to lead with over a furlong to run and kept going in determined fashion to deny Coolmore’s steady charge by a head. This earned the winner a 16/1 quote for next year’s 1000 Guineas.

“We’ve always liked her, she’s got a touch of class,” stated Halford. “She’s a good mover and would prefer even better ground and she’s never been off the bridle at home. She’s exciting, there’s always been something about her and I’m not pushed whether she runs again this season or not.”

ACTING STEWARDS

M. O’Donnell, F. Clarke, Ms. M. Cosgrave, M. O’Malley, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

RED STARS (J.M. Oxx): This filly improved from her debut run to finish a creditable fourth in the maiden won by Anamba. She was beaten just over three and a half lengths in what looked a decent maiden and she can be placed to advantage before the end of the season.

Answered lame

Answered was reported to have lost his action and to be lame post-race following his below-par run in the KPMG Enterprise Stakes.

Whip ban

Chris Hayes picked up a two-day whip ban for his efforts on Top Notch Tonto in the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes.