A WEEK in which he carried all before him on the classic trial front, ended on a high for Aidan O’Brien as a dominant Broome made it 12 wins in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial for the Ballydoyle trainer.

Over the last few days Sir Dragonet, Circus Maximus, Anthony Van Dyck had all advanced their Epsom claims and left Broome with a hard act to follow. However, the runaway Ballysax Stakes winner produced an assured display under Donnacha O’Brien as he justified 2/5 favouritism.

The patiently ridden Broome had plenty to do nearing the straight but the manner in which he picked up without being asked for his all was notable as was the way he devoured the last furlong to win by two and a half lengths. He is without doubt among his stable’s foremost contenders for Epsom glory. The minor placings were filled by the winner’s stablemates Blenheim Palace and Sovereign.

“He’s lazy and that’s his way of racing. Donnacha wanted to put him down the inner and race tight on the rail as that’s what could happen at Epsom,” said Aidan O’Brien.

“We’re very happy and if you look back at the race he got there very quick considering where he came from. He’ll have learnt plenty in amongst horses and the plan for him this season was always to go to the Ballysax, come back here for the Derrinstown and then head on to Epsom.”

Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien also combined to win the Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden with the odds on Il Paradiso who had shown a good level of form to reach the frame on all three of his outings last season.

The 6/5 favourite took charge of this mile and a half race early in the straight and stuck to his task to hold his stablemate Harpo Marx by half a length.

“He got the mile and a half well and he will stay further. He’ll be coming into his own by the time the Leger comes around,” added the trainer.

WELD’S HOT STREAK

Twelve months on from winning the Derrinstown Derby Trial on this card, the Dermot Weld-trained Hazapour showed that his true calling could be at a mile as he captured the Comer Group International Amethyst Stakes.

The Aga Khan-owned son of Shamardal, who ran so well when a non-staying fifth in last year’s Derby, struck for home just under a quarter of a mile out under Oisin Orr.

Once he got to the front the 2/1 favourite maintained a clear advantage to finish two and a half lengths clear of the former National Stakes winner Verbal Dexterity.

A supplementary entry for this race, Hazapour was running over a mile for the first time since beating Hunting Horn in a Galway maiden in September 2017.

“He’s progressed from his comeback at Naas (fifth to Magical) and he’ll progress again, he’s not the finished article by any means,” stated Weld, who was winning this race for the eighth time.

“I just wanted to see him over a mile today before making plans but we will be looking at Group 2 and Group 1 races now and the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot is a possibility.”

Earlier, the Aga Khan’s Baladiya (7/2) got the day off to a bright start for the Rosewell House team as she progressed from a solid comeback on the opening day of the season to win the six-furlong Walsh Associates Architects Maiden under Chris Hayes. She overcame a wide draw to defeat the favourite Royal Court by three-quarters of a length and will now move into handicaps.

IMPROVING HAMARIYNA

A memorable day for the Aga Khan was rounded off by the victory of Hamariyna in the Group 3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes. This daughter of Sea The Moon was stepping up in grade following a recent maiden win at Tipperary and, while she doesn’t hold any big race entries, she looks worth a shot at the big time.

Hamariyna with Michael Halford and Ronan Whelan Photo Healy Racing

Hamariyna (5/1) responded well to Ronan Whelan’s promptings to shake off Fire Fly with over a furlong to run before maintaining a clear lead. At the line, Hamariyna had a length and a quarter to spare and there is surely more to come from her after just three career starts.

“It was a worry coming back in trip but it was nice to see that she has the class and the ability to come back to a mile as she wants further,” reflected Halford. “She’s not in the Guineas but she is improving rapidly and I will talk to Pat Downes and His Highness about where she goes now.”

Tom Mullins operates a notable strike rate with his flat runners at Leopardstown and he sent out Bercasa, in the colours of his wife Helen, to take the John R Fitzpatrick Agricultural Contractor Irish EBF Fillies Handicap over 10 furlongs.

Leigh Roche opted for a daring run through on the inner on the 7/2 and he was rewarded with a seamless passage into contention before Bercasa asserted to defeat Stormy Tale by two and a quarter lengths.

“Niall McCullagh rode her here last month when she made the running and he felt if she dropped in next time she could win. She will mix it over the summer. I’d hope she might progress into being a Galway Hurdle mare,” reported Mullins.

BOOST FOR VOW

King’s Vow had the misfortune to come up against the subsequent Derrinstown runner-up, Blenheim Palace, in a Navan handicap last time but better luck awaited Joseph O’Brien’s top-weight in the Mortons Coaches Handicap over a mile and a half.

The Sun Bloodstock-owned son of Frankel, who was the middle leg of a Donnacha O’Brien treble, seized control of this 21-runner affair early in the straight and ran out a commanding three and a quarter lengths winner.

The winner looks more than capable of adding to his tally in the coming weeks.