JUST five days after shedding his maiden tag Giuseppe Garibaldi made the breakthrough at listed level as he ran out a convincing winner of the King George V Cup. This suggests that Aidan O’Brien could have a fast-improving middle-distance three-year-old on his hands.

Although, the Galileo colt had to wait until last Saturday to win his first race. He showed considerable promise last term when he split Flag Of Honour and Hazapour in the Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes at this track. The smooth manner of Coolmore Partners owned-Giuseppe Garibaldi’s maiden win saw him go off the 7/4 joint-favourite with Carlo Biraghi and his supporters would have been looking on contentedly from some way out in this mile and a half event.

Donnacha O’Brien’s mount was going nicely in behind the leaders nearing the straight and then began to unwind with a strong challenge from the turn-in. He headed stablemate Lucius Tiberius a furlong from home and stayed on to finish with two and a half lengths to spare over Cimeara.

Chris Hayes reported to the stewards that Carlo Biraghi became fractious in the stalls and ran too free after the colt finished at the rear of the field.

“We went a nice, even gallop and I had a good position throughout the race,” said Donnacha O’Brien. “He’s still babyish but I liked him last year and he’s a horse with plenty of ability. He’s a nice horse going forward and may be a Queen’s Vase type but I’ll leave that to Dad.”

BETTER DISTANCE

The sparingly campaigned Zorion, who looked such a fine prospect winning at Roscommon maiden in August 2016, made his second venture into listed company a winning one in the Glencairn Stakes. The Jim Bolger-trained four-year-old was making just the seventh appearance of his career and needed to bounce back from an unplaced run over six furlongs at the Curragh late last month.

On this occasion the son of Smart Strike was trying his hand at a mile and he revelled in this longer trip to reward those that ensured he was returned a well-backed 100/30 second favourite. The Godolphin-owned colt held every chance with over a furlong to run and ran on splendidly for Kevin Manning to force his way past Denis Hogan’s game front runner Allegio in the final yards.

“He showed plenty of boot around here to win over seven furlongs last month and I thought that the six furlongs at the Curragh would be a nice race for him but it was too short,” remarked Bolger. “I always thought that he would get to this level and hopefully he’ll go for something on Derby weekend.”

Moravia (4/1) served notice that she is a coming force in the juvenile fillies’ division as a step up to seven furlongs in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden allowed her to showcase the full extent of her abilities. The Sean Jones and David Spratt-owned daughter of Siyouni began her career with encouraging displays over six furlongs but was clearly all the better for a move away from sprint distances in a race that was won by September 12 months ago. The front-runner asserted in fine style for Colin Keane over the last quarter of a mile to finish with four and a half lengths to spare over Chicquita’s first foal, Secret Thoughts.

“She surprised me at Naas last time (fifth to Servalan) as the first thing Gary (Carroll) said when he got off her was that she couldn’t lie up,” remarked trainer Ger Lyons. “Colin loved her there and said she loved that ground and he said it’s all about that sort of trip with her. I got the trip wrong last time but we have a lot to look forward to now.”

DOUBLE

As well as landing the King George V Cup, Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien struck with the reliable Coolmore Partners-owned Bond Street. This was the second victory of the season for the 10/11 favourite in the seven-furlong rated race, signalling that he could be ready to tackle a higher grade.

Aidan O’Brien’s 89-rated son of Galileo has been a very reliable type this term and came here off a good second to Medal Of Honour at the Curragh last month. Donnacha O’Brien had Bond Street showing in front from before halfway and the pair held a useful lead over their toiling rivals with well over a furlong to run. Bond Street eventually finished three lengths ahead of Mattymolls Gaga.

“I wanted to be forward on him as I know he stays further. He’s a consistent sort and anything from seven furlongs to a mile and a quarter on fast ground is good for him,” reported the winning rider.

BACK ON-FORM

Hurricane Sky (11/1) ended a near three-year spell without a victory with a resounding success in the T.P. Quinn Memorial Apprentice Handicap. The Charles O’Brien inmate, who has notched up three of his five victories at this track, was produced from off the pace by Tom Madden to lead with around a furlong to run and he stormed clear to score by four and three-quarter lengths.

“He ran well from a coffin draw (stall 23) here last month and thought he’d come on a fair bit for that run. He could well be back here next Thursday for another handicap,” reported O’Brien who trains the nine-year-old for J.P. McManus.

Dance Alone has taken some time to rediscover his best form but a victory in the mile handicap meant that Damien English’s charge took his recent record to two wins and a second from his last four starts.

In a race where many of the contestants struggled to land any sort of a meaningful blow, the Rory Cleary-ridden gelding was well placed in a share of third turning for home. A willing Dance Alone (12/1), who is owned by the On Each Way Syndicate, found a way past Ruler Of France deep inside the final furlong and he held the oncoming Mr Ormsby by half a length.

“He ran a blinder at Gowran last week (second to Arbourfield) when he was drawn wide and got a little unbalanced. He’s in great form and I’d say he will probably go to Roscommon on Monday now,” declared English.

Waitingfortheday (11/4), owned by Agnes Roche, became Joseph O’Brien’s sixth winner of the week in the three-year-old seven-furlong handicap.

Seamie Heffernan’s mount still looked to have plenty left in reserve when she headed the front-running Feisty Katerina deep inside the last furlong. She was then eased down in the last few strides which allowed the strong-finishing Hey Pretty get to within a neck, but the daughter of Elzaam was value for more than the winning margin would suggest.

ACTING STEWARDS

T. Hunt, M. Hillman, J. Gaisford-St Lawrence, M. Magnier, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

POSH HOLLY (E. Mullins): This daughter of Morpheus progressed from her Curragh debut a month ago to run a very creditable third in the maiden won by Moravia and she be more than capable of making her mark in a maiden this summer.