HE has had to grow up quickly in the last month but Southern France is doing so in commendable fashion and his second victory in six days, in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats Stakes, underlined his position as a coming force in the staying division.
Fresh from his maiden win at Leopardstown the previous Sunday, the Ballydoyle colt coped well with a rise in class for this one-mile, five-furlong contest to justify his position as the 4/7 favourite. Donnacha O’Brien was again on board the likely Royal Ascot contender and the pair were well placed throughout.
Southern France, who only made his debut late last month, had improved into the front rank as the runners turned for home and moved on with over a quarter of a mile to run. He gave the impression that he had this race under control from this point and he responded well inside the distance when Drapers Guild made his bid. At the line, Southern France had half a length to spare, with Whirling Dervish another length and three-quarters back.
“He stays well and we didn’t go that quick so I wanted to make it a bit of a test. He had a look around when he got there,” said the rider. “He’s going to be a lovely horse next year when he’s strengthened up but the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot would look a logical race for him.”
The remainder of the card belonged to Declan McDonogh who reeled off a treble which was completed by the promising newcomer Broad Street in the 10-furlong Navanadventuresports.ie And Multiactivity Pack Maiden.
This Khalid Abdullah-owned son of Sea The Stars was a well-backed 11/8 favourite and travelled strongly before quickening into a clear lead approaching the last furlong. He ran on nicely in the closing stages for a smooth one and three-quarter-length victory over Lucius Tiberius.
“He’s still a bit green but he did what we thought he’d do and we’ll look at next month’s Silver Stakes at the Curragh with him. He’s growing and furnishing and time has paid dividends with him,” remarked Weld.
The Rosewell House trainer and McDonogh also struck with Betsey Trotter (5/2) who bagged the near six furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden to build on three placed runs last season. In the colours of The Grey Gatsby’s owner Frank Gillespie, the daughter of Camacho led with over a furlong to run for a length and quarter triumph over Scream.
CONSISTENT
“It’s nice to have her owner here today to see the filly win. She was very consistent last year and deserved her success,” declared Weld.
The middle leg of McDonogh’s treble came courtesy of John Kiely’s Decision Time (6/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.
Now a dual flat winner to go with victories in a bumper and over hurdles, the Liam Gleeson-owned daughter of Milan came with a strong last furlong charge to nail the hat-trick chasing Bianca Minola.
“She’s a nice, consistent mare and it’s nice to come up here with one good enough to win. Good ground is what she wants and we’ll mix it with her for the summer,” declared Kiely.
For the second time in as many weeks Michael O’Callaghan unveiled a smart juvenile newcomer as Evasive Power overcame distinct signs of inexperience in the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Eight days previously stablemate Recon Mission put himself in line for Ascot with a debut win at the Curragh and this son of Elusive Quality also has the Royal meeting on his agenda.
A $4,000 purchase at Keeneland in September, Evasive Power was allowed to go off at 22/1 and he found himself towards the rear of the field early on.
He was being niggled along sooner than a number of his rivals but he responded well to Leigh Roche’s promptings to come with a powerful surge over the last furlong. Evasive Power got to the front for a neck success over Silver Service, with the odds-on Coral Beach a further half-length back.
“He’s a lovely horse who showed plenty of speed at home but I thought that he was maybe a gallop short,” reported O’Callaghan. “He was green but when he figured it all out he came home well. He’s a proper fast ground horse and he will probably go to Ascot. He may need another run.”
Ger Lyons has a sprinter to look forward to in Blue Uluru (4/1) who readily overcame her elders in the five-furlong Mathews Agri Handicap to look one that could hold her own in better company.
The daughter of Choisir, whose New York-based part owner Nicholas Varney made it to the track just in time for this contest, was all the better for her comeback second at Dundalk. She quickened smartly for Gary Carroll to take the measure of Oneoveryou nearing the furlong pole for a length-and-a-half triumph.
“We’ll concentrate on five furlongs on fast ground for the moment. She’s done some growing from two to three and she’s not done yet,” declared Lyons. It’s all about getting blacktype with her and it may be that she won’t get that until she’s four. She’s progressing and mentally she is doing everything right at the moment.”
Julia’s Magic (16/1) provided Denise Foster with her first success of the campaign with an especially tenacious success in the five-furlong Meridian Security Handicap.
The Dandy Man filly was 8lbs higher than when signing off for 2017 with victory in a Dundalk nursery but coped well.
Julia’s Magic looked booked for a minor role with over a furlong to run but meeting the rising ground she finished in great style to score by three parts of a length from the dead-heaters Early Call and Premier League.
“She’s bigger and stronger this year and I think she can improve again when she gets six furlongs,” reported the trainer whose charge is owned by Sandra Fox.
Whip ban
BILLY Lee was suspended for one day for use of the whip on Bianca Minola.
ACTING STEWARDS
R. Dore, P. Caffrey, T. Hunt, J. Collins, H. Hynes
HORSE TO FOLLOW
BORAGH STEPS (J.P. O’Brien): This filly ran better than her sixth-place finish behind Julia’s Magic would suggest and she would have been closer with a smoother run in.