PIZ Badile substantially enhanced his Derby credentials and announced himself as a major player in the three-year-old middle-distance scene with an ultra-game triumph in the Group 3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes.

Donnacha O’Brien’s Ulysses colt lined up in this 10-furlong affair off just two juvenile starts, both of which had marked him out as a colt of some promise for 2022, and there was lots to like about this reappearance effort.

Yet another notable graduate of a Killarney two-year-old maiden, the Flaxman Stables-owned colt quickened nicely for Gavin Ryan to get to the front well over a furlong from home.

Reserves

When Buckaroo came with a searing charge down the outer, he seemed certain to carry the day but once headed Piz Badile found further reserves. A bobbing finish ensured and in the final yards Piz Badile forced his way ahead to prevail by a short head.

There was just under four lengths back to Duke De Sessa who also shaped with plenty of promise on his first outing since defeating Piz Badile in the Eyrefield Stakes here last October. Five of the last eight winners of this race have gone on to top-flight success.

“He’s always been a beautiful colt and I’m really pleased to see him quicken like he did as I know he will stay a mile and a half and he has the class to go with it,” said O’Brien.

“The plan had always been to go for this, come back for the Derrinstown Derby Trial and then go on to Epsom.”

More Glory

The day got even better for Donnacha O’Brien and Gavin Ryan as Simply Glorious struck at 14/1 in the three-year-old 10-furlong handicap for a Coolmore partnership. This superbly bred daughter of War Front, who won a maiden on her final outing at two, was clearly all the better for an unplaced comeback run at Dundalk a month ago.

She struck the front inside the last quarter of a mile and kept on bravely to hold off the top weight Enthrallment by a neck. The winner is an own-sister to the Group 1 winners Roly Poly and U S Navy Flag.

“I fancied her in Dundalk last time but she ran bad for whatever reason. I thought she was well handicapped and thankfully she showed it today. She could go for another handicap and if she keeps progressing we could try for blacktype somewhere,” reported O’Brien.

AFTER enduring a narrow defeat in the Ballysax and also sending out the runner-up in the 1000 Guineas Trial, Joseph O’Brien got among the winners when new recruit Haziya bolted up in the 50-85 rated mile handicap.

This Kieran Leavy-owned four-year-old had shown an encouraging level of form in five outings last term. The very well-backed 13/8 favourite was always well positioned for Mikey Sheehy behind the leaders and from some way out she had everything covered.

She eased to the front for Mikey Sheehy and had any amount to spare in beating Jungle Cove by three lengths. The manner of her success prompted her connections to turn her out again at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

Classical Songs

Dermot Weld is hot on the trail of another classic success as Homeless Songs made a striking return to the fray in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud ‘Priory Belle’ 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes, a race which has emerged as one of the foremost fillies’ classic trials in recent times.

This Moyglare Stud-owned filly looked a huge talent when making a winning debut at this track last summer. The daughter of Frankel couldn’t match that level of form on her next two starts but here she laid down a marker for 1000 Guineas glory either at Newmarket or the Curragh.

A confident Chris Hayes took his time on Homeless Songs (6/1) before unleashing her with a potent challenge in the straight. An electrifying turn of foot heading into the last quarter of a mile carried her into contention and she sustained that effort to see off the Group 2-winning Agartha.

At the line Homeless Songs had a length to spare with Villanova Queen catching the eye to lie a further three-quarters of a length back in third.

“She’d been working extremely well and got a confident ride from Chris,” stated Weld. “She’s entered in the English and Irish 1000 Guineas and I’ll speak to (owner) Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner about where she goes. She’s got a lot of pace and I’d be very hopeful that she will bring that up to a mile.”

A DAY to cherish for John McConnell ended on a great note as Zahee, ridden by the trainer’s son Cillian, landed the 47-70 rated mile handicap for the yard just a couple of hours after Anna Bunina landed the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

The 119 Partnership-owned 16/1 chance was locked away on the inner for much of the straight but when he got into the clear he picked up in great style to hit the line two and a half lengths clear of the recent Curragh winner Massaman.

The victorious seven-year-old was notching up his third success for the trainer since being picked up in a claimer just over a year ago.

Doctor Zempf in control

THE Group 1-placed juvenile Dr Zempf got his second season off to a winning start after the Listed Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes.

The 11/10 favourite looked on from second for Colin Keane before taking control of this race shortly after the turn in when Glounthaune gave way. As the line neared, The Acropolis was closing in on Dr Zempf but the Peter Brant-owned son of Dark Angel still held sway by half a length.

“He just parks up in front which is what he does at home,” reflected Lyons. “He needs to improve for a Guineas and he will get a mile no problem.”

Noel Meade’s bright start to the season continued as Hotel Wren (7/1) got off the mark at the third attempt in the mile maiden.

This son of Dragon Pulse, who is owned by the London Racing 3 Partnership, was second in a Cork maiden over six furlongs on his most recent outing last September.

Wren flies

Oisin Orr sent him in pursuit of Janoobi early in the straight and Hotel Wren responded willingly to close down his rival before edging ahead in the final yards. “Oisin said he’ll get further and he’s a great mover who will go on quicker ground,” declared Meade.