A RESURGENT Caravaggio banished the memory of a couple of recent defeats to the past as he got his season back on track in the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes.

The Commonwealth Cup hero was coming back to five furlongs for the first time since last year’s Marble Hill Stakes and he had to contend with soft-to-heavy ground. Neither were any trouble to the Scat Daddy colt who produced an impressive finishing burst which has set him up nicely for a return to the big time.

The 9/10 favourite was being niggled along sooner than a number of his rivals and he had plenty to do from midfield passing halfway. Ryan Moore never had to ask his mount for everything though and Caravaggio picked up very well entering the last furlong to collar his trailblazing stablemate Alphabet for a one-length success while Son Of Rest kept on for third.

“We’re delighted with that. It’s good to get him back and get his confidence back and he did everything perfectly there. The plan is now to head to Ascot for the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes next month,” declared O’Brien. “Today he was very settled in the stalls and he got a great ride from Ryan and in terms of the ground nothing seems to bother him. We just had the wrong shoes on him at Deauville where he was swapping and changing the whole time and never got into gear.”

TWO IN A ROW

For the second year in a row, Pat Smullen and Shamreen pulled off a front-running masterclass in the Group 2 Moyglare ‘Jewels’ Blandford Stakes as Dermot Weld’s strong finish to the season continued apace. In what looked an appreciably stronger edition than last year’s renewal, Shamreen (9/1) confirmed herself to be better than ever and she will be a worthy contender for top honours at Group 1 level in the coming weeks.

Shamreen dictated the pace at all stages and she was at her strongest over the last furlong and a half. At this point several would be challengers were stacked up behind her and waiting to pounce but the Aga Khan-owned Shamreen extended her advantage early in the last furlong. Her unfaltering tempo carried her to a three-length triumph over the always prominent Beautiful Morning.

“That was a very good performance. She was good in the Royal Whip Stakes here last month and was even better today,” stated Weld. “Just like Eziyra, she is a tough, genuine and courageous filly and she’ll now head for the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera on Arc weekend.”

EPIC WEEKEND

Master trainer Clive Cox put the seal on an epic weekend as his undefeated Snazzy Jazzy (4/1) claimed the €300,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes. After sending out Harry Angel to strike at Haydock the previous afternoon, Cox was also on the mark in a French Group 3 earlier in the day and he was rewarded in the faith he showed to fork out €65,000 for this son of Red Jazz as a yearling.

After winning at Goodwood and Windsor the Adam Kirby-ridden colt boasted a compelling profile but he did have to give plenty of weight away to a host of rivals. Snazzy Jazzy was much the best though and after making his way to the front against the rail with over a furlong to run he kept on strongly to finish three lengths ahead of Sarah Dawson’s 66/1 chance Pretty Boy Floyd.

“He was impressive. He had to give weight away there but he’s a really determined, gutsy colt and I hope that he will be up to being a stakes horse. It’s been a fantastic weekend,” reflected Cox.

STRANGLEHOLD

The English stranglehold on the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bold Lad Sprint Handicap continued as Ice Age (15/2) made it four wins in succession for the raiders in the country’s most valuable sprint handicap. A first triumph in Ireland for trainer Eve Johnson Houghton, the progressive four-year-old was also a first ride in this country for Charlie Bishop.

In truth there was hardly ever an anxious moment for the winner’s connections as Ice Age, who was bidding to defy a career-high rating of 96 as he went in search of a hat-trick, broke alertly to help force the pace. He held a definite advantage with over a furlong to run and, with the stand’s side rail to guide him home, he defeated compatriot Al Qahwa by a length and a quarter in a race where very few were ever able to get meaningfully involved.

“He’s just kept on improving this year and he’s learnt to relax better as well, he used to be inclined to do too much too early in his races,” remarked the trainer. “He’s in the Ayr Gold Cup but even with a penalty I think he might struggle to get in so I’m not sure what we’ll do next.”

LUCRATIVE

An excellent day for Jim Bolger concluded with Panstarr holding on bravely to secure a lucrative triumph in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Northfields’ Handicap. The Godolphin-owned light weight made most of the running under Rory Cleary and coped well with the testing ground to make it three wins from her last four starts.

With over a furlong to run it looked as though the 8/1 chance might be vulnerable to a couple of late finishers but she held on well. The favourite, Mawaany, was bearing down strongly approaching the line but the Pivotal three-year-old held on by a neck.

“To win any race this weekend is nice and she got a lovely ride from Rory. She’s entered in a listed race at Listowel on Wednesday and that might come too soon but we’ll probably try one of those with her,” declared Bolger.

ACTING STEWARDS

F. Clarke, N.B. Wachman, Mrs J.O. Onions, P.N. Reynolds, P.D. Matthews

Horse To Follow

The Broghie Man (B.W. Duke): On his third outing this useful maiden showed up well to finish fourth to Snazzy Jazzy in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes. He looks to handle soft ground well and, with this in mind, he can surely make his mark before the end of the season.