Sublimity decision pays off for Carr
Carr had been planning to give the five-year-old his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse last weekend but the decision to stick to the Flat was justified as Sublimity made all under Johnny Murtagh to take the €32,550 prize.
Last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe fourth Acropolis and one-time Vodafone Derby hope Cairdeas had been expected to dominate proceedings but a masterful ride from Murtagh sealed matters.
He bounced Sublimity out of the stalls and quickly got him settled in front, cutting out a fair pace before turning on the pressure three furlongs out.
Kieren Fallon had Acropolis in fourth, but he was pushing along coming to the two-furlong point, where Cairdeas launched his run.
Neither made much impact though as Sublimity, who was sent off a 16-1 shot, kept finding a bit more to beat Cairdeas a length and a half with Acropolis, the 4-7 favourite, back in third. The placed horses were subsequently reversed as interference had taken place.
Sublimity was making his debut for Carr after being bought out of Sir Michael Stoute’s yard last October.
The trainer said: “I was going to run him in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse last weekend, but I changed my mind even though he had won a few schooling hurdles. I’m not surprised by the win, but I would have been happy with third or fourth place.”
Mustameet held the late challenge of British raider Steenberg to take the Group Three Castlemartin & La Louviere Studs Gladness Stakes.
The 7-1 shot was in the front rank throughout as Senor Benny set a good pace, and he smoothly moved through to take up the running approaching the final furlong.
Mustameet just had to be kept up to his work by Declan McDonogh as Steenberg came to challenge, and he finished a length to the good, with Zarad back in third.
Mark Tompkins’ runner was filling the runner-up spot for the second successive year and looked a shade unlucky as he could not find a way through on the rails coming into the final furlong.
Winning trainer Kevin Prendergast said: “He cracked a hind cannonbone at the beginning of last year and went back to Derrinstown Stud for six months. When he won at Leopardstown he was only three-quarters ready, but it was a moderate race and he got through it.
“He has been working great. We’ll see where we go from here after speaking to the owner (Hamdan Al Maktoum), but I think he should get a mile and a quarter.”
Indesatchel put up a hugely impressive performance to claim the Oak Lodge & Hamford Stud Sires Loughbrown Stakes.
The David Wachman-trained colt was sent off a 100-30 chance under Jamie Spencer, but he was barely extended in beating favourite Merger by three lengths.
Indesatchel settled in mid-division as Violets Empire set the early pace and Spencer only had to shake the reins coming into the final furlong and his mount pulled clear of Merger in some style. Wachman was pleased to see the son of Danehill Dancer get off the mark, but he is unlikely to try Indesatchel over further than seven furlongs in the near future. He said: “He did it well today - he loves this soft ground. He’s been working really well and he looks a different horse this year, as last year he always seemed to be suffering a sore back.
“We will stick to six or seven furlongs as we don’t think he will stay a mile - maybe he will be a Jersey Stakes horse in time.”
Spencer went on to make it a double on Saintly Rachel in the Ray O’Brien Mazda Handicap.
