Heinz a possible target for impressive Antonius Pius
Kinane always had the highly rated son of Danzig in the perfect position, ready to pounce when he judged the time to be right. English challenger, Spanish Ace, went with the winner from the furlong pole, but Kinane only asked for the minimum to score by a snug half a length.
Commented O’Brien: “That was lovely, Michael was gentle and tender and the horse learnt a lot. He could run in the Heinz, he has lots of speed, and, hopefully, will be around for the National Stakes and those type of races.”
Quizzed as to whether he was happy with his jockey, in the light of the stories which appeared in the London Times and Irish Independent recently, O’Brien responded, tongue in cheek: “He’s really getting it together, I hope they write something again this week!”
The O’Brien-Kinane combination completed a double, taking their tally for the weekend to five, when Mingun turned in a smashing performance, for a horse so inexperienced, in the Listed Budweiser Celebration Stakes.
It certainly took time for the penny to drop, but he found a terrific turn of foot inside the furlong pole to cut down long time leader, Hanabad.
“He is starting to grow up, but is still very green”, said O’Brien. “He will stay further and will like going a mile and a quarter.
“We won’t be in any hurry and he will take baby-steps. We will pick a Group race for him in the future.”
Roger Charlton’s Royal Ascot success story, Deportivo, proved much too good for his rivals in the King Of Beers Stakes.
He wasn’t well drawn, but Johnny Murtagh worked him across to the stands in no time and it was always a question of when he said go.
Murtagh pressed the button at the furlong pole and Deportivo lengthened in style to beat Osterhase a comfortable length and a half.
“I am very pleased”, reported Charlton. “He’s getting better and better and Johnny says he will get six furlongs.
“He went up 10lbs for Ascot, so I thought it best to go back to Listed company. He will keep on improving and it is now time to try him in a Group race.”
Jim Bolger’s Avorado apppeared to have plenty to do off 9-10 in the John Rarty Memorial Scurry Handicap, but, undeterred, punters made him favourite and he duly obliged.
Cool Cousin looked the likely winner when powering ahead at the furlong pole, but Avorado found plenty for Kevin Manning pressure to shoot past close home.
“He’s not a typical sprinter, he doesn’t have an early kick”, said Bolger. “He used to be a bit fragile, but is a hardy horse this season.”
Robbie Burke, struggling to make an impact since returning from Macau, got a boost when taking the Budweiser Handicap on 14-1 shot, Latino Magic.
It was a polished display by him as well as he brought the three-year-old with a sweeping challenge towards the outside to ease clear of Cache Creek inside the furlong pole.
Pat Cosgrave, who partnered Handel in the Derby, was on the mark aboard Tom McCourt’s Rainbow Dash in the Arthur Guinness Handicap. The winner got the best of a tough battle with Pakiefromathleagiue and Christophe Soumillon through the last furlong.
John Oxx celebrated a memorable afternoon when Zimbabwe, in front over two furlongs down, stayed on to win the EBF Waterford Crystal Handicap by a neck from the fast finishing Take Flite.
