Champagne Charlie sparkles for Stack
Held up in the rear by Wayne Lordan, he came cantering behind trail-blazing South Dakota well before the furlong pole. Lordan only had to nudge him forward to lead and the imposing son of Danetime lengthened clear to score unextended by seven lengths.
“We were worried about the ground again, but I’d say he’s a very good horse”, said Fozzie Stack, representing his father.
“He will only run four times in all this season and races like the Gimcrack (York), Dewhurst (Newmarket) and the National Stakes (Curragh) will be considered.”
Both William Hill and Cashmans gave Myboycharlie a reasonably realistic 25-1 quote for next year’s English 2000 Guineas.
Stack and Lordan combined for a double when the progressive Alexander Tango landed the Listed Kilboy Estate Stakes.
Lordan, clearly a young man destined for the top, gave the daughter of Danehill Dancer a superb drive.
He got a smashing run up the far rail to lead a furlong and a half down and saved enough to hold the persistent challenge of She’s Our Mark by half a length. Said Stack junior: “The ground was a serious worry. She seems to stay well and the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood will be next.”
Redstone Dancer, who has shown huge improvement since coming into foal to Refuse To Bend, completed a hat-trick with a smooth success in the Emirates Airline Minstrel Stakes.
Kevin Prendergast’s seasonal debutante, Evening Time, was all the rage in the market, and came with every chance as they headed to the furlong pole.
Redstone Dancer had hit the front a furlong earlier however and found loads for Pat Shanahan to hold the always prominent Hard Rock City a snug three parts of a length with the favourite dropping away to fill third.
Trainer, Sheena Collins, commented: “Now I know how Aidan (O’Brien) feels all the time! She’s tough and handles the ground. I don’t know if she will run again, I will have to speak to the owners.”
Rainbow Rising, having only his second run for Ado McGuinness, landed the valuable Ladbrokes Rockingham Handicap in fine style under Declan McDonogh.
“He was trained by Howard Johnson and I bought him at the horses in training sale at Newmarket on the recommendation of Bobby O’Ryan”, reported McGuinness.
McDonogh produced the five-year-old with typical timing to burst to the front just inside the furlong pole to beat Lidanksi by half a length.
“He improved a ton for his first run”, said McGuinness. “He loves that ground, but I don’t know where he will go next, he won’t be over-raced this season.”
McDonogh landed a double when guiding Decado to a gutsy win in the Group 3 Keeneland International Stakes. Kevin Prendergast’s colt had been rested since disappointing at Leopardstown on fast ground in early May, but was a different proposition here.
He tracked the strong pace set by Cougar Bay, but was always getting the best of the battle in the last two furlongs.
Said Prendergast: “He handles all ground, except fast. He’s in plenty of races and we stuck him in the Irish Champion Stakes the other day. The way he finished there, he should stay ten furlongs.”
Jim Bolger introduced a smashing newcomer in New Approach to win the Jebel Ali Stables and Racecourse EBF Maiden.
He is certainly bred to be a champion, being by Galileo out of that terrific racemare, Park Express.
New Approach kicked under two furlongs down and though Lucifer Sam tried hard to close there was two lengths between them at the line.
Bolger won the same race a year ago with Teofilo and said that his latest star will follow a similar route.
That means the Tyros Stakes (Leopardstown) will be next, followed by the Futurity and National Stakes at the Curragh. “He is a National Stakes horse”, emphasised the shrewd handler.
The Michael Halford-trained Do The Trick took the Thalgo Ladies Handicap with any amount in hand, after hitting the front with two furlongs to run.
The six-year-old was ridden by Halford’s partner, Louise Boswell. The trainer indicated Galway was next for Do The Trick and he could run more than once at the meeting, on the flat and over hurdles.
