Plain sailing for Sydney Harbour in the end
The son of Holy Roman Emperor tried to make all and was just about in front of eventual winner, Sydney Harbour, when literally collapsing to the ground with well over a furlong to go.
Murtagh took a horrible fall, but fortunately escaped with only a bad shaking and a cut to his nose. Petronius Maximus too was relatively unscathed.
Sydney Harbour had been beaten at long odds-on at Limerick previously - ironically partnered by Murtagh - but was backed here from 11-2 to 4-1.
Ridden this time by Michael Cleere, he appeared poised to take over from Petronius Maximus, when that horse departed, and soon lengthened clear to beat Dermot Weld’s newcomer, and major eye-catcher, A Word Apart.
Commented Wachman: “Michael thought he had the other horse covered. Our fellow is getting better and is well entered up.”
The Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Sapphire Stakes saw English horses fill the first five places, with victory going to Ron Harris’ Glamorous Spirit.
She flew out of stalls and made every yard of the running for Kieren Fallon to beat Reverence by half a length.
Reported Harris: “She’s full of speed and would never get beaten over four and a half furlongs!
“We were going to go for a Listed race at Chester, but the owner said to come here. She got a nice easy lead and that was the key.”
Mark Johnston’s Sea Lord, who only travelled because stable companion, Monterosso, was coming for the Derby, ran his rivals ragged in the Dubai Duty Free Millionaire Handicap.
Frankie Dettori had him in front from the start and the son of Cape Cross made every yard of the running.
Scandal Sheet finished to some effect, but couldn’t close down the winner, who was a snug length and a quarter to the good at the line.
Said Johnston: “He never got a run at Royal Ascot, never got an opportunity to show what he can do. As a result, I was anxious to bring him back again quickly.”
A late gamble on Aidan O’Brien’s Samuel Morse, 4-1 to 5-2, was foiled by the flying late surge of Jeremy Noseda’s Formosina in the Group 2 ladbrokes.com Railway Stakes.
Johnny Murtagh had Samuel Morse in front at half way and they looked like holding on, as the winner found it hard to get an opening.
But Ryan Moore soon extricated Formosina and he nailed it virtually on the line, the verdict a predictable short head.
Said Noseda: “I think he would have been an unlucky loser, it was worth the trip, I’m delighted.
“My horse is improving and gave the impression he had come forward again since Doncaster. I looked at how the Irish two-year-olds ran at Royal Ascot and decided to come here and give it a whirl. He will get seven furlongs and the plan now is the Champagne Stakes at Goodwood.”
Michael Halford’s Invincible Ash ran away with the inaugural running of the National Lottery Sweepstakes Race and, in the process, won €1m for Trevor Cawley from Sligo.
Twenty five participants were allocated a horse in the contest and Cawley never had the slightest cause for concern.
The winner had the best draw in one and ran clear of her field for Gary Carroll in the closing stages.
“Let’s have stall one at the Curragh from now on”, quipped Halford. “I told Gary to jump and let her roll. The next thing I have to do now is find the winner of the million and see will he buy a horse.”
Aidan O’Brien’s Emperor Claudius completed a hat-trick of successes with a game display in the Listed Woodies DIY Celebration Stakes.
A winner at Fairyhouse and just four days earlier at Naas, the tough son of Giant’s Causeway certainly showed no ill-effects.
Johnny Murtagh popped him out in front from stalls and Emperor Claudius had enough in reserve to resist the persistent challenge of Gold Bubbles by half a length.
Emperor Claudius did edge off a straight line through the last hundred yards and the stewards went through the motions of holding an inquiry. There was never the remotest possibility of an alteration to the placings.
Mark Johnstonn, who scored with Sea Lord earlier in the day, completed a double when Bay Willow left the handicapper with egg on his face in the Dubai Tennis Championship EBF Handicap.
Joe Fanning kicked the Singspiel gelding on early in the straight and Bay Willow hardly broke sweat to score by four and a half lengths.
