Murtagh double cuts Smullen’s lead to six
Narrowly beaten in the ‘Windsor Castle’ at Royal Ascot and injured when he slipped up at the Curragh in mid-summer, Petronius Maximus, helped by the additions of a first-time visor, made all to land the opening six-furlong maiden at the expense of Vastitas and favourite Shelley Beach, despite drifting right in the closing stages.
“He cut himself under a shoulder when he fell here in the summer and had to be given a break,” said O’Brien. “He didn’t get the best of runs the last day here and came forward a good bit from the run. And the visors helped him concentrate. Because he had time off after his fall, he might run again.”
O’Brien and Murtagh clicked again when Gemstone, always close to the pace, outstayed Rising Wind and favourite Hurricane Havoc in the Lanwades & Staffordstown Studs 2-Y-0 Fillies Stakes, the first of three listed events on the card.
The Galileo filly stayed on stoutly to gain a valuable black-type win, to the delight of her trainer: “It’s nice to get a listed win with a filly like her. Galileo is an unbelievable stallion - they don’t know when to give up and are so tough and genuine. I’d say this filly is finished for the season and she'll have no problem stepping up in trip next year.”
O’Brien’s treble was completed when Big Occasion, ridden by his son Joseph, came through strongly to foil Asiya in the Mongey Communications Handicap.
It was Joseph O’Brien's 31st win of the season, leaving him just two behind reigning champion and currently suspended Gary Carroll and Ben Curtis in the race for the apprentice title.
Curtis, who blazed the trail through the first half of the season, had earlier joined Carroll on the 33-winner mark thanks to the shock win of Hazarafa, trained by his boss John Oxx for the Aga Khan, in the listed Go Racing In Kildare Festival Finale Stakes.
The stable ‘third string’ and sent off at 12/1, the daughter of Daylami came through to challenge and master better fancied stable-companion Roses For The Lady (having her final run before being retired to stud) by a length and three-quarters.
Oxx said: “I suspect she’ll probably be going home tomorrow, unless we can find a race abroad for her. She stays well and likes soft ground and, with a listed win under her belt, she’ll be heading for the paddocks.”
The other listed race, the Jersey Racing Club Waterford Testimonial Stakes, provided the ultra-consistent but luckless Luisant with a long over due and well-deserved breakthrough in stakes company.
Ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, the James Nash-trained seven-year-old travelled strongly throughout and brushed aside the challenge of British-trained favourite Definightly to record an emphatic win.
“It’s a joy to train a horse like him, seconditis, or no seconditiis,” said a relieved Nash. “I’ve always been convinced that he’s genuine, although he’s been so frustrating that I was tempted to try blinkers on him, after so many near misses.”
“It’s great to win a listed race with him. And he was impressive out there today. He’ll probably go for another listed race at Leopardstown at the end of the month (the Knockaire Stakes on October 31).”
Aidan O’Brien was denied a four-timer and son Joseph a double when debutant Apache was beaten a head by fellow newcomer Banksters Bonus in the two-year-old maiden.
Apache made most of the running and, showing clear signs of inexperience, looked beaten before rallying and asserting inside the final furlong, only to be nailed close home by the Billy Lee-ridden winner.
Banksters Bonus was another two-year-old winner for trainer Jessica Harrington, who commented: “He’s another typical Big Bad Bob, tough and brave. He hasn’t done a lot at home but, on the evidence of this, he could be listed class. He’s a big horse and should improve from two to three.”
