O’Brien in good form ahead of Camelot assignment in Guineas
The champion apprentice was seen at his strongest when registering a family success on course winner Ishvana in the seven-furlong bookings@dundalkstadium.com Race and followed-up when 14/1 shot Sir Silver Lane landed the Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Handicap for trainer Joanna Morgan.
Having tracked Piri Wango, O’Brien made his move on Ishvana early in the straight. And, through the final furlong, the Holy Roman Emperor filly, which Aidan O’Brien trains for his wife Anne Marie, proved best, getting home by a half-length from favourite Slade Power.
The winning rider commented: “I got a nice lead and she picked up well, when I tackled Johnny. She’s a very genuine filly and deserved a change of luck after her the last day in Leopardstown where she got knocked down.”
O’Brien completed his double when Sir Silver Lane prevailed in a blanket-finish to the mile handicap, beating Naoise by a neck with Slim Chance only a head away third.
Winning trainer Joann Morgan suggested: “I think Joseph has ridden four winners from five rides for me. This horse is big and leggy and needed time. I always felt he’d make a better four-year-old. It’d be great to win of those big, premier handicaps with him.”
Niall McCullagh matched O’Brien’s double, thanks to victories on Michael Grassick’s Elusive In Paris in the seven-furlong handicap and the Reggie Roberts-trained morning gamble Misty Lane in the one-mile Louth Handicap.
Wayne Lordan, suspended for a day for careless riding on Attire in the opener, was seen to advantage when Sli Na Fiarana, a first flat winner for Denise ‘Sneezy’ Foster, kept favourite Train Of Thought at bay in the Follow Dundalk On Facebook Maiden.
