Workmanlike Marengo takes the spoils
The Galileo colt, sent off at 4/9 in a poorly-supported, four-runner affair, completed his hat-track with three-and-a-half lengths to spare over Orgilgo Bay, giving Aidan O’Brien a remarkable twelfth success in this Group 2 juvenile event over a mile.
Battle Of Marengo had to be driven clear by Joseph to assert. But the colt’s trainer was more than satisfied: “Joseph said he hated the ground. So you’d have to be delighted with that.
“He’s done plenty this year and I’m not sure if he’ll run again. He’s in the Racing Post Trophy and the Breeders Cup would be another possibility.”
Magical Dream, fourth to Sky Lantern in the Moyglare last time, initiated the Ballydoyle treble when proving a convincing winner of the Group 3 C L Weld Park Stakes, beating Rawaaq by two lengths.
“She’s an improving filly that will stay further, a hardy lady,” said O’Brien afterwards before confirming: “She’s in the Prix Marcel Boussac next Sunday in France and might go there.”
Declaration Of War, a dual-winner in France before arriving in Ballydoyle and having his second run for O’Brien, completed the stable treble when proving too good for seven rivals in the concluding Moyglare Stud Lifetime Achievement In Racing Trophy.
O’Brien commented: “He’s a fine, big, powerful horse and seems to be improving all the time. That isn’t his ground out there. He might go to Dundalk next Friday, for the Damond Stakes.”
Victories on Magical Dream, Battle Of Marengo and Declaration Of War left Joseph O’Brien on the 75-winner mark for the season, tied with Pat Smullen, who partnered the Dermot Weld-trained Salhooda to a head victory over Ballydoyle hope Hanky Panky in the opening two-year-old maiden.
A wide-margin winner on her debut in Naas back in July before being transferred from Adrian McGuinness’ yard to Eddie Lynam’s , Viztoria produced another hugely impressive display to slam Snow Queen by seven-and-a-half lengths in the listed Blenheim Stakes.
Confidently handled by Johnny Murtagh. she forged clear in great style clearly relishing the demanding underfoot conditions and prompting Lynam to state: “She’s a real professional and Johnny was very impressed.
“She loves that soft ground and will have one more run where she’s sure to get it, in a Group 2 in Maisons Laffitte.”
Lynam and Murtagh were denied a double when the Paul Deegan-trained Fromajacktoaking defied top-weight and completed a hat-trick in the nursery, his rider Rona Whelan picking-up a two-day ban for using his whip excessively.
Adrian McGuinness, who must have harboured mixed feelings about Viztoria’s earlier success, landed another significant pot when the remarkable Bubbly Bellini, ridden by apprentice Ian Brennan, won the six-furlong premier handicap. The five-year-old will now contest a heritage handicap in Ascot next weekend.
One of the country’s most promising apprentices, Colin Keane, partnered Joanna Morgan’s To The Sky to victory in the Derek O’Sullivan Memorial Apprentice Handicap.
