Home Of The Brave completes a memorable weekend for Hugo Palmer
After finishing sixth in the Newmarket Guineas, over a mile, and filling the same position in the Commonwealth Cup, over six furlongs at Ascot, yesterday’s seven-furlong trip seemed to really suit the son of Starspangledbanner.
On the pace throughout, as is his wont, he quickened up to go clear over two furlongs out, and was never threatened as he galloped home well in advance of favourite Gordon Lord Byron and Sovereign Debt.
“We thought he’d win, but didn’t think he’d win quite like that,” said Palmer. “He is a very immature horse, which is why he was so lightly raced at two, but he always showed a huge amount of speed.
“Teaching him to settle and not do everything in the first hundred yards has been the thing, and he did that perfectly today. He went down like a lamb, came back like a lamb, and has galloped away from them.
“He’s the second Group-race winning son of Starspangledbanner from only 27 foals, so I expect he’ll cover mares now, and we’ll just try and work from here to upgrade what he’s eventually worth as a stallion.
“The Hungerford Stakes at Newbury is the next obvious target. He’s in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, but it might come a little bit quick – that might be his Group 1 next year.”
Wedding Vow, a well-backed 6-1 chance, shed her maiden status with a fine display in the featured Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes, under Joseph O’Brien.
Placed in good company in previous outings, including when runner-up to subsequent Newmarket 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo at Gowran Park, she raced in midfield early, before moving up behind the leaders in the straight. Switched to the outside, she ran on strongly to lead inside the final furlong for a two-length victory over Brooch and the somewhat unlucky-in-running Bocca Baciata.
Said the winning rider: “She had good form earlier in the year, but was too keen at Ascot, over a mile and a half, with the blinkers on.
“Back in trip today, she settled well. There wasn’t much pace on, but she quickened up real good. It’s good to get her to win a Group race, with a pedigree like hers.
“I suppose we might think about races in America for her – the Matron, or races like that, as a mile to a mile and a quarter is probably her trip.”
Racing opened with a fillies’ maiden, over six furlongs, and Jim Bolger was victorious with newcomer Leafy Shade who, the trainer hoped, is “a filly with a future”. Prominent from the outset, she kept on well to see off the strong challenge of Camellia Japonica by half a length.
The winner carried the colours of the trainer’s wife, Jackie, and they were also carried to success in the nursery, when the Brendan Duke-trained Leath Na Hoibre justified heavy support (4-1 to 5-2).
Having run a super race in third place behind leading prospect Sanus Per Aquam and Lieutenant General on his previous start, the gelding received a mark of 80, which he showed was fully justified with a game front-running victory over Flirt.
“They tell you Curragh trainers need to get winners at the Curragh, but this is a really special one,” said a delighted Duke.
Willie McCreery was on the mark with Champagne Or Water, who took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Handicap under Billy Lee. Winner of her maiden at Sligo last year, the 8-1 chance hit the front a couple of furlongs out and saw off the challenge of Gallope with a little more so spare than the three parts of a length margin would suggest – the two were a long way clear.
Digeanta’s well-deserved victory in the O’Brien’s Wines Handicap earned one lucky punter a dividend of é35,000 for winning the Pick 6 Jackpot. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding had posted a cracking effort behind stable companion Clondaw Warrior at Ascot, and appreciated the drop in trip as he led in the straight for a comfortable success in the hands of Pat Smullen.
Diamond Rio got up late to wrap up proceedings with a narrow victory for trainer Tony Mullins. Ridden by 7lb claimer Daniel Redmond, the 12-1 chance mounted a late challenge, and edged ahead in the dying strides to deny long-time leader Catalyst.
