Athenry highlights O’Brien five-timer
Aidan O’Brien dominated last night’s action in Leopardstown, completing a superb five-timer, highlighted by the victory of Fields Of Athenry in the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes, the only one of his winners not ridden by his son Joseph.
Sent off 8/15 favourite Fields Of Athenry was soon in front in the feature and, when shaken up by Seamus Heffernan turning for home, stayed on to beat Edelpour by a length and three-quarters.
Aidan O’Brien wasn’t at Leopardstown but his son Joseph was impressed with Fields Of Athenry.
He said: “He’s a horse with a big engine, to go the gallop he goes and still keep finding.
“I’d say he’ll go to York, for either the Ebor or Great Voltigeur and then head for the St.Leger (for which he’s a best-priced 12/1 shot with Paddy Power).”
Winning rider Heffernan added: He gave me a good feel the last day and again tonight. He’s straight-forward and stays well. He’s versatile and genuine, which is a big plus.”
Earlier, Lieutenant General opened his account, at the fourth attempt, in the seven-furlong two-year-old maiden, providing the former champion-jockey with his first win of the night.
“I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t pick-up a Group race,” he said.
The 4/5 favourite quickened past market rival Star Of Kings early in the straight, was soon in command and won, eased down, by two and three-quarter lengths.
O’Brien added: “He had a good first run, but was too free with me in Naas. And he ran a solid race in a Group 3 here last time, so he was entitled to win tonight.
He won easily – when I gave him a squeeze, he quickened well and the race was over.”
The Crewmaster (4/6 favourite) built on his promising debut second in Galway last week when landing the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Maiden readily from longshots Foolish and Ivaplan.
Joseph said: “He had a nice first run and came on from it. The slow pace probably helped me as I was in a better position to make my move than most of the other lads. But he’s a horse I like —he has a good attitude. And, hopefully the handicapper won’t be too hard on him.”
Ivanovich Gorbatov, winner of Navan maiden and making his handicap debut off 97, justified 3/1 favouritism in the Racecourse Of The Year Handicap.
“He got a little upset in the stalls, but he travelled well, like a winner and quickened up well. He surprised me a bit. And I’d say life is probably over for him in handicaps,” Joseph said.
And he admitted to being even more surprised when Hallmark, making his debut in blinkers and a tongue-tie, won the finale, scoring, eased down from Kennady.
“It’s been a good night,” stated Joseph. “The horses are very fit and running well. We thought this fellow would win a maiden somewhere down the line, but not like that. He won the bridle.”
In-form apprentice Robbie Downey completed a double on Captain Power, for his boss Eddie Lynam, and Garvan Donnelly’s Equation Of Time, bringing his tally to four wins since Monday.
“We bred him, so we’re married to him forever,” stated Lynam, in reference to Captain Power which won the opening six-furlong handicap.
And, after Equation Of Time captured the Stunning Apprentice Handicap, Garvan Donnelly said, “Robbie is on fire and has been lucky for us over the last few weeks. This horse isn’t straight-forward, but has dropped to a realistic mark. Galway didn’t work out for him. But the main aim for him is to go back to Listowel.”
- Meanwhile, in Sligo, Renneti, having his first run in 16 months swept past Arnaud on the run-in to land the Martin Reilly BMW Dealer Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.
Ruby explained: “He’s been behaving himself at home but had a think about it at the start. You have to keep his mind right and he travelled well and stuck his head down when he had to.”
Odds-on debutante Miss Me Now, ridden by Patrick, completed a double for the Mullins team in the bumper.
And John Ryan received a boost following the loss of stable star Foildubh in Galway, doubling-up with Jesmond Lodge (Andrew Lynch) in the opening maiden hurdle and Kylecrue (David Mullins) in the Guinness Sligo Handicap Hurdle.
