Dancer out of luck at Leopardstown
British raider Carnival Dancer just failed to land the spoils in the Meld Stakes as Mingun stepped up in trip and class to land the Leopardstown feature.
Anticipated favourite Ikhtyar, from the John Gosden stable, was withdrawn just before racing as his trainer, who had walked the track, feared that the going was too quick.
Home-bred by the Niarchos Family, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Mingun looked set for a decisive victory when leading over a furlong out.
But he had to be driven out by Michael Kinane as Kieren Fallon launched a late surge aboard the top-weight Carnival Dancer in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud.
“The pace was not strong and Michael said our horse would have preferred it quicker. He was still very green when he got to the front and looking around him,” said O’Brien.
“Michael is happy that the horse gets 10 furlongs no problem and, as he is coming forward all the time, there are lots of options including the Irish Champion Stakes back here in September.”
‘Change in ground’ was the official reason for Ikhtyar’s absence.
“There was half an inch of rain forecast and they got none. It’s nobody’s fault but the ground is good to firm and my horse likes to get his toe in,” Gosden said.
“I wouldn’t want to risk him and we’ll look at the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock (on August 9).
“But ideally I wanted to get a run around Leopardstown with a view to running him in the Irish Champion Stakes.
“It fitted nicely into the plan. It’s a pity but I wasn’t prepared to risk him.”
Fallon said: “My horse wasn’t letting himself down on that ground. If it had been good I think I’d have beaten Mingun.”
Carnival Dancer could return to Ireland for the Royal Whip according to Mark Perrett, husband of trainer Amanda.
“We could come back to Ireland if there was good ground,” he said.
Sir Mark Prescott also was unwilling to risk Danehurst under top-weight in the Listed Sweet Mimosa Stakes, withdrawing Cheveley Park Stud’s daughter of Danehill from a race that went to Daganya in a tight finish.
The highest-rated of the surviving eight runners from the original field of 11, Daganya was confidently ridden by champion apprentice Tadhg O’Shea on her seasonal debut for Curragh trainer Michael Halford.
Gosden’s trip to the Dublin course in company with stable jockey Jimmy Fortune was not in vain, however, despite Gilded Edge, who started favourite for Daganya’s race finishing out of the money.
The pair took the Listed Tyros Stakes earlier in the session with Privy Seal in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed.
Privy Seal ran close to the pace set by the runner-up Wathab until Fortune pulled him out to challenge and lead inside the final furlong, as the 6-4 joint favourite built on his third place behind Three Valleys in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“Privy Seal is progressing, having run well in the Coventry Stakes,” said Fortune, Irish-born and riding his first-ever winner at Leopardstown.
“Privy Seal is a very laid-back horse like his sire, Cape Cross, who I also trained. He could go for another Listed race at Deauville, this time over a mile in late August,” said John Gosden.
Kinane, however, took the riding honours as he recorded a 107-1 treble through Suntory (3-1) and She’s Our Girl (14-1), as well as his success aboard the odds-on Mingun (4-5).
