Newcomers star at the Curragh

There was a fair amount of interest surrounding the Jumeirah European Breeders Fund (C & G) Maiden at the Curragh with Aidan O’Brien saddling Red Rock Canyon.

The unraced two-year-old is a Rock Of Gibraltar colt out of dual Classic winner Imagine and therefore a half-brother to the ill-fated Horatio Nelson.

As his sire was victorious in seven Group Ones and his dam won the Irish Guineas and the Oaks at Epsom, he has a fair reputation to uphold.

However, despite being sent off the 4-5 favourite, he could never quite get his head in front during a protracted battle with Jim Bolger’s Teofilio (8-1) and had to settle for the runner-up berth this time.

It was a fine performance from the winner, who refused to be headed and showed many of the qualities of his father, the tough as teak Galileo, and he will certainly stay further than than the seven furlong trip that he was racing over on this occasion.

Teofilio was partnered by Kevin Manning, who was suitably impressed by the performance.

“He’s a big strong horse and even though Aidan’s horse was coming at me I was always confident that I would hold him off,” he said.

“It was first time out today so you would imagine there is a fair bit of improvement in him and he’ll probably make a better three-year-old than a two-year-old.

“It was seven furlongs today and I’ve no doubt that he’ll get a mile,” Manning told At The Races.

Winning trainer Bolger was also pleased with his introduction to the racecourse.

“He is a stayer but has plenty of speed,” he said.

“He has got a lovely physique and there is a race at Leopardstown we’ll look at for him, or he could go for the National Stakes back here.”

O’Brien was also happy with the effort of Red Rock Canyon and he also looks sure to figure in the better juvenile events later in the season.

“I am delighted with him and he is a horse to really look forward to,” said the Ballydoyle maestro.

“He is in everything but I don’t know where he will go next. There’s plenty of stamina in his pedigree as the mare won the Oaks.”

John Dunlop sent over his consistent five-year-old Jedburgh for the Group Three Emirates Airline Minstrel Stakes.

A disappointing field of three went to post for the valuable prize and it was Dunlop’s runner, in the hands of Seb Sanders, who landed the odds at 10-11.

O’Brien’s Tiger Dance proved a disappointment dropping away tamely but John Oxx’s Noelani made the winner pull out all the stops.

The other British interest on the card was Kevin Ryan’s Sadeek in the Group Three Dubai Duty Free Anglesey Stakes.

Ryan’s charge had proved a big disappointment in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot but he bounced back to his best on this occasion.

But he was still unable to hold off the late thrust of Kevin Prendergast’s Regional Counsel (12-1) who was continuing his recent good run of form with stable jockey Declan McDonogh.

Ryan said of the runner-up: “He’s run a blinder but I’ll probably give him a break now and bring him back for an autumn campaign.

“The ground will have been fast enough for him and he’ll be better with a bit of juice.

“The draw beat him at Ascot and I’d love to think he’ll get a mile, but realistically seven furlongs is probably as far as he will want to go.”