Guineas team hit Gowran target
Alaivan gave the Classic-winning team of John Oxx and Mick Kinane further cause for celebration with a highly-promising victory at Gowran Park.
After landing the 2000 Guineas with Sea The Stars at Newmarket on Saturday, the trainer and jockey can look to the future with Alaivan.
The Kalanisi gelding showed great improvement from his debut fifth in a Leopardstown maiden five weeks ago by running the opposition into the ground in the Gowran Park Classic Trial, a race Oxx and Kinane were second in 12 months ago with Ebadiyan.
Kinane had him smartly out of the stalls to dictate affairs from the front and the 8-1 shot found more in the straight to come home five lengths clear of Fergus McIver with Sirgarfieldsobers third
Oxx said: “Alaivan had been working like he would do that.
“He was receiving a maiden’s allowance today but won well – I must say when I saw the declarations I thought it might be a bit tough but he quickened well and stayed on well.
“He’s a useful horse. He’ll stay well and he’s from a good family.
“I don’t know about firmish ground, he’ll go on good, fast ground but whether he’d go on good to firm remains to be seen. A race like the Queen’s Vase would be a possibility, we’d have to think about it.”
The duo made it a 44-1 double when Miss Keller (4-1) ran out a two-length winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Danny Grant only returned from a successful stint in India earlier in the day but it did not stop him from landing a hard-fought victory on She’s Our Mark (6-1) in the Irish stallion Farms EBF Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes.
Chinese White looked like repeating last year’s win in this Listed contest when going on in the straight but Grant got a fine tune out of Pat Flynn’s mare to prevail by half a length.
“She might run in the Windsor Forest at Royal Ascot next and she could have another race before then,” said Flynn.
“She has been a little unlucky taking on the top fillies in the past.”
Aidan O’Brien’s Air Chief Marshal is 8-1 favourite with Cashmans for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot after opening his account in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden.
The hotpot justified his short odds of 2-5 with an eight-length romp as he showed the benefit of his debut second to take the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden.
“I hope the rest of the horses improve as much for a run as this fellow did,” said jockey Seamus Heffernan.
“He’s very genuine and very straightforward. He sealed it in a few strides.”
