Isambard Brunel makes it third time lucky with Navan success
SMART PROSPECT: Isambard Brunel wins the Navan Racecourse Welcomes Our Local Community 2-Y-0 Maiden in the hands of Wayne Lordan. Picture: Healy Racing
Aidan O’Brien continued his remarkably successful season with two-year-olds when Isambard Brunel made virtually all to justify 1-2 favouritism in the Navan Racecourse Welcomes Our Local Community 2-Y-0 Maiden at the Meath venue, Ballydoyle’s 72nd juvenile success of 2024.
Having his first run Irish soil after two runs in England, the Justify colt dictated the pace under Wayne Lordan and, when pressed by Red King, stretched clear in good style to score by three and a half lengths.
“He’s a lovely, big colt, but still a bit immature,” explained Lordan. “I didn’t want to force it but, when I let him go forward from the three, he lengthened well. He should mature and strengthen over the winter and is going to be a lovely horse next year.”
O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong added: “He’s a typical Justify — he has plenty of size and strength and is a very good mover. He’s had two nice runs (at Newbury and Ascot) and is one to look forward to next year.”
Winner of her maiden over course and distance last time, the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Golden Ocean was delivered late by Seamus Heffernan to land the featured, one-mile Irish Stallion Farms Fillies & Mares Handicap, getting-up to beat top-weight Quadruple by a half-length.
“I knew that once I got her relaxed, she’s take plenty of beating,” said Heffernan. “She has a bit of class and needed it. We didn’t go that quickly, but she quickened well when she got the gap.”
O’Callaghan added: “She’s a gorgeous filly, with a beautiful temperament, and is very enthusiastic. She’s relatively unexposed and should go a mile and a quarter next year. Seamie likes her and, hopefully, she’ll be capable of going up through the grades.”
Enjoying his best season, Ronan Whelan produced 89-rated 15-8 favourite Majestic Wave with a determined late challenge to collar newcomer Chester Nimitz by a half-length in the opening Arkle Bar Median Auction 2-Y-0 Maiden.
“Soft ground and a stiff six furlongs are ideal for him,” stated the winning rider. “He travelled nicely, had to quicken twice and I always felt he was getting there — he only does the bare minimum.”
Andy Oliver was responsible for a 1-2 in the Simonstown Maiden as the Billy Lee-ridden market-drifter Sweet Thing, runner-up on her recent debut at Down Royal, delivered at the expense of 125-1 shot Keepcalmandsailon (Gary Carroll).
“She’s a very straightforward filly and everything worked out well,” said Oliver. “Billy seemed to be comfortable the whole way. Both the winner and runner-up are entered for Newmarket Sales and will probably go there, although I wouldn’t mind keeping the filly as a four-year-old.”
Billy Lee completed a double when Willie McCreery’s Positive Energy (100-30 joint-favourite) landed the second division of the (47-65) Yellow Furze Handicap, the first division having gone to Kevin Coleman’s Calzaghi and Robbie Colgan.
A young man going places, apprentice Darragh O’Sullivan notched his sixth career success when taking the six-furlong 47-65 handicap on the Charles Weld-trained filly Rosato, unlucky at the Curragh on Saturday and justifying 4-1 favouritism thanks to a late swoop to deny Jackie Brown. The winner is likely to run again at Roscommon on Monday.
Having come from last to first with a smooth challenge, Gazelle D’or hung on by a short-head from rallying top-weight and favourite Zambales in the Slane Nursery, giving apprentice Jack Cleary his 11th win of the season.
“She travelled great and half-idled when she got there, but she got the job done,” said Cleary. “She’s had plenty of runs and it’s nice to get her head in front again.’
- Hugh Horgan was found guilty on four counts of whip misuse following his ride on Superior Council (third) in the apprentice handicap and was suspended for a total of 14 racedays.
