O’Brien's Fairyhouse treble capped by brilliant Yaupon De Replay in Blenheim Stakes
Yaupon De Replay and Chris Hayes (dark green) win for trainer Joseph O'Brien in the Blenheim Stakes at Fairyhouse. Pic: Healy Racing
On a memorable day for his Carriganog team, Joseph O’Brien completed a superb treble in Fairyhouse, highlighted by the victory of 20/1 newcomer Yaupon De Replay in the listed Blenheim Stakes, in addition to taking the Listowel feature with Starford.
An American-bred $150,000 filly, in the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and ridden by Chris Hayes, Yaupon De Replay came from off the pace and swooped down the outside to deny Chicago Call by a neck, with the winner’s stable-companion Alibah in third.
“She looks very smart,” declared a delighted O’Brien, “It’s hard to win a stakes race first time out and always hard to win from the back here.
“Chris gave her a lovely ride and gave her a great education. He said he got a big kick off the turn, that she picked up really well and got there quickly.
“I had it in my mind that she’d go seven furlongs. But she has plenty of pace and I wouldn’t rush going further than six in Europe. We’ll have to work out a plan for her and we might look at the Breeders Cup for her.”
And winning rider Hayes added, “Both Joseph and Dylan liked her and expected a big run. The plan was to put her to sleep, float around and arrive late.”
The O’Brien treble had been initiated when long-absent Love Is Blind (Wayne Hassett) captured the Kilminfoyle House Stud Fillies Stakes, at the expense of Treasure Rose.
“She only has one eye, but it doesn’t affect her,” said O’Brien, “She’s very tenacious and has a good attitude. They went plenty quick and set it up nicely for her. She loves juice in the ground and will be busy for the rest of the year.”
O’Brien’s Carriganog team struck for a third time when Miracle Beauty swooped late to deny Greatest Drama in the seven-furlong fillies handicap.
“She’s been a bit frustrating early in the year and we freshened her up over the summer,” said the trainer. “She likes a bit of juice in the ground and we’ll probably have another try at getting black type.”
Miracle Beauty sparked a great evening for Joey Sheridan, who had sparked a double when Utmost Good Faith won the claimer for Fozzy Stack.
Sheridan went on to complete a sparkling treble, bringing his seasonal tally to 29, on board Denis Hogan’s Ze Do Asfalto in the finale.
A 47th winner of the season for Johnny Murtagh, the admirably consistent Lady Pagasa, in the frame in each of her seven starts since being bought out of Charlie Hills, belatedly opened her account when scraping home in a blanket-finish to the Treo Eile Handicap.
Ben Coen’s mount got home by a nose and the same from Irish Rumour and Comfort Line, prompting her trainer, who also saddled four seconds on the card, to comment, “She’s been very consistent and deserved that. I’m delighted for her owner – she’s been persistent, through last winter, until now. She’s a very well-bred filly and this could be it for her.”
And Joe Murphy will consider running his Sioux Nation filly Tahcawin in Saturday’s Goffs Million at the Curragh following her runaway success, under Gary Carroll, in the Fairyhouse.ie Nursery Handicap.
