O'Brien's Mission Central speeds to success as Naas
Aidan O'Brien's won the Anglesey Lodge Equine Woodlands Stakes at Naas with Ryan Moore on board. Pic: Healy Racing
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Mission Central became only the fifth three-year-old to land the listed Anglesey Lodge Equine Woodlands Stakes when facing battle-hardened older rivals for the first time in last night’s Naas feature.
Drawn close to the stands rail and always prominent, Ryan Moore brought the No Nay Never colt through to assert control inside the final furlong and, given one slap, held off 84-rated 28/1 shot Likedbymike by three-quarters of a length, with British raider Getreadytorumble, a little unlucky, a similar distance away third.
“Ryan was surprised,” said Aidan O’Brien. “He felt this horse has progressed from last year. He did everything right, was very quick from the gates and won snug enough.
“He has loads of speed. Maybe we gelded him prematurely. But he’s a racehorse now – a lovely, sound, very quick horse. He could be a ‘King’s Stand’ horse (Royal Ascot) and I’d say we’ll stick to five furlongs with him. And he might travel.”
Both two-year-old maidens went to juveniles with considerable potential, Ballydoyle debutante Victorious and Robson de Aguiar’s once-raced odds-on favourite Force Noir.
Victorious, a gorgeous daughter of Wootton Bassett, showed clear signs of inexperience in the opening, six-furlong fillies maiden, but quickened past the experienced Aedhmar inside the final furlong to score by a length and three-quarters, sparking the Ballydoyle double.
“She’s a lovely filly,” stated Aidan O’Brien. “Still very green, but a quality filly. She hasn’t done an awful lot and was just ready to go racing, but is obviously a very good filly.
“She’ll probably come back here for the fillies race on Ascot trials day (the Coolmore Juvenile Fillies Sprint on May 17) and then, maybe, the ‘Albany” (at Royal Ascot).”
Narrowly beaten in the opening two-year-old race of the season, the Persian Force colt Force Noir (David Egan) stretched clear impressively to land the Irish EBF Median Sires Series 2-Y-O Maiden by more than four lengths from Lady Patrona.
The winning trainer said, “He ran well the first day, although he was a bit green, has improved and will improve again. I liked his attitude today and he can step up to six furlongs. He might go for the ‘First Flier’ or ‘Marble Hill’ at the Curragh. And the ‘Norfolk’ (at Royal Ascot) is in his plans.”
Trained by Noel Meade, Bobby McGee (13/2) confirmed recent Gowran Park maiden form with Jamestown in the Naas Racecourse Blackwater 3-Y-O (Premier) Handicap, providing his rider Chris Hayes with the first leg of a double.
The Maysun gelding held on by a short-head, with Manton Bay, stable-companion of the runner-up, a close third.
Meade said, “He’s a nice horse. We gelded him over the winter, which was a big help – he has settled down well. He’s a bit lazy, but got a lovely, uncomplicated ride from Chris. And he probably got a bit lonely in front.”
Chris Hayes went on to complete his double when Glyfada, another Camelot filly trained for Skara Glen Stables by Donnacha O’Brien, built on her debut second at the Curragh to take the concluding, ten-furlong fillies maiden, idling in front but holding off Arrietty by a half-length.
Likely to improve with racing, having looked green in front here, she’s set for a step into stakes company.
The Eddie Lynam-trained six-year-old Keke (Billy Lee) registered his seventh success when making virtually all to take the Colm White Bookmaker Handicap at the expense of favourite Indigo Dream.
“He was missing the kick last year, but jumped well tonight and won well,” said Lynam. “We have the ‘Habitat’ in mind for him on Guineas weekend.”
