'Delighted' O'Brien hails Minnie Hauk's winning start
Ryan Moore on Minnie Hauk wins The Group 2 Clem Murphy Memorial Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes on Newbridge Parishes Community Race Day The Curragh Racecourse on Monday. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Minnie Hauk, successful three times at Group 1 level last season, made a perfect start to her four-year-old campaign when landing the Group 2 Clem Murphy Memorial Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh, second leg of a double for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
Edward Hamilton (Wayne Lordan) fulfilled the role of pacemaker for the uneasy 4/6 favourite, enjoying a 15-lengths lead at one stage.
But Ryan Moore exuded confidence on ‘Minnie’, allowed her close gradually before sweeping past the 125/1 shot inside the final furlong to score, under hands and heels riding, by a length and three-quarters.
“It was a lovely start back and you’d have to be delighted,” said O’Brien, “We wanted a nice, even pace to allow her get back into gear. And Ryan was very happy with her.
“The plan has always been to come here and come back for the Tattersalls Gold Cup (on Guineas weekend). And this was the perfect preparation for her.”
Emulating subsequent multiple Group 1 winner Paddington, the O’Brien-trained Causeway (9/4 favourite) followed-up his Madrid Handicap win in Naas by taking the listed Coolmore Stud Henry Longfellow Tetrarch Stakes in convincing fashion, by two lengths, from Andab.
“You’d have to very happy with him – he came forward from Naas and was very comfortable with the extra furlong,” said Aidan O’Brien, “He’ll have no problem stepping up in trip. When the time comes. But he has done his prep’ for the Irish Guineas and might come back for that – it’ll depend on what is decided for the other colts.”
Unplaced on her seasonal bow in a Leopardstown trial, Kensington Lane, trained by Donnacha O’Brien for his mother, proved a shock winner of the Group 3 Coolmore Auguste Rodin Athasi Stakes, staying on dourly under Chris Hayes to see off Black Caviar Gold with odds-on favourite Drop Dead Gorgeous an unlucky but eye-catching third.
“She won well and appreciated the nicer ground,” said the winning trainer, “It’s fantastic that she has won a Group 3. She’s in the Irish Guineas and will probably go there. She’s a filly with a lot of gate-speed and I could see her staying a mile and a quarter on a turning track, maybe in a stakes race in America.”
Donnacha O’Brien had earlier initiated a double when Spinning Around landed the Keadeen Hotel Fillies Handicap in gutsy fashion, earning a tilt at the ‘Sandringham’ at Royal Ascot.
She was partnered by Paddy Harnett, who went on to complete a double on Natalia Lupini’s Summer Island in the apprentice handicap.
Fresh from their Sunday exploits in Sligo, Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee struck again when Velozee, a narrow winner on her debut in Cork, showed impressive speed to beat her three rivals in the AES recycling First Flier 2-Y-0 Stakes.
The Sioux Nation filly stretched away in great style to slam What A Girl Wants by three and a half lengths, prompting her trainer to comment, “She’s a quick, uncomplicated filly. Billy feels she’ll have no problem going six furlongs. She’ll probably go to Naas for the Group 3 (Coolmore Fillies Sprint) and might be an ‘Albany’ filly.” In the earlier juvenile maiden, Immortal Guard, backed from fancy prices in the morning into 7/2, delivered under Donagh O’Connor, holding the late effort of Otherworldly by a half-length.
The Persian Force colt was a fifth juvenile winner of the season for Robson de Aguiar, who stated, “He has shown a lot of ability and class at home, but is still a bit weak. He has a lot to improve and we’ll think big with him. He has plenty more to give.”
Meanwhile, the new jumps season kicked off in Down Royal. And Gordon Elliott supplied a 1-2 in the featured Pepsi Max Hurdle as He Can’s Dance (James Smith) made all and held stable-companion and favourite Timeless Treaty by a half-length.
