Joseph O’Brien-trained Rebel Moon secures big win in Naas
REBEL MOON RISING: Rebel Moon and Dylan Browne McMonagle (left) win the Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Jannah Rose Stakes (Group 3) from Caught U Sleeping (right).
Wearing the colours of the race-sponsors, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Rebel Moon stepped-up on her debut success in a Gowran Park maiden to land the Group 3 Al Shira’aa Irish EBF Jannah Rose in Naas, after a tremendous tussle with listed winner Caught U Looking.
The Lope De Vega filly settled in fourth place under champion-jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, closed early in the straight before challenging approaching the furlong-pole and, after a ding-dong battle, prevailed by a neck, with five lengths back to the third, Epsom Oaks fifth and favourite Cameo.
Winning trainer O’Brien explained; “The form of her maiden win in Gowran has worked out very well. She had a little hold-up (a lung infection) after she won, so we had to take our time. But this was an obvious target for her.
“In the circumstances, I’m delighted to win this race with her. I thought she did it well – the second is a good yardstick. She’s still green and there’s more to come from her. She’s an exciting filly for the future.”
When quizzed about future plans for Rebel Moon, he responded; “We’ll have to see. There are plenty of options, including the Irish Oaks, or a few races in France. And she’ll have no problem with a mile and a half in time.”
And the winning rider added; “This was a big step-up by her and she’ll sharpen-up for the run. The second was tough and kept coming, so it was hard to get past her. She’s an exciting filly, with plenty of class.”
The Carriganog combination completed a double when 89-rated 2/1 favourite Listentodwindblow dug deep for the champion-jockey to see off promising and well-backed debutante Transcript by a half-length in a blanket-finish to the one-mile Fox Dunlavin Maiden, opening his account at the seventh attempt. The placings were unchanged after a Stewards Enquiry.
Two withdrawals saw the Race & Stay Irish Racing Tours Rated Race descend into a match.
And 8/11 favourite Oro Blanco, winner of a Fairyhouse maiden, duly beat sole rival Gavoo, making all and finding enough to score by three-quarters of a length.
“He was big and backward and came from the Breeze-Ups this time last year,” said winning rider Shane Foley.
“He’s not an ideal six-furlong horse, but that was more like a piece of work for him – he was pricking his ears and would be better with a lead, but I had a willing partner.
“He’s a fine, big horse, improving away and could develop into a nice handicapper. I think there’s a nice race for him in Fairyhouse next Wednesday.”
Harrington and Foley doubled-up when once-raced Moonlit Mist (2/1 favourite) did a lot of things right before picking-up well to beat White Sands Beach by a length in the concluding filly’s maiden.
The Moyglare-owned filly bumped the runner-up early in the final furlong, when switched to challenge, before quickening well and scoring, comfortably, by a length and survived the subsequent Stewards Enquiry.
Trainer Diego Dias nominated the valuable Ballyhane Stakes, back at Naas on August 3, as the target for Brazilian Diva following her 22/1 victory in the five-furlong two-year-old fillies maiden.
A first winner in Ireland for her Brazilian rider Diego Lima, the Earthlight filly was opening her account at the fourth attempt. And her trainer acknowledged; “Coming back to five furlongs and the quick ground suited her.”
Both handicaps on the card were won by 20/1 shots, the Conor Maxwell-trained Platino Blanco (Robert Whearty) outpointing Tawaazon in the five-furlong ARKequine Handicap before handicap debutante Andy Oliver’s Killyclogher Rose (Same Coen) took the Colm White Bookmaker Apprentice Handicap.
