€2.3m Abraham Lincoln makes impressive Curragh debut
Abraham Lincoln won The Keadeen Hotel Irish EBF Maiden on the first day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival at The Curragh. Pic: Lorraine O'Sullivan
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore made the perfect start to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend when €2.3m newcomer Abraham Lincoln made an impressive debut in the Keadeen Hotel Irish ERBF 2-Y-O Maiden at the Curragh.
The towering son of Wootton Bassett, sent off 11/8 favourite, settled behind the leaders, quickened in good style when switched to challenge and, in command before the furlong pole, idled in front before beating stable companion Haffner (18/1) by a length and three-quarters.
“He’s a lovely colt, very green and hasn’t been asked much at home,” commented O’Brien. “His work has been classy and Ryan was very happy with him. He felt he got there quickly and had a good look around.”
“He’ll be very comfortable going up to seven furlongs, or a mile. So we might look at the ‘Tyros’ or ‘Futurity’ for him.”
Johnny Murtagh took the prestigious Fitzpatricks’s Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Derby with 3/1 favourite Darius Dark, in first-time cheekpieces and confidently handled by Rory Mulligan.
In front from over two furlongs out, the progressive, three-year-old Dark Angel gelding, who was completing a hat-trick, held on by a neck from market rival Keepsgettingbetter.
Murtagh, who had been present earlier, had departed before the Derby to attend a function at which the winner’s owner Maurice Regan (Newtown Anner Stud) was receiving an Award of Excellence in International Business from the Ireland-U.S. Council.
But the winning rider commented, “I sat off the first two because I thought we were going a half-stride too quick. I wanted a lead for longer, but had to go on when I did and he idled in front. He’s improving big-time at home and is doing the same in his races.”
The biggest pot on offer, for the O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Stayers Handicap, went to the Charles Byrnes-trained 28/1 shot Reverend Hubert under Adam Caffrey.
The versatile eight-year-old beat 50/1 shot Hatim narrowly, prompting Byrnes to comment, “The quick ground came in his favour and they went a good gallop, which suited him. He’s only my second winner here and he’ll probably head to Galway for the amateur handicap. There’s a three-mile hurdle in Cork for him first, but I’m not sure if he’ll go there now.”
The Andy Slattery-trained four-year-old Loughrea, a third winner of the week for apprentice Sam Coen, outpointed his younger rivals in the one-mile Diageo Luxury Spirits Median Auction Maiden, holding the late surge of debutant and fellow 5/2 favourite Gliondar by a neck.
“Same said he was in front too soon and that he was pulling up and idling, but that he picked up when the other horse came to him,” explained Slattery, “He had a good run in Gowran and probably wants a mile and a quarter. It was a good effort to beat the three-year-olds in a maiden.”
Having swerved his intended target, the Ulster Derby, last week due to soft ground, the Jessica Harrington-trained Wyman (Shane Foley) stayed on powerfully to deny Numentia in the McGuinness Maintenance Services Maiden.
