O’Brien completes Group 3 juvenile double with Alpha and Florida Bay in Leopardstown
Florida Bay and Wayne Lordan win for trainer Aidan O'Brien. Pic: Healy Racing
Ahead of his strong assault on the “King George’ at Ascot tomorrow, Aidan O’Brien completed a Group 3 juvenile double with Alpha and Florida Bay in Leopardstown.
So impressive winning her maiden at the Curragh, Alpha, in the colours of Flaxman Stables, laboured to justify 1/6 favouritism in the Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes, a sixteenth win in the race for her trainer.
The Ryan Moore-ridden Sea The Stars filly collared pace-making stable-companion Nevermindtherain early in the final furlong but struggled from that point and, ultimately, held on by only a head from fast-finisher Dancing Destiny.
“It was a bit messy at the start, Ryan gave her a dig and, then, she was doing too much,” explained O’Brien, “She did well to win and got a bit tired. She’s lovely and she’ll be fine.”
And he added, “She’s 550Kg. and is 10Kg, heavier than when she won her maiden. But she’s athletic and a bit unusual and she learned a lot today and I’d say we’ll keep her at seven furlongs for now – she’ll probably get a mile or a mile and a quarter in time.”
The Ballydoyle double was completed when Florida Bay, a well-backed 7/2 shot, made all under Wayne Lordan to take the Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes at the expense of Folsom Blues (backed into favouritism) and weak-in-the-market stable-companion Aix La Chapelle, who was subsequently disqualified and placed fourth.
Florida Bay skipped along in front, poached a clear lead turning for home and kept on to score by a length and a quarter, prompting O’Brien to comment, “They went too hard in Naas (in the listed Pat Smullen Stakes) and he didn’t show his true form. Wayne gave him a good ride today and let him bowl along.
“He’s not a slow horse and will stick to seven furlongs – he could go for the (Group 2) “Futurity’ at the Curragh. The other Horse (Aid La Chapelle) ran a bit green and got lost in the middle of the race – he still has a bit to learn.”
Earlier, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Green Dreamer (Dylan Browne McMonagle) turned over 4/9 Ballydoyle colt Shakespeare in the one-mile Frank Conroy Irish EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden.
“He had a nice debut run and we thought he’d improved,” said the winning trainer, “I’d say the first three are smart colts. Our horse is very genuine and honest and he’s ready to step into a mile stakes race somewhere.” Jim Bolger’s Sea Of Rain (Declan McDonogh) put her experience to good use in the median sires series two-year-old fillies maiden, scoring by three and a half lengths.
Bolger’s representative Ger Flynn said, “She has run into some good fillies and deserved that. She puts her head down, gallops and stays and the further she goes, the better she gets. She has a rock-solid attitude and is an Oaks filly for next year.”
A step into listed company is planned for Wyman following his convincing win, under top-weight, in the Dubai Racing Carnival Rated Race, second leg of a double for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley sparked by a third Leopardstown success for Dark Viper, in the Dublin To Bahrain Race Series Handicap.
Meanwhile, Willie Mullins completed a 70/1 treble in Wexford, culminating in the wide-margin victory of twice runner-up Cotswold Blue (ridden by Patrick) in the bumper.
Brian Hayes, deputising for the injured Sean O’Keeffe, had initiated the treble on board Highland Realm in the Kilmore Quay maiden Hurdle before following-up on Are You Around in the Curragh To Curragh Charity Cycle Mares Maiden Hurdle.
