Wayne to be Lordan master
AFTER a superb weekend at the Curragh, where he rode trebles on Friday and Saturday, Wayne Lordan should again prove the man to follow in Limerick today.
With Seamus Heffernan, a dual Group 1-winner over the weekend sitting out the second day of a two-day suspension, Lordan should strike on the Ballydoyle pair Giorgio Vasari and Dawn Rising.
From the first crop of Air Force Blue, the Aidan O’brien-trained Giorgio Vasari started favourite for his debut in Fairyhouse.
But drawn high – as he is today although in a smaller field) – he held every chance despite showing signs of inexperience before going down by a half-length to Joseph O’brien’s State Of Rest. The winner’s stablecompanion Magnanimous caught the eye then, after a tardy start, and is one to note. But he has almost six lengths to find on the Ballydoyle colt.
Weekend action at the Curragh emphasised the strength of Ballydoyle’s three-year-old team.
And, unless there’s a smart newcomer in the field, the Lordan-ridden Dawn Rising should take plenty of beating in the
Irish Stallion Farms
Maiden.
A full-brother to last year’s Irish Derby victor Sovereign, who made a very pleasing return to action at the Curragh on Saturday, Dawn Rising was a real eye-catcher when finishing well in fourth spot in the recent Curragh maiden won by Galileo Chrome.
Beaten little more than a length, he had subsequent winner Serpentine in fifth and, crying out for this step-up in trip, he should be very tough to beat.