‘Van Dyck’ in Derby frame after O’Brien trio dominate
ANTHONY VAN DYCK was cut to 10/1 for next year’s Epsom Derby after he led home stablemates Christmas and Mohawk to give Aidan O’Brien a 1-2-3 in yesterday’s Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.
Winner of the Tyros Stakes on his previous outing, Ryan Moore was eventually made to work harder than might have been expected for a 4/6 favourite, but still crossed the line with half a length to spare from Christmas with fellow stablemate Mohawk two lengths back in third.
“I’m delighted,” said O’Brien. “They needed to learn a little bit and that’s why they swung along there. You’d have to be very happy.
“The last day was his first time back to seven (furlongs). He gets a little bit lazy in the middle of the race, but gets there, and he was doing it well again in the last furlong.
DOUBLE
“I would imagine that they’ll all probably come back here for the National Stakes. I’d say he’ll get a mile well, we always viewed him as a horse that would get middle distances next season.”
This success completed a double for the Ballydoyle team as Moore had earlier driven Moore Lost Treasure (5/1) to victory in the Gabriel Curran Memorial Maiden over six furlongs. It was tight with Ajmera, but Moore got his mount home by a head, despite still looking green.
Beautiful Morning returned from a mid-season break to claim the Royal Whip Stakes in thrilling fashion.
It looked for all the world that Deauville had held off Jessica Harrington’s mare as the pair flashed across the line together. But Beautiful Morning (5/1), having her first run since May, relished the rain-softened ground and held a nose advantage at the line.
Jim Bolger’s Group One winner Verbal Dexterity was returning from a 302-day lay-off and finished close up in fourth.
“I was very happy to see the rain,” said Harrington. “She was very keen until the four-furlong marker and he had to sit and wait on her and then go for her.
“She’s getting there. It’s a long time since she’s run and it’s been a bit of a frustrating summer with her. She’ll probably run in the Blandford because the owner is coming that weekend (Champions Weekend).”
Harrington also provided the first two home in the Irish Champions Weekend Fillies Handicap as Rovetta (5/2 favourite) beat Echo Park with Shane Crosse on the winner.
“If we’d changed them around and claimed off the other one I’d say she would have won. There’s not much between them. They are two improving fillies,” said Harrington. “The key to Rovetta is soft ground and the other filly doesn’t really mind what she goes on. She might now go for a mares’ Listed hurdle.”
Skitter Scatter ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Debutante Stakes for local trainer Pat Prendergast.
Lining up as the most experienced filly in the field, she was sent off at 7/1. Ronan Whelan always looked to have everything covered and when the expected challenge from O’Brien’s Zagitova (2/1 fav) failed to materialise, Skitter Scatter scooted clear. Jim Bolger’s 50/1 outsider Bandiuc Eile stuck on for second with Zagitova third.
Sheila Lavery’s Breaking Story belied odds of 33/1 to land the opening twoyear-old contest over seven furlongs.
There were some regally-bred youngsters making their debut, principally from Ballydoyle, but none had an answer to the three-quarters-of-a-length winner. O’Brien fielded newcomers out of Oaks winner Was, multiple Group One scorer Moonlight Cloud and Duntle, the latter two both by Galileo, but none could land a blow, as Robbie Colgan kept Breaking Story out of trouble down the centre of the track.