LEADING WAY

Improving Galileo colt scores to initiate Ballydoyle double

NORWAY proved the star of yesterday’s additional meeting in Naas, scoring an impressive win in the one-mile Nursery Of Champions 2-Y-0 Maiden and sparking another double for his trainer Aidan O’brien.

Having his third start and, according to winning rider Seamus Heffernan “lazy in his work”, the Galileo colt made all and, with his rivals in trouble two furlongs out, stretched clear up the hill to triumph by six and a half lengths from Bellakris.

Heffernan added: “He improved from his first run and again from his second. He’s very laid back and is very easy to like and manage. He put his head down and galloped out and will have no problem going further.”

The Ballydoyle double was completed when Fightfortheroses, runner-up on his recent seasonal bow in Gowran Park, made all to land the mile and a half maiden, first leg of a double for Donnacha O’brien, who said: “The step-up in trip was a big help. He’s genuine, tries hard and stays well and found plenty for pressure.”

Donnacha completed a double, bringing his domestic seasonal tally to 102, when 11/4 favourite Perfect Tapatino, trained by his brother Joseph, won the finale cosily by a halflength from Bit Of Banter.

There was also a double for County Tipperary handler David Marnane, successful in the claimer with Tennesse Waltz (Billy Lee) and in the first division of the 45-65 with the consistent mare Cracking Name (Oisin Orr).

Meanwhile, domestic action moves south to Cork for a seven-race flat card this afternoon. And the twice-raced Mary Salome, trained by Madeline Tylick, is napped to land the opening Foran Equine Irish EBF 2-Y-0 Auction Fillies Maiden.

A distant sixth to Lady Kaya on her debut at the Curragh, this Zebedee filly stepped-up significantly on her second start, when coming through in encouraging style to finish second, admittedly beaten five and a half lengths, behind Angelic Light on the same track.

The winner subsequently changed hands for substantial money but finished last when tried at Group 1 level in the Moyglare.

But the selection shaped like a future winner last time and, with more improvement expected, Billy Lee’s mount should be tough to beat.

The Willie Mccreery-trained mare True Self beaten by Cliffs Of Dooneen, a Ballydoyle colt wth a rating of 101 at Bellewstown last time, might prove too strong for her three-year-old rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden.

And Johnny Murtagh, already on the 30-winner mark for the season, has prospects with the consistent Shore Step in the 2019 Annual Membership Available Handicap over an extended six furlongs and So Familiar, one of two stable runners, in the nursery.