Wordsworth proves he’s worthy of a trial run
ACLASSIC trial could be on the agenda for Wordsworth after he provided one of four wins for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore at the Curragh yesterday. The Galileo colt is a full brother to St Leger winner Kew Gardens and had made a promising start for the Ballydoyle team when chasing home stablemate and Epsom Derby favourite High Definition at this track in August.
Beaten just three-quarters of a length on that occasion, he was sent off the evens favourite to open his account in the TRI Equestrian Irish EBF Maiden over 10 furlongs.
Moore had him settled in second behind Sunwalk in the early stages and, while Wordsworth took a bit of time to hit top gear in the straight, when he found his stride he pulled clear in decent style, beating Agrimony by two lengths.
‘A mile and a quarter is as short as he’d want to go,’ said O’Brien. ‘He was working very lazy, and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. He’s always behind the bridle, and I wasn’t sure if he was fit enough.
‘Ryan said it was nice the other horse led him today and he felt when he got him out that he was always going to win.
‘He had a good blow, and I think he’ll come on from that run. Horses that are lazy usually do.
‘If he progresses in time for a trial then we’ll put him in, but you would imagine it would have to be a mile and a half.’
O’Brien and Moore had kicked off their winning spree with Glounthaune in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over six furlongs. ‘He’s a nice horse, and we’ve always liked him,’ said O’Brien. ‘He’ll go for a winners’ race now and then maybe look at Ascot. He gets six well and looks like he’ll get seven.’
O’Brien and Moore also won the Group Three features, the TRI Equestrian Gladness Stakes and Holden Plant Rentals Alleged Stakes, with Lancaster House and Broome respectively.
Royal Ascot could also be on the agenda for Cheerupsleepyjean (5/2) who was the two-and-a-quarterlength winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race for Fozzy Stack and Chris Hayes.
Stack said: ‘She had been working well but hadn’t been away anywhere. There is probably plenty of improvement in her, because she was quite green in front. She’s a fast filly, and six furlongs is probably as far as she’ll ever get.
‘It’s Noel O’Callaghan’s family, and she’s related to Dandy Man and Sandhurst Goddess. Hopefully she’ll come back here (on May 3) for a Listed race. She might make into a Queen Mary or Albany filly.
‘She did her best to get beat in the first furlong and a half. She was a bit startled and lit up. She is usually fairly relaxed at home and hopefully she will learn from that and be more professional the next day.’
Raise You (9/2) led home a onetwo for Joseph O’Brien in the Tesoro Vita Handicap, while Abeona sprang an 80/1 shock for Jimmy Coogan and Oisin Orr in the TRI Equestrian Superstore & Cafe Irish EBF Maiden.