Curragh Treble Highlights Successful Week For Ballydoyle
Ballydoyle celebrated a treble on Friday’s Curragh card, with Mogul (Galileo) completing the first leg when taking the two-year-old colts and geldings maiden in fine style.
The full-brother to Japan finished second on debut last month and, as such, was sent off favourite on Friday. He made all of the running for the mile contest, with Ryan Moore encouraging him along from two furlongs out, his mount obliging under hands and heels to score by three and a quarter lengths.
Moore was clearly impressed by Mogul, commenting after the race, “He's a lovely horse. Obviously he has a great pedigree and he's a big strong boy. He travelled and was very smooth through the whole race, I was very happy with him.”
Moore also guided Lope Y Fernandez to victory in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes, which marked a successful drop in trip to six furlongs, following placings over further in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes and Listed Chesham Stakes.
He, too, was sent off favourite and produced a challenge approaching the two furlong pole, improving to lead soon after and stayed on well to score by a length and a half. Speaking after the race, Moore said, “He was very smooth through the whole race and always felt like the winner. Hopefully he'll go on from here, he's a nice colt and he'll be a three-year-old for sure.”
Success was similarly straightforward for Moore aboard Goddess (Camelot) in the later Group 3 Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes, in which Credenza (Galileo) completed a 1-2 for Aidan O’Brien.
The three-year-old was following up on her maiden Stakes win at Gowran Park last time out, having previously finished second in a Group 2 contest in July. Owned by Mrs John Magnier and John Sikura, Goddess may now bid to maintain her upward curve at a higher grade, holding entries in Group 1 and 2 contests over the coming months.
Another aimed at a higher grade may be Lancaster House (Galileo), after the impressive Galway Festival winner justified favoritism at Tipperary on Thursday. Now unbeaten in two starts, he holds entries in two Group contests at Leopardstown over Irish Champions Weekend.
One to watch in the future is Passion (Galileo), a full-sister to Capri who beat a competitive field to win the mile maiden at Cork on Sunday. Making her second start, she won by two and a quarter lengths from Unknown Pleasures (Zoffany), who had finished second on her August debut, with the well-bred favourite Amma Grace (Galileo) taking third.
Winning jockey Donnacha O’Brien commented after the race, “Passion stepped up plenty for her first run when she was very raw and she should be a lovely middle distance filly for next year. I love the way she quickened in the last furlongs and she seems to have a bit of class about her.”