Camelot Colt Flies Home To Snare Valuable Prize

The exciting Waterville (3c Camelot - Holy Moon, by Hernando) finished with a flourish to capture Sunday’s Irish Cesarewitch worth €600,000.

Held in high regard by Aidan O’Brien, the son of Camelot won his maiden in impressive fashion in June and was sent off favourite for the Curragh’s valuable feature. Ridden patiently by Wayne Lordan, he looked an unlikely winner on the rail as the field dug deep and was switched out to challenge after the two furlong marker. Running on strongly, the bay beared down on the leaders and showed a superior turn of foot to assert close home, leading by a neck on the line.

Born on the last day of May, Waterville is expected to improve further, according to O’Brien. “He's a horse with an awful lot of ability,” the trainer revealed. “Back in the winter, we thought he was our Derby horse, but he has just been very backward mentally. He's a massive horse and next year he's going to be something different. Over the winter he's going to turn into a different animal and he will be very much at home over Cup trips next year.”

Lordan was impressed by Waterville and speaking after the race, said, “He has a big engine and going that trip you can put him wherever you want in a race. When I got to the line in front, I can say that I enjoyed it.”

Bred by Razza del Velino, Waterville was bought by MV Magnier as a foal for €280,000. The son of Camelot is a half-brother to six black-type performers, led by the ill-fated dual Group 1 winner Sea Of Class.