Technician Leads Impressive Treble For Mastercraftsman

Technician Tops Tremendous Treble For Mastercraftsman

Technician (3c Mastercraftsman - Arosa, by Sadler’s Wells) led a fantastic treble for his sire on Thursday when taking the Listed Prix Ridgeway at Longchamp.

The Martyn Meade-trained grey was bought by Team Valor after his impressive maiden success in April and followed up with a fine second behind Bangkok (Australia) in the Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown.

Once again racing over ten furlongs, but tackling soft ground for the first time, he was ridden to lead by Oisin Murphy and quickened on the turn for home. Rallying well under pressure as the five-horse field fanned out to challenge, he dug deep to regain the lead inside the final furlong and ran on well to beat the favourite Battle Of Toro by a neck, with a further length and a quarter back to Diyani (Rock Of Gibraltar) in third.

Technician was bred by Barronstown Stud, who previously enjoyed success with Mastercraftsman courtesy of Ribblesdale Stakes heroine Even Song, and who also bred Morpho Blue (3f Mastercraftsman - Butterfly Blue, by Sadler’s Wells), winner of the seven furlong fillies maiden at Leopardstown earlier in the evening.

Trained by Jessica Harrington for Mrs David Nagle and Mrs John Magnier, Morpho Blue finished sixth behind Magna Grecia on debut last September and was denied by the shortest of margins next time out by recent Group 3 winner Happen. Sent off favourite under Shane Foley, she travelled well behind the leaders on the turn for home, improving to lead inside the final furlong and was ridden out to score by two and a half lengths.

Black-type is next on the agenda for the winner, who is closely related to two Stakes performers, while her dam is a full-sister to the dam of Peeping Fawn.

Earlier in the day at Newbury, Qamka (3f Mastercraftsman - First, by Highest Honor) was another to justify favoritism when winning the Fillies’ Novice Stakes over a mile.

Third on her first racecourse appearance last month, she was once again partnered by David Egan on ground described as soft. Racing close to the pace, she produced a challenge approaching the two furlong marker and kept on well under pressure to lead 120 yards from the line. Staying on well, she beat Beauty Of Deira by a length and a quarter.

Winning trainer Roger Varian later commented that the best is yet to come from Qamka, who runs in the colours of owner/breeder Nurlan Bizakov of Hesmonds Stud. She is a half-sister to five black-type performers, bred out of a Stakes winner and is a grand-daughter of Queen Mary Stakes winner Pushy.

Mastercraftsman, who enjoyed a thrilling 2018 flat season courtesy of his daughter Alpha Centauri, commands €30,000 at Coolmore Stud this season.