A review of the rest of the action from day two of the Irish Champions Festival at the Curragh.
Sweet success for Rock
Lumiere Rock was rewarded for a string of consistent efforts earlier in the campaign with a wide-margin win in the Moyglare "Jewels" Blanford Stakes.
The daughter of Saxon Warrior claimed her only previous career win at this venue as a two-year-old, but had run several good races in defeat in her three-year-old campaign, including seconds in the Ribblesdale Stakes and the Prix Alec Head at Deauville last month.
The return to the Curragh worked wonders for Joseph O'Brien's filly, picking up the running with a couple of furlongs to travel under Dylan Brown McMonagle and staying on strongly to win by three lengths.
The 16/5 favourite Jackie Oh stayed on from towards the rear of the field to win the battle for second ahead of Trevaunance (8/1), but the winner was away and gone.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Log in with your existing Sporting Life, Sky Bet, or Sky Games account. If you don't have any of those, it's completely FREE to register!
Lumiere Rock was cut to 14/1 from 25/1 by Paddy Power for the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot and O'Brien said: “She was running consistently well in real good company all season. She was just beaten in Ascot and just beaten in France the last day. She really did deserve her win in Group Two level and won today like a filly that will hold her own in Group One company as she gets older.
“She has two obvious targets for the autumn, one in France on Arc day and one in the fillies’ race in Ascot on British Champions Day.
“We’ll see how she pulls up and she’ll tell us which way we go. She’s an exciting filly and will hold her own in either of those two big races in the autumn.
“We think that potentially she’s a filly that can win a Group One so whether that is later this year or next year she’s a very solid consistent filly. She’s a joy to train and I’m sure to own for Michael.
“I thought in France the last day she just waited a little bit in front and I think she was sharper today. I think they (cheekpieces) helped her.”
Fahey colt lives up to billing
Richard Fahey's Native American (4/5) justified his odds-on favouritism tag with a two and a half victory in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale Stakes.
Fahey sprang a 20/1 surprise in the same race three years ago when Shark Two One won under Colin Keane but victory for Native American, ridden by the same jockey, was fully anticipated despite the horse having his first outing for 106 days.
The debut run could hardly have gone much better at York in May, since when Wathnan Racing had stepped in to buy the son of Sioux Nation, and the colt made it two from two in good style, beating Mercian Warrior (15/2) and Clarita (22/1) by two and a half lengths and a further two and a quarter lengths.
Keane said: "He' going to keep improving with racing and time. He travelled through the race nicely, got there and then he was a bit workmanlike but he was just bone-idle I'd say.
"The ground as slow as he'd like it. He hasn't run in a long time so I'd say he'll improve again from today."
Fahey said: “He was workmanlike, I thought, but he did it well in the end to be fair. He grew and just wasn’t scoping great so I couldn’t get stuck into him, but he’s done plenty of cantering and we were pleased with him. I’m sure he will improve again.
“He’s quite a nice horse, we do like him but he’s a work in progress.
“We won some sales races with Wootton Bassett and he ended up winning the Lagardere. That was in my mind before the race so we’ll see how he is and decide whether he goes or not.
“The jockey felt the ground was just dead enough for him and felt he wanted better ground.”
The final race of the meeting, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF “Northfields” Handicap, was claimed by the Irish Cambridgeshire third Crystal Black.
Ridden by Keane for his father, Gerard, the gelding came home the winner having started as the 5/1 joint-favourite.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Log in with your existing Sporting Life, Sky Bet, or Sky Games account. If you don't have any of those, it's completely FREE to register!
Gossey repeats trick in Bold Lad
The 2021 winner Big Gossey (16/1) returned to form with a power-packed victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF "Bold Lad" Sprint Handicap.
Trained by Charlies O'Brien and ridden by 5lb claimer Robert Whearty, the six-year-old flew up the nearside rail from his high draw (23) to win by a length and a quarter from the far less exposed runner-up Never Shout Never at the same price.
John Quinn's Mr Wagyu (10/1) led home the British challengers, being placed in the race for the second year in succession, just in front of the David O'Meara-trained Summerghand at 9/1.
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Log in with your existing Sporting Life, Sky Bet, or Sky Games account. If you don't have any of those, it's completely FREE to register!
19-year-old Whearty, rider of Big Gossey, said: "I was probably a little bit unlucky the last day as he missed the break and had a bit of ground to make up and used him up at the wrong time. I'd just like to thank Gary who put me back up on him today.
"I had a lovely position and he travelled into it. I thought we might have to switch in to go around, but I got a lovely run up the rail. He had a bit of a look when he got there but he stayed on."
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
We are committed to Safer Gambling and have a number of self-help tools to help you manage your gambling. We also work with a number of independent charitable organisations who can offer help and answers any questions you may have.
