Curragh review | Lope Y Fernandez towers above rivals
Lope Y Fernandez got his reward after two defeats by Pinatubo with victory in the Group Three Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh.
Aidan O'Brien's charge had made a winning debut at the County Kildare track before going down to Godolphin's brilliant youngster at Royal Ascot and Goodwood.
He was dropped in trip from seven to six furlongs for the first time and the move paid off, with Lope Y Fernandez (11-8 favourite) putting up an authoritative performance.
His stablemate Fort Myers set the pace, with Ryan Moore content to set just behind the leaders in fourth place.
Moore made his move two furlongs from home and Lope Y Fernandez showed a good turn of foot to assert and put the race to bed.
The pack began to make inroads close home, but it was too late, with Archie Watson's British challenger Guildsman grabbing second place, a length and a half behind the convincing winner. Fort Myers was a short-head away in third.
Lope Y Fernandez was cut to 20-1 for the 2000 Guineas.
Moore said: "He was impressive on debut and ran very well in the Chesham behind a good horse.
"He was a bit disappointing at Goodwood, maybe just running downhill on quick ground. The winner is a good horse, but I don't think he fired that day and I don't think that was his true running, I'm not quite sure why.
"Back here over six he's beaten a good horse in Guildsman, who was placed in the Coventry.
"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."
LOPE Y FERNANDEZ lands the Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh for Aidan O'Brien... who has won the last two renewals with subsequent July Cup winners... 👀pic.twitter.com/U6OVcCh8Wh
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) August 30, 2019
The victory sealed a double for O'Brien and Moore after Mogul (8-13 favourite) took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden, to earn a 20-1 from quote from Betfair for the Investec Derby.
The full-brother to last week's Juddmonte International winner Japan cost 3,400,000 guineas as a yearling and looked to have a big future as he swept to victory by three and a quarter lengths from Shekhem.
"He's a lovely horse. Obviously he has a great pedigree and he's a big, strong boy," said Moore.
"He travelled and was very smooth through the whole race, I was very happy with him."
Cayenne Pepper could be seen in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket after maintaining her unbeaten record with a dominant all-the-way victory in the Flame Of Tara Irish EBF Stakes.
Having followed up a debut success at Leopardstown with an impressive display at Tipperary in early July, Jessica Harrington's filly was sent off the 6-4 favourite to complete her hat-trick in this one-mile Group Three.
Shane Foley had the daughter of Australia straight to the lead and plenty of her rivals were in trouble from early in the home straight.
O'Brien's highly-rated maiden So Wonderful emerged as the biggest threat, but Cayenne Pepper never looked in serious danger of being caught and passed the post two and a half lengths to the good.
The victory further strengthens her trainer's already formidable hand in the fillies' juvenile division this season, with the Moone-based trainer also housing a pair of Group Two winners in the shape of Albigna - ante-post favourite for next year's 1000 Guineas - and Alpine Star.
Some bookies introduced Cayenne Pepper into their betting for next year's Investec Oaks at Epsom at 33-1 - and her Classic credentials could be tested further in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket on October 11.
"I'll have to talk to Jon and Sarah (Kelly, owners) now. She's in the Fillies' Mile, which is a possibility," the trainer added.
"They are all in everywhere because you never know when one could get sick or lame.
"You have to keep all the options open, but she seems to go on any ground and she's very, very straightforward."
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