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Review curragh 22nd Apr

Sun 22nd Apr 2012, 18:10

Top-class miler Excelebration scored an emphatic victory in the Big Bad Bob Gladness Stakes at the Curragh on his first start for the Coolmore operation.

Formerly with Marco Botti in Newmarket, the four-year-old was given a confident ride by Joseph O'Brien, as befits a horse who won at Group One level last season and chased home Frankel on his last start.

The 2-7 favourite took over from front-running stable companion Windsor Palace a furlong out and easily disposed of Croisultan by three and a quarter lengths to line up another clash with Frankel in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

O'Brien also took the Anne Brewster Memorial Loughbrown Stakes, but not with 4-9 favourite Nephrite who had attracted plenty of support for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but looks likely to be kept to sprinting.

The Ballydoyle colt eased into contention from the rear approaching the final furlong, but could find nothing more and stable companion Requisition (7-2) boxed on well from the front under Seamie Heffernan to win by a length and three-quarters from Coolnagree

O'Brien initiated a treble when his son Joseph bounced Infanta Branca (1-3 favourite) out of the stalls quickly and led all the way in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden to win by a cosy half-length, giving her sire Henrythenavigator his first success.

That was also the first of three wins for horses running in the Michael Tabor colours, with the victory of Requisition sandwiching the success of the David Wachman-trained Chrysanthemum in the Run Kildare 13th May Alleged Stakes.

Wayne Lordan set off in front on the 5-4 favourite and once she had seen off disappointing market rival Zaminast the blinkered filly comfortably held Vivacious Vivienne by a length and a half.

John Oxx dominated the finish of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden with two of the Aga Khan's horses, Ben Curtis getting home by a short head on Aklan (16-1) to resist the renewed challenge of Johnny Murtagh on Ebazan