Ainippe is ridden out by Colin Keane to beat The Great War (inside) and Simply A Star© Photo Healy Racing
Ainippe made it two from two at the Curragh this afternoon as she took the Listed Irish Field Curragh Stakes under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons and owners Qatar Racing Limited.
The bay daughter of Captain Rio impressively scored on her debut at Naas last month and she was sent off at 2/1 (opened at 9/4 on-course) to follow up today.
Settled in second she improved to challenge the front-running Simply A Star at the furlong pole and she was soon pushed to the front.
She was ridden out from there and kept on well to score by a length. The Great War (11/8 favourite, was available at 3’s this morning) was settled well off the pace and while he kept on well inside the final furlong he couldn’t peg back the winner and had to settle for second under Joseph O’Brien for his father Aidan. Newsletter proved friendless with punters and she went off at 9/2 and finished a disappointing fifth.
Ger Lyons said afterwards: "I suppose you would say it was visually impressive.
"When she won at Naas I was dubious about the clock. The speed figure was very, very fast and I rang a couple of experts as I thought she can’t have done that time but she did.
"The only obvious race to come for was this or to hold back for the Round Tower next week. We won the Round Tower with Lightening Pearl on route to the Cheveley Park.
"I said to myself go Listed rather than Group Three and she had to win this impressively for me to even consider supplementing her for the Cheveley Park.
"I would suggest a Cheveley Park supplementation is on the cards.
"Unfortunately for this little pet if she goes that route she will have to take on what we have seen this week in York and they look three exceptional fillies that ran in the Lowther. Two of them will turn up for the Cheveley Park and she would want to improve again to be even considered to run against them.
"Another option is the Firth of Clyde in Ayr but I will discuss it with the boss.
"She seems to be pretty straight forward. Being a Captain Rio you would automatically think she would like softer ground but Colin said why would you try softer ground when she has shown this much speed on quick ground.
"It’s important as I put the owner into her. These maroon colours are very important to Irish racing and even more important to me."
