Breeder Pat Hyland, second left, and friends with Washington DC © Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien's Washington DC was an exciting juvenile last year and made an impressive seasonal reappearance when emphatically putting his rivals away in Dundalk's Listed race over seven furlongs.
The Zoffany colt raced in mid-division behind front-running Al Mohalhal before tanking into the lead a furlong and a half down.
Seamie Heffernan sent him on and he thundered away in the last furlong to post a decisive two and a quarter length victory.
The winner was returned the 11/10 favourite on the back of concluding his season last year with second place to stablemate Air Force Blue in the Grade One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August. Prior to that he took the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.
John Oxx 's Alphonsus was all the rage in the betting ring contracting from 16/1 to 7/1 on the off. Those who backed him each way were rewarded as he finished second. Most Beautiful (7/4) was a further length and three parts away in third.
Seamie Heffernan said: "He had some very good form and has a fair amount of ability.
“He did things right. He travelled very easily and quickened. He has plenty of class.
“We have a couple of Zoffany's that could be alright.”
When asked if he thought the winner would have any issues staying a mile he added: “I don't think so but time will tell.”
Washington DC gave O'Brien and Heffernan a double on the evening after Long Island Sound won the second race.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
