Further joy for Murphy & Carroll as Vorfreude lands Ulster Derby A little over 24 hours on from the famous success of Cercene in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll again struck gold with Vorfreude in the feature at Down Royal, the Boylesports Ulster Derby. Placed on his last four outings and starting off in handicap company this afternoon, the Bated Breath gelding was sent off an 11/4 chance (7s in early shows before the defection of Glen To Glen) in the colours of Tom Egan. Soon settled in second by Carroll, the 83-rated bay took over from the front running Sunriseontheboyne with less than three-furlongs to go. Finding generously when ridden, he ultimately came home a length-and-a-quarter to the good, with Winston Junior (20/1) running his best race to date to fill the runner-up spot under Nathan Crosse for Jessica Harrington. Returned the 6/5 favourite, Acapulco Bay had every chance with a furlong and a half to go, but he faded in the closing stages and finished another three-lengths back in third. Assistant trainer Joe Murphy junior said: "If the word 'Boyle' is in the name, we will turn up! "This is a great race to win. We were second in this race a good few years ago and poignantly Kevin Prendergast beat us - Celtic Dane won it and Northgate was second (2010). "It has actually been an ambition to win this since, it really has so it is nice to get it done. "Since it changed to a three-year-old only handicap, it was kind of looking a little bit unlikely for us because we mightn't necessarily have that type of horse. This lad came along. "He brought strong maiden form and he was beaten by two very good horses in Navan. To be honest, while he's trying to win his maiden all along, the plan was here last September. He was always made for a race like this. "It was going to be tough on Gary (put up 2lb overweight) because the weights were probably going to be too low for him. We thought he would win in Leopardstown the last day and he might get four, five or seven pounds for winning. It was kind of a muddling race and it didn't happen. "I'd say the 10 furlongs was an absolute minimum trip for him when he was running in maidens. Potentially a nice stayer and could jump a hurdle. He could be a Cesarewitch horse in time. "He's got the job done today, so we will get him home and mind him." Carroll was completing a double having earlier claimed the opener aboard In My Teens. STEWARDS REPORT G.M. Ryan, rider of Kilmeaden, trained by Donnacha Aidan O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount lugged right throughout. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
