Johan records first Group 3 win in the Desmond Stakes Johan recorded his tenth career win and first at Group 3 level when making all in the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown. The Jack Channon-trained gelding has run well fresh in the past but was very weak in the market here on his belated seasonal debut drifting out to 12/1 having been as short as 7/2 overnight. Ronan Whelan was able to dictate matters in front and didn’t really have to ask for an effort until near the furlong pole. The Zoffany gelding, homebred by John and Julia Aisbitt, was looking for the line close home but held on well to beat the Johnny Murtagh-trained pair Alakazi and Chicago Critic by half a length and the same. Whelan said, “Obviously his form suggests that he runs well fresh and the lads pinpointed him to come here fresh. “He likes to get into a rhythm, so we were happy enough to bowl away and the way the track sets up played to his strengths today. “He’s a credit to connections and is getting better with age. It’s nice to tick off a stakes race for them. “On a personal note, the Channons have always been very good to me and it’s great to repay them.”
