Some Whelan an' dealin helps super-sub to weekend win

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” quipped substitute jockey Ronan Whelan today having landed the Curragh’s Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on Precise (11/2), which continued Ballydoyle’s weekend-dominance.

Ballydoyle’s trainer Aidan O’Brien had landed yesterday’s Champion Stakes with Delacroix and the English St Leger with Scandinavia, and today sent out four fillies, including his family’s Whisperview Trading Ltd-homebred Precise in the seven-runner field.

With O’Brien’s stable jockey Ryan Moore injured and second-choice Wayne Lordan suspended, Christophe Soumillon filled-in on first-pick Composing and Whelan on Precise.

Slowly into stride and held up in mid-field, Precise gradually improved to eventually lead inside the final furlong and scored by three-parts of a length from stablemate Beautify Venetian Sun met trouble in-running behind the Ballydoyle-trained runners and rallied to take third-place, while Composing took fourth.

Freelance and Royal Ascot-winning jockey Whelan, whose first of three Group 1 wins came in the 2018 renewal, quipped “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know and it is great to be associated with this team. Any time you get the leg over for them, you know you have a chance.

“She was a little sluggish when jumping off but the beauty of riding a second or third-string is that you can just let it happen that bit more. I was happy enough that the two leaders would take me where we needed.

“Roger Quinlan, who rides her out, told me that ideally I shouldn’t hit the front too soon on her and it couldn’t have worked out any better. I feel for Wayne Lordan but am very grateful for the opportunity.”

Trainer and successful breeder O’Brien added “Precise is an improving filly who had a lovely run the last day and has come forward a lot. She’s a homebred filly who is out of a Galileo mare with a good pedigree.

“It is probably tough out there making the running (with a strong headwind). Christophe’s filly Composing won making the running the last couple of times and we didn’t want to change it too much. Ronan ended up in probably the perfect position and was able to control the race from where he was. She quickened up very well and is growing and maturing all the time.

“The Fillies Mile (Newmarket) could be a possibility for her next.”

Quotes from Alan Magee