Gandolfo stylish Beresford victor

Aidan O`Brien landed the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes for the sixth year on the trot at the Curragh today when Castle Gandolfo made short work of his six opponents in the Group Three contest.

A morning downpour of 12 millimetres in five hours turned the going heavy in the straight but Castle Gandolfo, who had won on his debut in the soft at Cork in April, glided through the testing going for a seven-length triumph.

'We have always thought he was a good horse as his dam is a full-sister to Try My Best and El Gran Senor,' said O`Brien of the even-money favourite.

'He will possibly go now for the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster later in the month.'

'Brooklyn went off fast and the proper gallop suited our horse. Castle Gandolfo will be better on nicer ground,' added O`Brien, who saw his 7-1 chance Camp David fill the runner-up berth to give him a repeat of last year`s one-two in the same mile event for juveniles.

However, O`Brien and stable jockey Michael Kinane, who suppliedthe 5-4 favourite Tasmanian Tiger in the opening maiden, had to settle for third place as Solid Approach made his previous experience count in the trying conditions.

'We walked the course before racing and it didn`t seem heavy,' explained O`Brien. 'We took out Tasmanian Tiger here last week because of the ground and we probably should not have run him today either.

'Michael said he knew he wouldn`t win on the way down to the start because the ground was so heavy. So he just nursed the horse and at least we gave him a run this season to educate him.'

Solid Approach (11-2) went clear in the closing stages for local trainer and part-owner Kevin Prendergast and could reappear in a Group or Listed event at Leopardstown later this month.

O`Brien and Kinane also supplied the beaten favourite Toroca in the Waterford Testimonial Stakes as Spencers Wood (7-1) scored instead for English trainer Peter Makin.

Seb Sanders drove Spencers Wood to the front before the final furlong and the son of Pips Pride was always in control as 25-1 chances John Dorans Melody and Princess Nutley filled the second and third places.