Giant Sequoia makes no mistake at the second time of asking Giant Sequoia looked the part in taking the Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden at the Curragh. Beaten into third at odds of 4-9 on his debut here, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Frankel colt was the same price to show the benefit of that experience and duly did so with the minimum of fuss, tracking Bull Shark before starting to get into top gear over two furlongs out. Pushed nicely clear from there, Ryan Moore’s mount had two and a quarter lengths to spare over fellow Ballydoyle runners Oklahoma and Shakespeare. O’Brien – who won this race in 2023 – said: “He had a lovely run here the first day and he came on lovely. He is a lovely big horse. You’d be delighted with him. I couldn’t be happier really. “He’ll have no problem staying at seven (furlongs); he’ll have no problem going up to a mile. He’ll only get better. He is a big, powerful horse.” Meriden is on a terrific run for Denis Hogan and brought up a four-timer with an emphatic victory under Chris Hayes in the Neville Homes Summer Fillies Handicap. Hogan said of the 7-2 joint-favourite: “She just about won (off mark of 57) the first day, but has stepped up every day. I don’t think she’ll be back in that grade (0-60) anytime soon. She’s progressed from run to run and is just a filly in good form. She has a real good temperament so that helps. “She has had four races in a month and is a real improver.” After landing the apprentice Derby on Friday night, trainer Johnny Murtagh struck ‘Derby’ gold again, this time with Fixation in the Reserve Ladies Derby Handicap. Ridden by Georgie Benson, the 2-1 favourite won by four lengths going away. Murtagh said: “Two Derbys in two days; it’s only I don’t have a runner in the one tomorrow! He is a grand little horse, this lad. “I thought he was a little bit unlucky last time in a better race. Shane (Reville, part-owner) rang me a couple of weeks ago and said ‘I think we should go for the Ladies Derby’. “This is his first horse with me, but he is a good friend of mine. When I was riding he used to help me with the form. He is pretty sharp. “Shane and the lads bought this horse and sent him to me. It’s great to have a winner for them here on Irish Derby weekend. “The horses are running really well. They are hitting the board and that’s all you can do. I’ve got a great team around me.”
