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The Vatican makes all to take the last

The Vatican made it double on the evening for Aidan O'BrienThe Vatican made it double on the evening for Aidan O'Brien
© Photo Healy Racing

The Vatican put in a game front-running performance to take the last at the Curragh, the eFlow 'Hassle Free' Maiden, providing Aidan O’Brien with a double on the card.

The three-year-old son of Galileo ran just once as a juvenile, finishing third of five behind Flying The Flag (won the feature race this evening) in a race at Leopardstown last July.

He opened the 7/4 favourite on-course this evening, but drifted all the way out to 5/2 at the off, with the Ger Lyons trained Saxo Jack going off the 9/4 market leader.

Ridden by Joseph O’Brien, the winner soon led but was joined and given reminders approaching the straight.

He was under pressure and pressed from over two furlongs out, but he responded well to his jockey's urgings, staying on well in the final furlong to score by a length and three parts at the line. Al Destoor ran a fine race on his debut to finish second at 11/1 under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx, while Wannabe Better was a length and a quarter back in third under Wayne Lordan for Tommy Stack at 13/2.

Saxo Jack never looked like winning and he finished a disappointing fifth under Gary Carroll.

Aidan O’Brien said afterwards: "He is a hardy, sound horse that handles fast ground well.

"He's been leading Battle Of Marengo at home and that’s why you haven’t seen him. He’ll stay further."

The winner is out of a half-sister to Minor Vamp, who won the Goffs Fillies Million at the Curragh in 2008 for Richard Hannon.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
5/2
Tote €3.10 €1.60
2nd
1.75L
11/1
€4.70
3rd
1.25L
13/2
€2.00
4th
1.25L
7/1
bf
1.5L
9/4Fav
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.