Emperor of The Sun and Gavin Ryan (third from right) break from stalls before winning the Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes © Photo Healy Racing
Emperor Of The Sun (18/1) sprang a bit of a surprise in the Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes (Listed) when running out a three and a half length winner in the hands of Gavin Ryan.
Always close to the pace, the Galileo chestnut went on turning for home and saw the trip out really well.
The returning dual Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song (4/1) looked to be travelling best approaching the straight but could only keep on at the one pace in the final quarter-mile.
The winner had scored only once in ten previous starts but had a good run under his belt (third in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan last month) and had been runner-up to a couple of subsequent Group 1 winners in Princess Zoe and Galileo Chrome last term.
Winning trainer Donnacha O’Brien said: “He was good. It seems the further he goes the better he gets.
“He has one gear, he grinds and is able to keep going. We'll probably look at the Ascot Gold Cup now (20/1 from 5os with Paddy Power)and he might even be better over that trip.
“They are good horses there and behind Stradivarius they are the ones that are up there in the betting for the Gold Cup. You have a dual Irish Leger winner, they are proper horses and it was a real test of stamina.
“He's seems to be improving and he's exciting.”
Of his Moyglare Stud Stakes winner and Irish 1,000 Guineas candidate Shale, O’Brien added “She's in good form and is going straight to the Curragh now. We're very happy with her.
“She would have really needed her first run a lot (fifth in a Guineas trial at Leopardstown last month), my older ones were really taking a run, and I was actually delighted with that run.
“I'm expecting a big run from her at the Curragh.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
