Long-striding City Of Troy impresses at Headquarters

Ryan was delighted with him. He said he was very frightened going past the winning post, he said it's the first time he's ever ridden a two-year-old that he thought wasn't going to pull up. He said going to the winning post he just started to get longer and longer in his stride and galloped down to the boards. He gave him a lovely ride. He has a big long stride and he's relentless really, I'm delighted with him. He has great presence. We had his brother last year, Bertinelli, and he was a very big horse who we thought was going to be a three or four-year-old, but this horse is made like a two or three-year-old. Dean (Gallagher) has done a great job with him at home. He's strong and powerful and he does a great job keeping him relaxed. He's a medium-sized horse with a giant stride. He's very unusual, his stride is kind of twice the length of his body. When he started to extend inside the furlong marker, his stride is getting longer and longer - that's very rare. That's what Justify had as well, his stride was so long and it made him very different. That's what they (his progeny) have as well and that's why the big ones take a bit of time. They are very good movers and Justify had speed as well as stamina. He's matching great with the European mares. Ryan said you can go anywhere you want with him and go as far as you want. Obviously we have other horses to consider, but he'll go into one of those seven-furlong races next and it depends on how far the lads want to go with him,

Matrika fires O'Brien and Moore to a brace of winners

She has a great constitution and we were very happy with her,. The first day she ran we were surprised because she's very lazy at home, we didn't really know what to expect but she won. Then she went to Ascot and ran a lovely race, but was a little green and babyish. Obviously she learned plenty from it again. She came out of the race, lost no weight. She doesn't blow at all, it takes nothing out of her — she's very natural. Ryan gave her a lovely ride. She's not slow, she has plenty of speed. Obviously, you'd hope that she might get seven (furlongs), because she is very relaxed, but she is No Nay Never and they have a lot of natural speed and find it very easy to go very fast. We'll stay at six for a while and if we have to step up to seven we will. I don't want to be too easy on her because she has a big backside on her and I don't want her to get too big. We'll have to keep her going to a point. She's a Group 2 winner now and there are probably not too many places we'll be able to go with her. You'd be hoping she's going to be a Cheveley Park filly.

Coumshingaun delivers over six furlongs in Curragh again

We were disappointed with her the last day at Gowran and the time before in Listowel but, if you don't win one day you'll win the next, and it's nice to get it here and I'm delighted. It's been a tough few days with travelling and I wasn't going to come today. She's hardy, you have to get her into the parade ring and she's tough work. In the stalls she's tough, so the race is the easy part. We fancied her, she works very well at home, the horses are running well and we got a bit of rain during the week. She just held on and it's great. The horses are going well in England, I'm struggling to get a few here and I'm glad she won.

Via Sistina lands her first Group 1 in Pretty Polly

Progressive Mashhoor runs them ragged off the front

It's really very special when Tommy Dowd comes to you in the parade ring and says 'I'm more nervous now than I was on All-Ireland day'. I said 'ah come on, sure we don't have anything to do anymore — it's up to Ben now!'. In fairness to the horse, you have to say he has improved immensely. He picked up a little injury last year and I suppose it stood to him this year. He's been very straightforward this year and the races have come for him at the right time. There was no pace today and I said to Ben to let him roll along. He's a leader, he leads the string at home. I knew when they turned in that they weren't going to get to him because he wouldn't stop. He won over a mile-and-a-half last time. It was a great ride. It's great for a syndicate to rock up on Derby weekend and be competitive in a very competitive Group 3. You can see the enjoyment it gives people, racing has that.

Hayes wins Ladies Derby on French recruit Alanya

She absolutely flew home!. I was drawn one and was to take advantage of the rail. He (Gibney) said not to go too forward or too soon, track the leaders and she flew away home with me. Dave Keena is my new agent and he rang me up the day after I rode a winner in Ballinrobe and he . To even ride in the ladies' race is brilliant never mind riding the winner!. I'm from Fethard, Tipperary and I was doing ponies and showjumping and hunting all along when I was a child. I did my apprenticeship with Joe Murphy for two years and I've been with Andy (Slattery) the last three years. Thank God for the lads, they are looking after me and getting me the spins on the winners!

Pink Sorrel blossoms in Curragh

We thought she was a nice filly. She had a bit of a cough and we gave her a bit of a break, I think there is fierce improvement in her. She has a nice pedigree. Gary loved her, he said she gave a heave at the furlong pole and just idled. He said 'I can see a lot of improvement in this filly' so I hope he's right. We'll see what the handicapper gives her and take it from there. I think she is a filly going forward.

Dartan puts cap on lucrative day for Smith

I'm delighted, it's been a great day. I was a bit disappointed with him in Fairyhouse the last day but, in hindsight, they didn't go much of a gallop and it turned into a sprint. He had some good form last year, but had a bit of a setback so we let him off for the rest of the summer. I had faith in him and knew he was good enough to win. I told Declan to make plenty of use of him and he gave him a great ride. He stays well and he is a nice horse.