Maeda Matsu confirms debut promise at Naas

It’s just pure relief. The horses have been running fantastic, we’ve been touched off in big handicaps, but that is my first winner this year and that’s a bit scary. I’m thrilled. Obviously we got a few calls about her, but John is very happy to hold on to her. It’s great as you kind of need a flagship. She was very green in front and Rory wasn’t hard on her. I would think I’d be looking at the Ingabelle for her, that’s why I stepped her up so quickly to seven. Rory said she could win at six but that she’d be okay over seven. She’s not in any of the big races, hopefully she’ll be a stunning filly for next year. Rory said he didn’t even pick it up and give her a backhander. She leaned in but it wasn’t ungenuine, it was just pure greenness. I tend not to take them off the bridle and they learn on the track. Rory said at the end the penny was starting to drop and it was the same in the Ballyhane.

Timeless Tale makes smart impression at Naas

That was impressive and I’m delighted to have her. She’s a lovely big, strong filly and she’s all natural. She’s never been away from the place and I’m delighted with her. I think she’s a decent filly, everything she has done she’s done nicely. I’m delighted to have one for Tally-Ho. Her half-sister (Wakanaka), by Power, was a very good filly. She went on to America and was rated around 110. This filly has natural ability and we’ll see where the lads want to go now. It’ll be a stakes race and she won’t mind a bit of ease in the ground either.

Zoar gets off the mark in Naas

Speaking after the race, O’Brien said, .He’s a grand horse. I don’t have him that long and, in fairness to the Halleys, they did a great job with him,. I only did one breeze with him last weekend and it went nicely, so we said we’d come here. He’s a nice horse to get. I think he’s still a little bit green, he pricked his ears when he got to the front there. I think he’ll get another furlong, but I’m not convinced he’s going to be a seven-furlong/mile horse. I’d say he’ll probably get quicker as he gets older. It was a nice performance. I’d imagine we’ll have a look at stakes company next time and see where he stands at that level.

Chantez springs Ballyogan Stakes success

Steel Magnolia gives McCreery and Lee double

That’s grand, she’s my own. Amanda and myself bred her,. said McCreery. She’s Happy Henry’s little sister, so it’s great that the two of them have won this year, it keeps everything rolling. It’s great to get another winner for Billy, he’s riding out of his skin. I’m delighted. We’ll look for something similar for her.

Wie Wunderbar wins for Kennedy

She came from Arqana about eight weeks ago. She’s a nice filly, she did everything right today and it was great,. We have the full-sister as well. We’ll see how she comes out of this. We’ll keep her in this grade, that’s where I’d say she probably belongs. We’ll try and get another one with her.

Minella Rockett gets up on the line for Holohan

He’s a tough, honest, little horse and he keeps improving. He keeps at it. I don’t know where we go now. He’s a horse that was for sale but nobody gave me enough for him, they were all laughing at me! He keeps doing it. We’ll probably step him up in trip a bit. He was on his head the whole time, the only time he was getting his own way was at the line. The New Bays are winning everything and we’re lucky to have him. I bought him over the road as a yearling. We’re looking at the race that Minella Study won in Wetherby at the end of October last year (Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle). It’s a 40 grand Listed race and he’d have no penalty. I wouldn’t run him with a penalty as he’s handy. He’s probably a horse for any place in the world after doing that. I asked plenty for him after he won over hurdles and told lads that he would win in Galway and they looked at me. Seamie (Heffernan) was always mad about him last year. We’ve been lucky with the Flat horse, they’re all after clicking. We only ended up with them by accident, giving Seanie (Bowen) a dig out. He was going to come over today but he was suspended.