Going - Good on Round Course, Good (Good To Yielding In Places) on Straight Crse). Fine, quite breezy
Trifecta Not Won. Pool of €2,005.20 carried forward to Sligo on Tuesday 28th June. Jackpot Pool - €15,000.00 Dividend - €2,812.50 Winning Units - 4. Placepot Pool - €32,381.40 Dividend - €144.50 Winning Units - 168.02. Pick Six Pool - €34,361.83 Not Won. Carried forward to No Course on Sunday 3rd July. Days Aggregate - €630,685.00 Last Year €749,346.00
After wins opener
we thought After was a nice filly but disappointed at Tipperary the last day and we still don't know whether it was the trip or the ground being too fast that beat her. I told Ryan about her previous two runs and he rode her patiently. The plan now is to step her up to Listed class but we'll go gently due to her disappointing run at Tipperary.
Tough Lilbourne wins Railway
Lilbourne Lad is a real star and we're very pleased. The last furlong looked like slow motion but Lilbourne kept pulling out a bit more. I feel sorry for connections of Tough As Nails as he is a tough horse too. We were concerned about the ground coming here but were delighted when it dried out and we'll either come back here for the National Stakes or the Prix Morny at Deauville next.
'Lotto win' for Six Of Hearts
this is like winning the lotto . I've been trying to win the Lotto all my life but this is as good as it!. When Six Of Hearts won his Listed race at Leopardstown it was a miracle and to win today was a bigger miracle - this win tops it all off big time!. He'll come back here for the Group 3 Minstrel Stakes on July 16 but there aren't likely to be many more options as the handicapper won't take weight off him for today. Sam gave him a brilliant ride and kept cool, which you have to do on him. Six Of Hearts has five furlong pace, and while he is not much good over five furlongs, he has plenty of gears.
Halford wins Sapphire Stakes
I though they'd go very very fast and told Gary to ride her like a non-trier in the early stages. In the end, they flew in front and Gary gave her a peach of a ride to win. I thought she was in good form but wasn't too confident beforehand and especially on Friday when I saw all the rain. However the sun on her back and the drying ground helped considerably and she deserved today's win.
More Treasure for dominant Ballydoyle
Memphis Tennesse set a nice even pace and it seemed to suit all the horses. Colm was excellent on Treasure Beach and settled him beautifully before producing him brilliantly. Treasure Beach has progressed with every run and he has a few options now . he could go for the Grand Prix De Paris, the King George or else he could have a break before coming back for the second half of the season. We are very lucky in that his owners have decided to keep their horses in training as four year olds and that gives us options with giving the three year olds breaks.
Gimli bounces back in style
He's a very very hardy boy. That's probably the easiest he's ever won,. We gave him a break after Punchestown as he didn't run that well. (Owner) Geoffrey (Ruddock) asked me why he wasn't going to Down Royal last week for the Ulster Derby but I told him he wouldn't be ready in time and we would go here instead. He likes it here and the ground was perfect - good ground. He'll go for the Galway Hurdle now. He failed to get into it last year but will have no trouble this time.
O'Brien plunders Curragh
Pirateer's last run was when he beat Treasure Beach in a nursery at Listowel last September!. Today, Pirateer kept going and going and Ryan gave him a great ride. Ryan said a mile is fine for him but he might get further and he may now step up to a Group race.
Moran Gra wins Curragh finale
Moran Gra is a lovely tough little horse and we his form was boosted by Collingwood's good run earlier. He'll probably run next at Leopardstown in a month but might give Galway a skip as he probably wouldn't hack a busily run race.
