Celestial Orbit and Joey Sheridan won the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms Irish EBF Park Express Stakes, Credit
Breandán Ó hUallacháin
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Breandán Ó hUallacháin
With The Curragh – The Home of the Classics – hosting the first-ever Good Friday raceday in Ireland, a large crowd attended at the County Kildare venue as the On Course Bookmakers generously sponsored free admission for all patrons this afternoon.
Lars Soldier Wins First Good Friday Race
Trainer Mick Mulvany had the honour of training the first winner at a Good Friday race meeting in Ireland as Lars Soldier won The Curragh On Course Bookmakers Supporting Free Admission Irish EBF Maiden of €30,000 – the opening contest of an eight-race card.
The 18/1 chance in the betting market, a two-year-old son of Soldier’s Call, had previously raced once. He had finished fourth behind Ruler’s Control on debut at this track on the opening day of the Irish flat racing season on 15 March.
This afternoon, Lars Soldier was prominent throughout the five-furlong race and battled well under three-pound claiming jockey Wesley Joyce when asked for a serious effort inside the final furlong.
Lars Soldier and Wesley Joyce won the first ever race run on Good Friday in Ireland, Courtesy Breandán Ó hUallacháin
With the Aidan O’Brien-handled second favourite, Confucius (5/4) under Ryan Moore, his main challenger in the final two hundred metres of the race, the Laurence Mulvany-owned colt prevailed by a nose from the Coolmore partners-owned Conucius, with Edward Thatch, the even-money favourite, a further three and a half lengths back in third place for rider David Egan and trainer Robson Aquiar.
Staysound Susie (11/4 favourite), who was third on her recent visit to The Curragh Racecourse, went two places better this afternoon as she claimed the 1xBet.ie Supports Safe Gambling Irish EBF Fund Fillies’ Sprint Handicap over six furlongs.
Trained by Andrew Slattery and ridden by seven-pound claiming jockey Jimmy Dalton, the Dreamers & Believers Syndicate-owned five-year-old daughter of U S Navy Flag, was suited to the extra furlong today, and came home with a neck advantage over Glory To Be (16/1), with Varshini (12/1) next best, another neck back in third.
Joseph O’Brien 1-2 in Group 3
Former Breeders’ Cup-winning rider, and now trainer, Joseph O’Brien provided a large-price 1-2 in the Irish Stallion Farms Irish EBF Park Express Stakes, a Group 3 race over one mile.
Celestial Orbit (33/1) and jockey Joey Sheridan took victory by a half-length from Princess Child with Declan McDonogh in the saddle. The Juddmonte Farms’-owned favourite, Faiyum, a three-time winner from one mile to one mile and an eighth, had to carry topweight of 10 stone in the contest, and finished third on her seasonal debut for trainer Ger Lyons and his stable jockey Colin Keane.
Key Witness was another big-price winner on the card, coming home first at 16/1 in the 1xBet.ie Proudly Supporting Irish Racing Mile Handicap.
It was a second winner of the afternoon for a seven-pound claiming jockey as this time Alan Persse was aboard the four-year-old gelded son of Acclamation for trainer Pat Hughes. In another tight finish, he had a short-head advantage at the wire over Diego El Queso (18/1), who was ridden by Colin Keane, while 9/1 chance Lady Lilac (9/1) was third home for jockey Wayne Lordan and conditioner John Murphy, a further short-head behind the runner-up.
Noel Meade and Colin Keane Doubles
Galileo Noir (11/1) was a surprise winner of The Feel The Rush With 1xBet.ie Easter Irish EBF Maiden, in what turned out to be the open half of a double for trainer Noel Meade and jockey Colin Keane.
The three-year-son of Saxon Warrior, still a maiden after two previous racecourse appearances, finally got his head in front, in the one mile and one furlong race which involved two blueblood Coolmore-bred and owned runners, namely Canary Island (11/2) and Pendulum (15/8 favourite).
Both sons of Dubawi, the former is out of multiple Group 1-winner Rhododrendron, and is a half-brother to Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin, now a Coolmore stallion. The latter is out of the multiple Group 1-placed So Wonderful, making him a half-brother to Appealynn, a former five-furlong winner.
With Ballydoyle’s main jockey, Ryan Moore, choosing Pendulum, the betting public made him a 15/8 favourite to win on debut. Last season’s Epsom Derby-winning rider, Wayne Lordan took the mount on Canary Island.
At the businnes end of the race, neither of the blueblood colts were seriously in contention, as Galileo Noir battled out with Glyfada (4/1) and Atomic City (3/1) from the Donnacha O’Brien and Joseph O’Brien stables respetcively.
Glyfada claimed the runner-up position a half-length behind the winner. Chris Hayes on Glyfada got the better of the Joey Sheridan-ridden 3/1 chance Atomic City by a neck. Both of the Aidan O’Brien representatives, Canary Island and Pendulum, eventually passed the wire in fourth and sixth places respectively.
Noel Meade and Colin Keane completed a quick double with success in the Your Game. Your Odds. Your 1xBet.ie Stayers Trophy Race when nine-year-old Layfayette stayed on well inside the final furlong to record a 10th career victory in the gelding’s 46-race career to date.
