Racing:Aidan O'Brien's Beethoven (2-1 favourite) appreciated a drop in class in the Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown to provide his son, Joseph, with a first Pattern-race success.
Last season’s Dewhurst winner has only been out twice this term after his trip to the Breeders’ Cup and he ran respectably in the Sussex Stakes on his last outing.
With the trainer deciding to keep his son on board as he had ridden him on both occasions to date this season, he had him settled in behind Akdarena and Emulous early on before getting the perfect split in the Group Three contest.
The jockey had to keep Beethoven, wearing blinkers for the first time, up to his work inside the final furlong without getting too serious and Dandy Boy made good headway to finish second, three-quarters of a length away.
The winning jockey said: “He travelled well and quickened up well. He was the class horse of the race. I never had to use my stick and the ground can’t be fast enough for him.”
The young O’Brien had earlier struck on board Why (11-8 favourite) for his father in the Tattersalls Ireland Ltd EBF Fillies’ Maiden. The daughter of Galileo just held off the fast-finishing Eva’s Time by the narrowest of margins.
There was a lot to like about the winning debut of David Marnane’s Fred Archer (10-1) in the Tattersalls EBF Maiden. Running in the rarely-seen silks these days of Sheikh Mohammed, the Iffraaj colt won by three-quarters of a length under Colm O’Donoghue.
Incidentally the brilliant Sea The Stars won the corresponding race two years ago.
“I have two horses in training for Sheikh Mohammed and he was a great owner to get,” said Marnane, just out of luck with Dandy Boy. “I think the horse was very impressive today and he quickened up very well. His sire Iffraaj is having some season and they generally improve from their first run.”