Racing:Recital strengthened his Classic claims with victory in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. Giving Kieren Fallon a comeback win for the Aidan O'Brien stable, the heavily-backed 1-2 favourite led two furlongs out and shot clear from stablemates Memphis Tennessee and Regent Street.
The winner hung quite badly in the closing stages and was eased down by Fallon near the finish when victory was assured.
Regent Street set the pace in this Group Two over a mile and a quarter, tracked by the two other O’Brien runners. Fallon had Recital well positioned on the rail and made his move three furlongs out to challenge for the lead. He soon built up a commanding advantage to have the contest sewn up, the official verdict being a length and a half.
Zanughan, the John Oxx-trained second favourite, was outpaced early on and never a factor. It was O’Brien’s ninth Derrinstown triumph.
In the first race of the day, French Emperor stepped up considerably on his Dundalk debut run to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden. Gin Rummy set the pace but ran wide at the bend, allowing Colm O’Donoghue on Edward Lynam’s youngster to burst through the gap.
The 12-1 shot pulled away nicely to score by three and a half lengths from Perfect Godess, with Gin Rummy third.
Lynam said: “He did it well. We were disappointed with him first time out as we think he’s useful. He’ll go to Naas now at the start of June for a new race there — a six-furlong race for colts. I don’t know whether he’d be good enough to win but hopefully he’ll get a placing anyway.”
Admiral Of The Red looked a horse with plenty of promise when getting off the mark with an all-the-way win in the Follow Leopardstown on Facebook Maiden. Unable to strike a blow on his debut over an inadequate trip last summer, this well-bred colt showed he could be a good stayer in the making.
Ridden by trainer O’Brien’s son, Joseph, the 3-1 favourite pulled clear in the straight to score by four and a half lengths from Olympiad, who just held Long Journey Home for second place. O’Brien was also responsible for the fourth home, Nantucket Bay.
The Michael Halford-trained Zerashan also made all of the running when defying top weight in the Growise Handicap. Johnny Murtagh’s mount had his rivals in trouble turning for home and had
enough in hand to beat Rock Medley. The 4-1 joint-favourite was three-quarters of a length in front at the line, with Celtic Dane third.
Halford said: “That was a great ride from the front by Johnny Murtagh. He’s a grand horse that has done well over the winter. He’ll go jumping eventually. The next step for him is the premier handicap over a mile and a half at the Curragh on Guineas weekend.
“He is a straightforward, genuine horse. He wouldn’t want winter ground, but he can handle a bit of dig.”