Curragh report:Irish Derby winner Dylan Thomas was handed a 7 to 1 quote for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe by William Hill after making a stylish comeback in the hands of Seamus Heffernan at the Curragh yesterday. The four-year-old is likely to be Aidan O'Brien's flag-bearer this season following the decision to send one-time 2,000 Guineas contender Holy Roman Emperor to stud.
And the son of Danehill, who also beat Ouija Board in a thrilling finish to land the Irish Champion Stakes in September, looks as good as ever.
His three-year-old campaign ended on a disappointing note with a lacklustre run on dirt in a Grade One event at Belmont, but back on more familiar terrain, he showed he has lost none of his old sparkle.
Sent off as the 8 to 15 favourite, having opened at 1 to 3, in the Listed Ascon Rohcon Alleged Stakes, Heffernan never had an anxious moment as he produced the classy colt to take up the running well over a furlong out and he won by an eased down three lengths from Fracas, with Heliostatic back in third.
O'Brien, recording the middle leg of a 33½ to 1 treble in company with Heffernan, said: "He settled in great and did everything right. He's a real athlete and was a bit fresh today. That was lovely, there's a race for him at Longchamp in two weeks' time, the Prix Ganay, we could look at that. There is also a race here on May 7th and then there's the Tattersalls Gold Cup (May 27th)."
Honoured Guest (4 to 1) was the first leg of O'Brien's treble as he landed the Listed Verglas Loughbrown Stakes in fine style.
After travelling smoothly for Heffernan, he quickened up in impressive fashion to win by one and three-quarter lengths. The runner-up Alexander Tango may have finished closer had Mick Kinane been able to angle out for a run sooner.
O'Brien was suitably impressed and is considering a tilt at the French 2,000 Guineas. "It was an honest pace they went. He's quickened up and he's won it well in the end, the second is a good filly too," said O'Brien. "There was a decent horse behind him the time before as well. We'll have a look at the French Guineas."
The hat-trick was brought up by Grafton Street (7 to 2), who broke his maiden tag in the Ray O'Brien Motors Handicap.
Kevin Prendergast's Mustameet took the feature race of the day, the Group Three Castlemartin and La Louviere Studs Gladness Stakes, under a power-packed ride from Declan McDonogh.
The six-year-old won the Group Three event two years ago and was second 12 months ago, but reclaimed the prize by three-quarters of a length.
Johnny Murtagh tried to steal the race from the front on the Ger Lyons-trained An Tadh (6 to 1) and despite losing out close home he held off the challenge of Marcus Andronicus for second.
Prendergast said: "I think he is as good as he was. We will have to see what we do now and I'll have to talk to the owner."
Tommy Stack unleashed a potentially decent juvenile when Another Express sprinted to victory in the Michael Murphy and Co Ltd EBF Median Auction Maiden. A son of the brilliant Australian sprinter Choisir, the 5 to 1 chance put the race to bed in a matter of strides under Wayne Lordon.
He had one and a half lengths to spare over Jim Bolger's Bunsen Burner (20 to 1) at the line, with Princess Zoe claiming third.
Fozzy Stack, son and assistant to his father, said: "He's a quick one and he's been going well at home.
"I suppose we'd think about coming back for a Listed race here on May 7th or leave him for the Marble Hill later in the month, I don't know yet."
Macs Joy warmed up for a possible crack at Punchestown's ACC Bank Champion Hurdle by finishing a respectable second to Silent Oscar in the Peter Byrne Kildare Race. The classy eight-year-old, sent off the 11 to 10 favourite, stayed on strongly but could only get within two lengths of the 6 to 1 winner.
