Racing

John Oxx’s Qewy makes all the running in Heritage Stakes

Kingsbarns could finish only third at Leopardstown

Declan McDonogh: “He might run well in the Gladness Stakes (at the Curragh next month) or something like that.” Photograph: Inpho
Declan McDonogh: “He might run well in the Gladness Stakes (at the Curragh next month) or something like that.” Photograph: Inpho
Wed Apr 02 2014 - 20:43

Kingsbarns could finish only third as Qewy made all of the running to spring a surprise in the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday.

The 2012 Racing Post Trophy winner held every chance but could not get to the John Oxx-trained 11/1 outsider of five in the rain-softened ground.

Qewy kept pulling out more for Declan McDonogh and got the verdict by three-quarters of a length from Pop Art, who took second spot from 4/6 favourite Kingsbarns.

“He won his maiden in Navan last year very well and he probably didn’t go on the quick ground in the summer. He went on that ground very well,” said McDonogh.

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“You’d have to like him there. He might run well in the Gladness Stakes (at the Curragh next month) or something like that.”

Kingsbarns was not the only high-profile Aidan O'Brien horse to flounder in the difficult conditions as Johann Strauss also had to settle for minor honours earlier on the card.

Runner-up in last season’s Racing Post Trophy, the 4/5 favourite could finish only third after a troubled run in the Ross Nugent Foundation Maiden.

One of O'Brien's Classic prospects, he was held up as stablemate Illusive and Le Troisieme Gris set the pace. Joseph O'Brien made his move early in the straight and went for a gap on the inside but it was closed by Kevin Manning on the eventual winner Fiscal Focus.

Jim Bolger’s colt just held Boqa by a nose, with Johann Strauss another length and three-quarters away.