RACING: LEOPARDSTOWN REPORT: RYAN MOORE rode a winner for Aidan O'Brien at Leopardstown yesterday that had bookmakers scribbling out Derby quotes: unfortunately for the Coolmore empire, it was for the maiden winner Quest For Peace rather than Recital, who could finish only third to Banimpire in the Group Three feature.
Racing’s grapevine might have been alive before the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes that Recital was O’Brien’s number one Epsom hope in 2011, but not for the first time the rumour-mill looked to be off-beam.
The 8 to 13 favourite pulled hard in the early stages, was at the rear of the field before the turn, almost ran into the heels of one of his rivals when being pulled out to challenge, and then displayed an ungainly head carriage when Moore asked him a serious question in the closing stages.
In contrast, there were no such dramatics with the 14 to 1 Banimpire, the sole filly in the race, who provided Jim Bolger with a sixth win in the race, as she beat off the 25 to 1 outsider of the three O’Brien starters, Regent Street, by half a length.
Ladbrokes reflected most bookmaker reaction in pushing Recital out to 14 to 1 for Epsom, although O’Brien expressed satisfaction with the display.
“We’re delighted with it. It’s his first run of the year and he was fresh. If all’s well, he’ll come back here for the Derrinstown,” said the champion trainer.
There were 20 to 1 Epsom quotes floating about Quest For Peace’s head after his four-length maiden success over the Ballysax course and distance, although it was noteworthy the Group Three race was run almost two seconds faster.
What it did do, however, was provide Moore with a first winner in Ireland for O’Brien, although any longer-term significance by the former British champion jockey riding at Leopardstown yesterday was played down by the trainer.
O’Brien insisted a “best available” policy when it comes to jockeys will continue to be employed by Ballydoyle this year and wouldn’t be drawn further on the matter.
What Quest For Peace also achieved was to wind up Moore’s four rides on a positive note.
The odds-on Raphael Santi failed by three parts of a length to beat the newcomer Parish Hall in the juvenile maiden, while Moore had a frustrating spin in the mile handicap aboard President Lincoln, who was stuck on the rail for much of the straight behind the winner One Up One Down.
Parish Hall’s victory was significant in that he was a first runner for his sire Teofilo, and gave trainer-breeder Jim Bolger a third success in the four juvenile races run this season in Ireland. Kevin Manning’s mount was noticeably “colty” in the parade ring before the race but knuckled down well in the closing stages.
“He’s a great mover and will step up to seven furlongs soon,” Bolger reported.
Famous Name notched a seventh success at Leopardstown when justifying 2 to 13 odds in the Listed Heritage Stakes and Dermot Weld hopes to secure elusive Group One honours for the Juddmonte-owned stalwart before the end of the year.
“He’s a joy to train, just the kind of horse you want,” Weld said. “Pat (Smullen) said he gave a blow a furlong out so there should be some improvement to come.”
Leigh Roche was on board Weld’s other winner, Northern Rocked, who landed the seven-furlong handicap by a couple of lengths, while Ben Curtis got Hawk Flight home in the mile-and-six handicap despite a late challenge from another joint-apprentice champion, Gary Carroll, on Bravely Fought.
