Gary Carson
Blossom a class act as O'Brien and Moore double up
Cherry Blossom and Ryan Moore
© Photo Healy Racing
Cherry Blossom justified her short price when running out an impressive winner of the Keeper's Heart Irish & American Whiskey Maiden at the Curragh, giving Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore a double on the card.
Moore had the 8/13 shot to the fore throughout and she held a narrow lead passing the halfway point in the six-furlong contest.
The No Nay Never filly was asked to quicken away over a furlong from home and soon went clear to record a cosy five-length win over Chansigah.
Cherry Blossom had been fourth in the Marwell Stakes at Naas on her debut late last month and O'Brien said:-
“We're delighted with her, we thought she was very nice the first day and she nearly fell over coming out of the gates then, she went right down on her knees.
“She's probably a very smart filly and we'll have a look at the Lowther with her now. She looks like a Cheveley Park filly in time.
“The first day she was nearly on the ground in a listed race and she was still flying home.
“She's a big powerful filly, a typical No Nay Never — pure speed. It's unusual that a horse stamps his stock as much as he does but they are all very quick, five or six furlongs.”