Buckaroo sees off Homeless Songs in Heritage Stakes

A cracking renewal of the Listed Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown saw Buckaroo hold Homeless Songs by a neck.

Irish 2,000 Guineas sixth Buckaroo closed on Paddy Twomey's front-running Mea Domina and passed her over a furlong out.

Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs, the 13/8 favourite, mounted her challenge outside of Buckaroo and was almost upsides inside the final furlong.

Joseph O'Brien's Buckaroo refused to be passed, though, and kept on well to see Dermot Weld's star filly off by a neck at 5/2.

The pair moved three and a-quarter lengths clear of Mea Domina, a French import who showed plenty on Irish debut.

Buckaroo's jockey Oisin Murphy said: “He was really straightforward, he had very nice form last year and it was lovely to be on him today.

“Joseph pointed this race out about a month ago, so it was a long time in the planning.

“We must really thank the team at Joseph O'Brien's because the middle of last year he was quite sick and all the staff at Carriganog, and the vets, did a good job to nurse him back to health. It was looking like it was going to be a real battle.

“He went to post really sleepy, I was slowly away on one here on Sunday, so I didn't want the same thing to happen so I gave him a little nudge out and he relaxed in the race.

“It was a sit and sprint sort of race. When she (Homeless Songs) loomed up, she's a very good filly and she put up a battle. I loved his attitude, he switched back to his outside lead and put his ears back and tried hard. They are admirable qualities.

“Joseph did say he had a little away day at the Curragh, but an older horse like this is always bound to improve from a race.

“He's a home-bred and that makes all the difference.

“It was a shame because on Sunday my family came and I got beat a short-head and should have won. It was nice to make amends today.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson