Dick Whittington back in the headlines

There were two winners for Ballydoyle today at Royal Ascot with Even Song and Order Of St George prevailing, and a brace was also achieved at Leopardstown for Flat racing's powerhouse. The double in County Dublin was completed when the Seamie Heffernan-partnered Dick Whittington won the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes, run for the first time under the Oliver Brady Memorial Shabra moniker.

The pace-setting Al Mohalhal and Group 1 winning juvenile, Dick Whittington, has this extended seven furlong feature between themselves inside the final quarter mile.

Dick Whittington (7/4) was marginally headed for favouritism by Kelinni (cross-channel raider, eventually fourth at 13/8) but the former showed his class in the final furlong to oblige by two and three parts of a length.

Four and three parts of a length was the margin back to Dont Bother Me in third.

"With a little ease in the ground, over six or seven, he's a genuine Group 3 or Group 2 horse. He'll be very competitive in all those races," said Joseph O'Brien.

"Seamie gave him a great ride. He got the perfect position and slipped through lovely.

"A real fast six suits and an easy seven is probably ideal. He's a solid tough horse.

"He had a tough three-year-old year and had a few little setbacks. He was a good two-year-old."

The earlier winner at Leopardstown for Aidan O'Brien was Californiadreaming under his daughter Ana.

T.Hogan, trainer of Gordon Lord Byron reported to the Clerk of Scales that his charge scoped badly post race.

(GC & EM)