'Extra green' Ballydoyle juvenile wins

Ballydoyle’s $3,000,000 purchase Mendelssohn got off the mark at the Curragh today, winning the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital EBF Maiden on his second start, for trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore.

Moore’s mount (well backed from 7/4 to 5/4f) made all but was obviously green in-running and in the end drifted across the track before scoring a length win over Andesh

American bred Mendelssohn, purchased from Clarkland Farm at Keeneland Sales last September, is a half-brother to American Champion racemare Beholder, who holds the record along with legendary John Henry for winning a Grade 1 race five years in a row.

Following Mendelssohn’s win, Aidan O’Brien stated “he came forward lovely from his first run but he's still very babyish.

“Obviously he will learn as he goes along. He (Moore) said he was very green in front and he was extremely green the first day when Wayne (Lordan) rode him.

“Hopefully he'll grow out of that - sometimes it takes them two or three runs, but he's a lovely colt.

“You'd like to go for a winners race with him rather than stepping him up because he's extra green. You wouldn't like to go into a group race with him yet like that, you'd like him to be a little bit more professional.

“He's a lovely colt and a very well-bred horse; we might go gently I think.

Quotes from Gary Carson