Friendship cruises to victory

Friendship may have taken five starts to break his maiden at Leopardstown but the Galileo colt is now on a real “upward curve” and followed up under top-weight in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery.

Joseph O’Brien repeated the Leopardstown tactics keeping things simple from the front, and the Ballydoyle representative had his four rivals all in trouble turning in.

O’Brien turned the screw on the 9/10 favourite and kicked clear early in the straight for a convincing two and a half lengths victory. Glassatura (14/1) kept on at one pace to take the runner-up spot, with Zakhm another two lengths adrift in third.

Joseph O’Brien said, “He’s just a slow learner. He was brought to Royal Ascot on his second run and was disappointing but has just taken a couple of runs to get the hang of things.

“He’s an uncomplicated horse and is on an upward curve now.”