Mutasarref again shows his liking for Leopardstown

Mutasarref has proved a tremendous servant to connections and recorded his ninth career win when taking the Group 3 Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown.

The Ger Lyons-trained gelding was recording his fourth win at this venue having also scored at Group 3 level in the Ballycorus Stakes here in June.

The 12/1 shot got a nice split early in the straight and after making headway between horses to lead a furlong out kept on gamely under Colin Keane to score by half-a-length. Mountain Bear took the runner-up spot with Lord Massusus just a head further back in third.

The 5/4 favourite Galen made most of the running but couldn’t find any extra inside the final furlong, while Ylang Ylang was always in rear and never got in a blow.

Lyons said, “He’s some horse and you don’t expect him to be winning with the penalties. He’s a nice horse around a bend.

“We were a bit disappointed with him at the Curragh but I don’t think he’s ever ran his best at the Curragh in a straight.

“Eleanora (Kennedy, owner) is having some summer, it’s just fantastic. Horses like that make you enjoy it.

“His plan is to come back here for the Group 2 on Champions Weekend which is beyond him as we know but it’s another day out.”