Slattery records first Group race win on progressive Kastasa

Andrew Slattery repaid the confidence placed in him by Dermot Weld by making his first ride in a Group race a winning one aboard Kastasa in the Holden Plant Rentals Loughbrown Stakes at the Curragh.

Slattery, the leading apprentice this season on the 36 winner mark, has built up a tremendous association of late with the Aga Khan’s homebred daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar and this was her fifth win from six starts this term. Capri set a strong pace from the front and the 5/4 favourite was still six lengths clear approaching the straight in this two-mile Group 3 event.

However Kastasa soon reeled him in early in the straight, and the 11/8 chance asserted over a furlong out before drawing right away to score by seven lengths. Cypress Creek kept on at one pace to take the runner-up berth, with Ballydoyle stablemate Capri weakening to finish a further four and three quarter lengths back in third.

Weld said, “She’s very good and progressing all the time. I couldn’t take him off her as they are such a team together. Every time he’s ridden her they just click. He gives her a chance to find her feet and makes lovely steady progress on her.

“I thought he gave her a superb ride at Leopardstown by getting over from a wide draw to get a position. He deserved the ride here for that and did everything right.

“They were really travelling and were strung out. To go two miles at that pace and the way she found another gear off a fast pace, you would hope she would be a Gold Cup filly for next year. That’s it for this year.

“She’s very adaptable and goes on good to firm ground and she goes on testing ground.”

Slattery said, “That was my first ride in a Group race. I wasn’t expecting to get the ride but was delighted that I did. Mr Weld has put a lot of faith in me and I’m delighted to repay him.”