Donal Murphy
Wilshire beats his better fancied stable mate
Wilshire Boulevard is driven out by Seamie Heffernan to beat Oklahoma City (No 5)
© Photo Healy Racing
Wilshire Boulevard (7/1) outshone his better fancied stable mate, as he took the Group 3 Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Anglesey Stakes. Oklahoma City was sent off the even money favourite, with Joseph O’Brien opting to ride the son of Oasis Dream.
The ‘jolly’ attempted to make all but he couldn’t fend off the challenge of the Seamie Heffernan ridden winner, he got to the front a furlong from home and he stayed on well from there to score by three parts of a length.
Oklahoma City kept on to take second, while Mansion House was half a length back in third under Billy Lee for David Wachman.
UK raider, Jallota was sent off the 9/4 second favourite, but the Mick Channon trained colt could only manage fourth under Martin Harley.
Aidan O'Brien said of the runner-up afterwards: "He ran a great race and I was very pleased with him.
"He was a little bit slow away. He was wearing blinkers for the first time today and he had a visor on the last day. We will step him up to seven furlongs."
He went on to talk about the winner, saying: "We always liked this horse a lot. He is a nice horse and he wouldn’t mind going further.
"We left the hood off him today and he settled well.
"He is well-bred and he is a half-brother to Zoffany. The Holy Roman Emperor’s seem to improve."
"Credit to everyone at the Curragh. The ground is good to firm but it is very safe."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee