Agena, number 2, arrives at the winning post© Photo Healy Racing
Agena the O’Brien second-string, put his head on the line to deprive He’s No Saint in the seven furlong colts and geldings juvenile maiden in Leopardstown.
The son of Galileo was held up in second-last by Seamie Heffernan as the nine runners hit the home straight. From there he picked his way through and thundered home down the outside in the last 100 yards to win by a head at 10/1.
He’s No Saint (4/1) looked to have put away Masai with 200 yards to race, however, he was undone by the powerful finish displayed by Agena.
The O’Brien first-string, Masai, was heavily punted from 13/8 this morning down to 8/11 on the off. He made all but after a prolonged battle gave best to He’s No Saint and had to settle for third.
Winning handler Aidan O’Brien said: “He’s a nice horse. The two of them were raw horses just ready to start. Joseph’s horse (Masai) being in front wasn’t ideal and he was very green. We’ll look for a stakes race for the winner.”
Agena holds entries in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the end of this month and in next year’s Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas.
Regarding Declaration Of War who was taken out of the Irish Champion Stakes later on the card, due to the change in going, Aidan O’Brien explained: “He’s a fast-ground horse even though he has some form on softer. The plans [with him] are ground dependant.”
Joseph O’Brien, who was due to ride Declaration Of War, now rides Kingsbarns in the big race at 6.50pm.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
