Double strike for Firestone

Bert Firestone, Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen combined for an 8/1 double with the juvenile fillies Saranac Lake and Rum Charger at the Curragh this afternoon.

Saranac Lake is out of Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up Lake Champlain, and Weld is already looking ahead to going one better in the fillies mile classic next year after the American bred two-year-old just held on by a head from the strong-finishing newcomer Quarter Moon.

'This is a major day for a great owner', said the Rosewell House trainer, who continued, 'It was a good performance by a genuine, tough filly. What you see is what you get with her. She seems equally effective on fast or soft ground, and we will probably put her away now until next year'.

Rum Charger also sported the famous green and white Firestone silks when stretching clear over a furlong out to beat Salentino by seven lengths in the juvenile maiden.

The Spectrum filly had shown plenty of promise in three previous outings, and Weld said, 'She was unlucky in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot where she was the meat in the sandwich. We gave her a break after that run, and will give her one more outing this season. The C L Weld Park Stakes is a logical race to go for. She`s smart, and is improving'.

Aidan O`Brien saddled the other two Group race winners on the card with the Michael Kinane-ridden pair Bach and Hawkeye.

Bach was declared this morning for the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, but was described as 'unlikely to run' by O`Brien after a hard-earned half a length verdict over Jammaal in the Group 2 Royal Whip Stakes.

'He has always wanted top of the ground, although it was not as bad as I thought it would be (yielding to soft). I would not rule him out completely from York, but it is unlikely', said O`Brien, who nominated the million dollar Atto Mile at Woodbine in Canada next month as a possible stepping stone towards the Breeders Cup.

Hawkeye led home a 1-2 for Ballydoyle in the Group 3Desmond Stakes. TheDanehill colt, who was completing a hat-trick this term in the mile event, led a furlong out to beat stable-companion Pebble Island by a length.

'He hated that ground, and Mick felt he was labouring on it', said Aidan O`Brien before adding, 'There is no doubt he is a miler, and the plan is to go for the Group 1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp in three weeks time'.

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