Henry Longfellow beats Islandsinthestream © Photo Healy Racing
The 2/9 favourite Henry Longfellow duly obliged in the Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes to give Aidan O'Brien his sixteenth win in the Group 2 contest.
A maiden winner over course and distance on Irish Oaks day, the Dubawi colt sat second to Spanish Flame before being shaken up by Ryan Moore to lead two furlongs out. Islandsinthestream soon gave chase in second and stuck to his task well but never really threatened to overhaul the winner who scored by two lengths.
“You'd be very happy. The good thing about it was that it was a good solid even run race so he'll learn plenty,” said O'Brien.
“That's what we were hoping would happen, either that or he would have had to go himself. It was lovely and I'm delighted.
“He's a classy horse, he's able to travel and quickens too. He got a bit lazy when he went there and Ryan caught hold of him and made stretch out, that's what he wanted.
“The next one is the Dewhurst, that is the plan. City Of Troy is coming here to the National Stakes so he'll go to the Dewhurst, just to try and divide them up.
“He's not short of pace but Dubawis do stay and his mother was very unusual as she won Group 1s from a mile all the way to a mile-and-a-half.
“Ryan said there was no problem if it was going to be heavy today, no worry about it, and no problem on nice ground.
“PC (Pierre-Charles Boudot) rides him in all his work and he said he was very happy. When those fellas are saying that, they know what they are at usually.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
