My Mate Alfie and Colin Keane. © Photo Healy Racing
The Ger Lyons trained My Mate Alfie continued his progression since reverting to sprinting when landing the Listed Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes at the Curragh.
A son of Dark Angel, the gelding started off over 6f before moving up a furlong to win his maiden at Down Royal last July. Having failed to add to that sole victory in five subsequent runs, the three-year-old dropped back in trip this term.
Third in a Group 3 at Naas last time, the Colin Keane partnered runner was sent off 10/3 for this keenly contested sprint.
Despite just the seven runners, the race was very much in the melting pot with over a furlong to run. Last year's winner, Commanche Falls who had forced the pace to that point, came under pressure and gave way.
My Mate Alfie came through to hold a slender lead but was soon challenged by a trio of Tango Flare Ano Syra and Jakajaro
Try as they might, none of the three could get to the eventual winner who stuck his neck out to hold on for a well earned half-length win.
Ger Lyons said: “He's been very consistent all year and the blinkers have transformed him.
“He gets seven and the first furlong had me worried as they did 15 seconds and I thought it would turn into a sprint and they'd out-do him for speed.
“At home he's bomb-proof and you can do whatever you like but if you run him here without blinkers he just parks and won't do a thing. The blinkers are the difference between winning and losing.
“It's great for Austin (Whelan) and all his gang, he's called after his son Alfie. I say they'll take a while to get home tonight.
“We aimed to have three winners this weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I said if we don't win this it's all on the Derby and I don't think that's going to happen!
“He's in the Stewards Cup' because it's a £250,000 race. I was fourth in it with a filly many years ago. I was also just chinned in an Ayr Gold Cup, I wanted to be the first Irish trainer to win it.
“Those are two races that are on my agenda. I don't think he's good enough but we'll see.
“We're always talking about prize-money. You've got the Wokingham that's worth £150,000 and the Stewards' Cup that is £250,000 so if you are serious about prize-money you have to partake.”
Paddy Powers went 20/1(from 33) My Mate Alfie for the Stewards Cup.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
An Irish national hunt racehorse trainer based at Closutton in Begenalstown, County Carlow and a mighty force within the racing industry, Willie Mullins has secured multiple trainer titles. Not content with this, he is continually smashing his personal bests and setting new records.
