Aidan O'Brien gained some compensation for the below par effort of Aristotle in the Vodafone Derby on Saturday when Glyndebourne powered home from English raider Right Wing and local hope Media Puzzle in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh.
After the Ballydoyle Sadler's Wells colt forged clear under Seamus Heffernan from the furlong pole to come home three-and-a-half lengths clear of his sole overseas challenger and, in the process, well and truly reversed Cork placings with Dermot Weld's Media Puzzle, Paul Shanahan, representing joint owners Michael Tabor and Sue Magnier, remarked,
'I'd say he'll go for the Irish Derby - that's my guess. He's a horse who is going the right way and he has improved no end. He could be a real good horse towards the end of the season and a mile-and-a-half will suit him.'
If ever a filly deserved to open her account Kevin Prendergast's Yara, with no less than nine seconds under her belt, finally came good in the Pollardstown Maiden over nine furlongs when justifying favouritism in the hands of Declan McDonogh.
Having gained the tag as 'the best maiden in the country' before Saturday, she will now head for the Pretty Polly Stakes back at headquarters in three weeks time. 'She ran a blinder in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and wherever she runs she always finishes in the money. It's been a long time coming,' said the winning trainer.
Half-an-hour earlier, favourite backers looked all set to collect when Colm O'Donoghue sent Aidan O'Brien's juvenile Tap Dancer to the front one-and-a-half furlongs from home in the six furlong Kilcullen 2-Y-O Maiden.
However, moments later, the complexion of the race change dramatically when the son of Sadler's Wells veered left towards the stands losing all his momentum and handing the initiative to Jim Bolger's newcomer Dervorghilla, who stayed on under Kevin Manning to land the spoils for New York-based owner Joseph Cornacchia.
Kevin Manning went on to complete a 34-1 double when he teamed up with Jim Gorman's Miracle Ridge to defy top-weight of ten stone in the Mongey Communications Handicap over five furlongs.
Curragh trainer John Oxx rounded off a memorable afternoon in the concluding Curragh Equine Ground Care Maiden over twelve furlongs when 7-4 favourite Narrateur defeated market rival Molomo by a neck after a tremendous duel from the two furlong marker.
Partnered by Niall McCullagh, the winner was a fitting end to the day for the Oxx team which saw stable-companion Sinndar become the first Curragh-trained winner of the Epsom Derby since Santa Claus back in 1964.
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