Yeats was the star attraction at Leopardstown last night and he duly obliged to complete a double for Aidan O Brien and Seamie Heffernan. The 5/4 favourite for the Ascot Gold Cup next month was a much shorter 2/13 for last night's feature and the result was never in question.
Clara Allen took it up early on in the one mile and six furlong event but when Heffernan asked his mount to extend he done so with ease, soon going clear on the way to a six-length success.
Speaking over the phone Aidan O Brien said, 'We are delighted with that, he did it real well. Hopefully he will ok in the morning and it is on to Ascot then.'
While winning rider Heffernan was delighted everything went according to plan, 'He is the top rated horse and did what we expected he would do.'
The Ballydoyle team got off the mark in the second race with another short priced favourite. Greek Mythology was not as easy a winner as his stable companion, but got the job done when holding the challenge of Slaney Rock by a length and a half.
Heffernan took it up aboard the Mr Greenly colt two furlongs from home and edged clear inside the final furlong and that was a lead he maintained all the way to the line.
'He is improved from his first run and is getting sharper. He has the makings to be a decent horse,' said Ireland's current leading rider of the 4/7 winner.
Dermot Weld's Applesnap showed some fine battling qualities when she was all out to win the opening race under a strong Pat Smullen. The daughter of Clodovil was prominent throughout tracking early pace maker C'Mon the Farmer before taking up the running a furlong out.
The well-backed favourite Lime Tree Valley (5/2-1/1) closed in on the leader all the way to the line and having led a stride past the line was just denied by a shorthead under Declan McDonagh.
'That was a very good ride from Pat, they broke well and were always handy and she did it nicely. I was very pleased with her battling quality as that is what won it for her. That is the first runner I have had from that sire and she will stay at six furlongs as she seemed to be pretty effective,' remarked Weld.
That was the first leg of a double for the pair who also landed the last when Perfect Casting scored in the Moyglare Stud colours by three and a half lengths to Akua'Ba in second.
Prominent throughout the Diesis colt went one better then in his maiden at Naas and the master of Rosewell Rose later said, 'He did what you would expect him to do. It was a workmanlike performance and I have no decision made on where to go next. I dropped him back as I felt he just didn't get home in Naas and a mile or a mile and one will be his trip and he is not without pace.'
Miss Gorica continued the great run of form currently being experienced by Co Meath trainer Joanna Morgan when she landed the Rochestown Handicap over seven furlongs. Declan McDonogh was aboard the Mull Of Kintyre filly who showed plenty of speed when going clear just inside the final two furlongs to score by five lengths, hard held at the line. A quick reappearance at Naas on Monday over six furlongs could be on the agenda according to the delighted handler.
The game front-runner Temlett won the Cova Properties Handicap over a mile and two furlongs for Willie Mullins and Michael Kinane. A recent winner at Killarney over a mile, the three-year old Desert Prince gelding battled all the way to the line when pressed by Tamimi's History to hold on by a head.
'I am delighted with that as he has grown up a bit in himself. The rain that fell helped and Mick said he handled it well. I think he might get further and the Ulster Derby could be a possibility for him.'
Valuable three pound claimer Billy Lee partnered 20/1 shot Summer Magic to land the penultimate race on the card for Tim Doyle. Held up in rear by Lee the six year old filly loomed behind the leading pack just over a furlong out before kicking for home and recoding a three length victory.
'She is in foal to Redback and will keep going for another little while as long as we have good ground. She has been a good servant to us over the years,' explained Doyle.
By Niall Cronin
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