Espionage strikes the front under Ryan Moore© Photo Healy Racing
Ryan Moore made his first visit to Roscommon a winning one as he steered Espionage home in the Listed Lenebane Stakes.
This Galileo colt finished runner-up for Aidan O'Brien in a Group 1 when last seen at Saint-Cloud during his juvenile season in October and holds an Irish St Leger entry.
He went off 11/10 favourite to make a winning return and raced in touch before coming off the bridle in fourth inside the final quarter of a mile.
Moore angled him out and his mount made sustained progress to close at the furlong pole.
He soon passed Young Ireland and kept on best to beat that rival by a length and a-half. Runner-up Young Ireland ran a remarkable race at 22/1 (from 40/1) as ran off the first bend and was still in there fighting off his rivals by the final furlong. Jackfinbar must have delighted Willie Mullins with a staying-on third having been off for some 1,459 days.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said:- “It's great to get him back and great to have Ryan here to have a sit on him.
“He's a horse that Aidan has given plenty of time to come to hand and he's really strengthened up physically.
“Ryan gave him a lovely ride and he was very impressed by him. He's a horse for a mile-and-a-quarter or a mile-and-a-half.
“We'll probably look at something like the Voltigeur from here. He's one to look forward to.
“It was a good renewal of this race. Over the last few years three-year-olds maybe didn't have the strongest record and it is tough for a three-year-old coming here against some solid older horses.
“It's great to get him back on track.”
Moore added: "He had very good form as a two-year-old and it has just taken a while to get him back. I was delighted with him today.
"I thought it was a nice performance - there were a few things going on in the race and he has overcome them. I think he is a quality colt and stays well.
"This was a mile three and a half and he got that well. I'd say he would be very comfortable at anywhere between probably 10 and 14 furlongs.
"Aidan told me to come to Roscommon, simple as that! Delighted to come and it seems like a really good crowd here on a Tuesday night."
Reflecting on Irish Derby weekend at the Curragh with O'Brien, he said: "Aidan's records are obviously unique now. They have been for a long time, he just keeps adding to the list.
"I don't think he is done, so plenty of time to talk about him!"
Moore completed the full set of Irish and British Classics when Auguste Rodin won the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday while O'Brien sealed his 100th European Classic with that victory.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
