The Entertainer (Seamie Heffernan, nearside) beats Albion Square (Shane Foley)© Photo Healy Racing
The Caravaggios took the first, fourth and fifth positions in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Navan as Ballydoyle’s The Entertainer led them home under Seamie Heffernan.
Heffernan had to wait for a gap on the 9/4 joint favourite and once in the clear inside the final furlong the winner quickened up well to beat the always to the fore Albion Square by a length and a half.
Third placer She’s Trouble (three and a half lengths back) was appropriately named as it got quite messy late on.
Donnacha O’Brien’s Caravaggio, Don Julio stayed on for fourth, depriving his stable companion by the same first season sire, Geodesic of that position.
“It was tight at the business end but when he got the gap his class kicked in, with his speed,” said Heffernan.
“Hopefully he'll progress and be on the plane to Ascot. He's got plenty of pace and hopefully he'll stay.
“Caravaggio is a top-class stallion, I'm liking his progeny.”
The Stewards interviewed G.P. Brouder, rider of Stickyourneckout concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted that he had used his whip excessively however he had used it twice to straighten his mount. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that G.P. Brouder was in breach of Regulation 10.3 (g), excessive frequency. Having considered his record in this regard, the Stewards, pursuant Regulation 10 (6)(a) suspended G.P. Brouder for 6 racedays.
G.M. Ryan, rider of Geodesic trained by Donnacha Aidan O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran short of room inside the final furlong.
The Stewards enquired into an incident inside the final furlong of this race involving Geodesic, ridden by G.M. Ryan, Stickyourneckout, ridden by G.P. Brouder, and She's Trouble ridden by K.J. Manning, where it appeared that Geodesic ran short of room and checked. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. G.M. Ryan stated that he had been running on well before receiving pressure on his inside and got squeezed. K.J. Manning stated that he received pressure from his outside. G.P. Brouder stated that his mount ran green, spooked at movement from his outside and he put his stick down in order to straighten his mount up. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that G.P. Brouder was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly. Having considered his record in this regard, the Stewards suspended G.P. Brouder for 3 racedays.
(GC & EM)
