The Vatican made it double on the evening for Aidan O'Brien© Photo Healy Racing
The Vatican put in a game front-running performance to take the last at the Curragh, the eFlow 'Hassle Free' Maiden, providing Aidan O’Brien with a double on the card.
The three-year-old son of Galileo ran just once as a juvenile, finishing third of five behind Flying The Flag (won the feature race this evening) in a race at Leopardstown last July.
He opened the 7/4 favourite on-course this evening, but drifted all the way out to 5/2 at the off, with the Ger Lyons trained Saxo Jack going off the 9/4 market leader.
Ridden by Joseph O’Brien, the winner soon led but was joined and given reminders approaching the straight.
He was under pressure and pressed from over two furlongs out, but he responded well to his jockey's urgings, staying on well in the final furlong to score by a length and three parts at the line. Al Destoor ran a fine race on his debut to finish second at 11/1 under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx, while Wannabe Better was a length and a quarter back in third under Wayne Lordan for Tommy Stack at 13/2.
Saxo Jack never looked like winning and he finished a disappointing fifth under Gary Carroll.
Aidan O’Brien said afterwards: "He is a hardy, sound horse that handles fast ground well.
"He's been leading Battle Of Marengo at home and that’s why you haven’t seen him. He’ll stay further."
The winner is out of a half-sister to Minor Vamp, who won the Goffs Fillies Million at the Curragh in 2008 for Richard Hannon.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
