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Alan Magee
Intelligence Cross completes O'Brien treble
Intelligence Cross (Seamie Heffernan) strides clear to win the Round Tower Stakes
© Photo Healy Racing
Intelligence Cross completed yet another treble at the Curragh for Aidan O’Brien when taking the Round Tower Stakes in impressive fashion.
The War Front colt won a maiden here on Irish Derby day before filling minor places twice behind Mehmas at Newmarket and Goodwood but got firmly back on track in this Group 3 event.
The 11/8 favourite took control over a furlong out and drew right away inside the final furlong for Seamie Heffernan to beat Holy Cat by four and a quarter lengths. De Boss Man completed the places a neck back in third.
The master of Ballydoyle revealed afterwards that star juvenile Caravaggio has met with a setback and this could pave the way for Intelligence Cross to have a crack at Group 1 company in the Middle Park Stakes.
O’Brien said, “He went to York but didn’t run because of the ground. He missed a few bits of work because of going over there, and I was a little bit worried about that today. We’ll look at the Middle Park now with him.
“Caravaggio had a little bit of a setback about ten days ago. He pulled a muscle in his rib-cage. It’s nothing too serious but he could miss the Middle Park.”