Master demolishes rivals at the Curragh
Sunday, 27 July 2008The Aidan O'Brien juggernaut steamrolled into the Curragh as
Mastercraftsman demolished his rivals in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes.
Easy to back, the 4-1 chance went in pursuit of pacemaking stablemate Sea Of Marmara after the two-furlong marker, with Coventry winner Art Connoisseur hot on his heels.
But Mastercraftsman kept up the gallop and lengthened clear to score by an impressive four and a half lengths, giving O'Brien his 15th Group One of the season.
The Danehill Dancer colt now disputes favouritism with fellow Ballydoyle inmate Rip Van Winkle for the Stan James 2000 Guineas.
Murtagh followed up when Elletelle (7-2) regained the winning thread in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sweet Mimosa Stakes.
Last year's Queen Mary heroine signalled she was on the way back when third at Fairyhouse last week and hit the front inside the final furlong before holding the late lunge of Aleagueoftheirown by a short head.
Pasar Silbano (10-1) reversed form with Silver Shoon in the Listed
Curragh Stakes.
Ger Lyons' filly had finished one place behind her rival when third in the Marble Hill and had struggled when upped to six furlongs in the Saoire Stakes.
Back to the minimum trip, she headed the front-running Silver Shoon a furlong out and stayed on well to beat the never-nearer Call Me Alice by three-quarters of a length. Silver Shoon was third.
Tango Foxtrot (9-2) had been doing most of his racing over further and his stamina won the day as he swooped late under Pat Smullen to land the Waterford Crystal Handicap.
Dermot Weld paid a visit to the winner's enclosure on the eve of the Galway Festival when 6-1 chance Kingsdale Ocean proved a neck too strong for Nastrelli in the Baileys Horse Feeds Handicap, giving Smullen a double.
