Bach is unlikely to join stable star Black Minnaloushe in the line-up for the Juddmonte International at York following his victory in the Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh. In two minds earlier in the day over whether to let the four-year-old take his chance on rain-softened ground, champion trainer Aidan O'Brien was delighted to see Bach respond to a typically determined drive by Michael Kinane to land the £100,000 Group Two contest by half a length from Jammaal.
O'Brien explained: "Bach found a nice bit extra when they came at him. I left him in at York for the International because I wasn't sure he was going to run here at the Curragh if they got the sort of rain we had. I suppose it's unlikely now that Bach will be going to York, but I'm not ruling him out just yet, until we see how he is in the morning. His joint owner, Satish Sanan, is keen on the million dollar Atto Mile at Woodbine next month, so we will think about the trip to Canada as well."
Bach was returned the 9-4 second favourite with the first market choice Exaltation failing to get in a telling challenge in the home straight and eventually being beaten two lengths in all into third. O'Brien and stable jockey Kinane also took the Group Three Desmond Stakes earlier with Hawkeye, also returned at 9-4, as he scored by a length from stablemate Pebble Island.
O'Brien said Hawkeye was labouring on the ground, though he was a horse who was going forward all the time. The plan was to bring him to France in three weeks for the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. Hawkeye was completing a hat trick at the Curragh as he caught the pace-forcing Maumee inside the final furlong before Pebble Island rallied to fill the runner-up berth for O'Brien for good measure.
Hopes of a treble for O'Brien and Kinane in the day's Group races were foiled in the Irish National Stud Debutante Stakes as the favourite Saranac Lake, from the Dermot Weld stable, held on long enough to defeat O'Brien's newcomer Quarter Moon by a head. Weld admitted: "Saranac Lake has great battling qualities and, having won at Galway on Easy Ground, I knew she would handle the going here. We may put her away until next season where she could attempt to emulate or improve on her dam Lake Champlain's second in the Irish 1000 Guineas for their American owner Bert Firestone. (PA)
Filed by Shane Murray
