Feature event at Leopardstown today was the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes, which saw a deserving success for Charles O'Brien’s ultra-consistent Lord Admiral, under Mick Kinane.
Lord Admiral, last successful in 2005 and runner-up on 12 of his 32 previous starts, tracked the leader in second, improved to lead a furlong and a half out, before staying on gamely inside the final furlong for an all-out head win over Modeeroch.
Afterwards, O’Brien reported 'he deserved to win today and tries his heart out every day he runs. His only bad run was at Gowran Park the last day but that was my fault for running him right-handed.'
He added 'we’ll stick to left-handed tracks with him from now on but I have no immediate plan from here.'
Trainer Dermot Weld and stable jockey Pat Smullen recorded an opening race double starting with Mad About You in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden.
The daughter of Indian Ridge raced prominently throughout, moved through to lead a furlong and a half out, before staying on well for a comfortable one length win over Solas Na Greine.
Half an hour later, Going Public made his first appearance in public a winning one when taking the Three Rock (C & G) Maiden in similarly easy style, again under Smullen.
William J Fitzpatrick’s Crossing, narrow winner of the Zyder Handicap, has taken a slightly unusual route to find her true calling, as a miler.
The highly consistent daughter of Cape Cross started her career in bumpers (winning twice) but appears more at home over a shorter trip, and was all out here to hold the challenge of hat-trick seeking, and in-foal, Summer Magic by a short head.
Little separated the first three home in the Anglo Irish Bank Handicap, with Jim Bolger’s Leeside Champ, overcoming a slow start to win under Davy Moran while Zaharath Al Bustan, under Richie Egan, caused a 16/1 upset when overturning 5/2 favourite Bahhare Desert to win the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
