Cliffs Of Moher back to winning ways at Naas
Epsom Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher returned to his very best to win the Group 2 Coolmore Camelot Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes on a glorious Bank Holiday Monday at Naas Racecourse.
Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien and world class jockey Ryan Moore combined for a treble on the highly competitive eight race card with Cliffs Of Moher landing the feature race in good style coming from the rear of the field to win by a length and three quarters from Success Days back in second.
O’Brien also won the opening two races on the card with Fairyland making an impressive debut under Moore in the Coolmore No Nay Never Irish EBF Fillies Maiden and that was followed by Van Beethoven taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race. Both of those winners will be Royal Ascot bound while Cliffs Of Moher will now return to Group 1 company according to the winning trainer.
Aidan O’Brien said; “Cliffs Of Moher relaxed lovely and came home very well and Ryan was very happy with him. He could go for either the Coronation Cup at Epsom or the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh next. He’s a good horse.”
Irish 2000 Guineas entry Imaging returned to winning ways in a very likable fashion when winning the Coolmore Zoffany Irish EBF Tetrach Stakes for Dermot Weld and Declan McDonogh. The 2/1 favourite didn’t have the clearest passage throughout the race but still managed to come out on top to the delight of his trainer who will now target the first Classic of the season in Ireland.
Weld said; “I was very impressed with how he quickened up when the gap came for him and the logical progression would be the Irish 2,000 Guineas next.”
The regally bred Lightening Quick won the Group 3 Coolmore Mastercraftsman EBF Athasi Stakes for Ger Lyons and champion jockey Colin Keane. The daughter of Frankel and Group 1 winner Lightening Pearl held off Xenobia and Broadway nicely for a second win in just three racecourse appearances.
Newmarket based trainer William Jarvis was also among the winners at Naas with Mrs Gallagher winning the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Polonia Stakes to give both Jarvis and winning jockey Josephine Gordon their first winners in Ireland. King’s Stand Stakes entry Mrs Gallagher is another winner from this very informative meeting that is likely to run at Royal Ascot next.
Tom Ryan, Manager of Naas Racecourse said: “We are delighted that a strong crowd joined us for top class racing on this beautiful bank holiday Monday. We would like to extend a huge thank you to our feature sponsors Coolmore Stud, along with Irish EBF and Caragh Nurseries. We now look forward to our next Racemeeting which is the Royal Ascot Trials & Ladies Day featuring the Group 3 Goffs Lacken Stakes, Sunday 20th May.”
For further information, contact Jackie Donohoe Sales & Marketing Manager, Naas Racecourse on 0873527030 or email jdonohoe@naasracecourse.com
