Stable apprentice Jack Cleary seized another opportunity for Aidan O’Brien in Cork when Charles Fort made all and readily brushed aside market rival Strike Zone by four lengths in the Coolmore Stud Gleneagles Irish EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden.
“He has shown plenty of speed and Wayne (Lordan) said he’d have no problem dropping back to six furlongs,” explained O’Briens’ representative Chris Armstrong.
“Jack gave him a lovely ride. He jumped fierce quick and had them in trouble two furlongs down. He made his debut in Fairyhouse and will probably go back there for the ‘Blenheim’ on Monday week. He should be a stakes horse in the making.”
Enjoying his best season yet, Cleary completed a double and brought his tally for the campaign to twelve when partnering Gerrit’s Gem – a second winner in 24 hours for trainer Kieran Cotter – to a clear-cut success in the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap.
The five-year-old gelding is now unbeaten (three from three) on this track.
Billy Lee, who made a spectacular return to action with a double in Galway on Tuesday, struck again on board the Paddy Twomey-trained grey Black Caviar Gold in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden, scoring by three lengths from River Ara.
Aidan O’Brien was successful with Charles Fort. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA
“She’s quite a nice filly and ran well first time in Galway,” commented Twomey, “The ground was a bit quick for her the last day, but the experience stood to her. And I was happy to see the rain arrive today. We might look at something like the Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh (Group 3 on September 28).”
Fifth on debut, the John O’Donoghue-trained LL Koulsty (Ronan Whelan) got up in the last stride to deny trail-blazing Rosie Frith by the minimum margin, with Stars Will Shine just a short-head away in third, in the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Race.
“He needs a rug at the start and I went down, so I only saw the race on my phone,” explained O’Donoghue, “He was drawn wide and was very green on debut over seven, so we were happy to see the rain come.
“Now that we know he handles that (soft) ground, there are plenty of options open to him. And I’m delighted for his owner Ronan Burns – he has sent me four two-year-olds over the last few years and three of them have won.”
Hot-pot of the evening, Hellorhighwater, trained by Gavin Cromwell, delivered under Gary Carroll in the William Hill-sponsored one-mile maiden, toughing it out through the final furlong to see off Naples by almost two lengths.
“He’s a big, scopey horse and we felt a mile around here, with an ease in the ground, would suit him,” commented Carroll.
“His best furlong was his last furlong and he’ll enjoy going further. He’s very big and should keep improving.”
And, two days before Zahrann bids for Group 1 glory in the Irish Champion Stakes, Ben Coen successfully deputised for Andy Slattery on board Zaraahmando, trained by Andy Snr., in the concluding Download The William Hill App Today Handicap.