Adrian Murray made it three straight wins in the opening race of Ireland’s Flat turf season as Power Blue ran out a convincing victor in the Castle Star At Capital Stud Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh.
David Egan always had the 5-2 chance in a prominent position and he responded well when challenged around the furlong pole, striding clear to beat 13-8 favourite Slaney View by three and three-quarter lengths.
Murray claimed this contest with Bucanero Fuerte in 2023 and Arizona Blaze 12 months ago, with both going on to be placed at Royal Ascot and proving top-class juveniles.
Bucanero Fuerte secured Group One success in the Phoenix Stakes, while Arizona Blaze was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Asked if Power Blue could end up in similar company, Egan said: “Why not? He won by a wider margin today than Arizona Blaze, who is a Breeders’ Cup placed horse. Bucanero Fuerte probably won in similar fashion, but he’s a nice horse.
“Adrian and his team have done a terrific job. He was well prepared and the ultimate professional.
“He travelled with such ease, showed a little bit of greenness but really quickened up in the last 100 yards and galloped out all the way to the boards afterwards.
“He’ll be getting a bit further than five furlongs – that’s for sure.
“He’s a nice horse and there is sure to be plenty of improvement.”
Irish 1,000 Guineas entry Bint Queen Kindly justified 2-1 favouritism when finishing strongly to land the Alkumait At Capital Stud Fillies & Mares Maiden over seven furlongs for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder was making her racecourse debut and kept on well to beat the experienced Copacabana Sands by a length and a quarter, with that pair pulling well ahead of the rest in a 20-runner affair.
Hayes said: “We liked her last year and were kind of anxious to run her at the back-end and the boss rightly decided to give her just a bit of time to come into herself.
“Hopefully we’ll reap the rewards. She’d been working nicely and hopefully she’ll improve.
“Anything is possible, she wasn’t over-cooked for today. We’d got plenty of groundwork into her but I’d be hopeful she’ll improve from it.”
Weld added: “She’d been working nicely and is potentially a very nice filly. Chris gave her a very nice ride. I wanted him to teach her on her first run and she quickened up nicely.”
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