Tag Archive for: Ger Lyons

Mutasarref charts winning path in Navigation Stakes

Mutasarref struck for the fourth time this season in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Navigation Stakes at Cork.

Ger Lyons’ six-year-old has now won 10 of his 22 career starts and was sent off the 5-4 favourite for this Listed event on the back of a fine effort in defeat behind Diego Velazquez in the Solonaway Stakes recently.

Having raced kindly for jockey Colin Keane, he made smooth headway to take the lead a furlong out before keeping on resolutely to hold off Aidan O’Brien’s Dublin by a length.

Lyons said: “It was straightforward and with having Colin on your side, you know you’re in safe hands. He kept it simple, took a lead and put his head in front when he needed to, that’s what he has been doing all his career on that horse.

“He is a legend of a horse and fellas are up at the sales in Goffs this week spending millions, so what would they give to find one of him?

“Hopefully he isn’t finished for the year but it depends on the ground as he doesn’t want heavy.”

Mutasarref’s victory gave his owner Eleanora Kennedy another winner to enjoy in a profitable 2024 season before she returns to America.

Lyons added: “This is Eleanora’s last hurrah for the season as she heads back to the States this week, so goes out with a winner.

“She has had a lovely summer and Mutasarref has been a star. Today was for Eleanora as she asked me to have one ready before October 5.

“He has done everything and more, has danced every jig and has kept a smile on our faces.”



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My Mate Alfie too good for Renaissance rivals

My Mate Alfie continued his Curragh love affair by claiming the SBK Renaissance Stakes on Sunday.

Ger Lyons’ son of Dark Angel has already won the Listed Dash and ultra-competitive Bold Lad Sprint Handicap at the Kildare track this term and was sent off 7-2 to add to his tally in this Group Three event.

Amongst the group that included Karl Burke’s raiding Spycatcher and Adrian McGuinness’ Go Athletico chasing the pace set by track stalwart Big Gossey, My Mate Alfie was always in the ideal position to strike.

Colin Keane asked his mount to pounce inside the final furlong and he responded instantly, running on powerfully to break the heart of the evergreen Big Gossey who finished a vanquished second.

Sheila Lavery’s Bold Lad runner-up Torivega took third, with 3-1 favourite Super Sox fourth and Spycatcher eventually fading into fifth.

“He’s straightforward and I’m happy to have him. He’s just improved all season,” said Lyons.

“We said we’d teach him how to sprint all year, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. He is just after rocking up and improving all year. I think he’s won what he has deserved, a Group Three.

Colin Keane and My Mate Alfie
Colin Keane and My Mate Alfie (Damien Eagers/PA)

“He couldn’t get near Givemethebeatboys early in the year but the way he has improved now, if they had to meet in a match he’d have to give him six or seven pounds.

“It’s a credit to the horse. We know he’ll get seven, I promised the owner that if he let me do it my way this year we’d go touring next year, so I’ll have to come up with a plan to get out of that one!

“He makes you look good, he’s so straightforward. You’d think these sprinters are high octane and hard to deal with, but he’s so laidback and I think that’s the secret to his success. He’s handled any ground as well.”

This result might be seen as a well-needed tonic for Lyons following the defeat of his star filly Babouche in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Babouche faltered at Newmarket
Babouche faltered at Newmarket (Brian Lawless/PA)

However, the handler admitted he is still “on the ground” having watched the filly taste defeat for the first time.

“It was disappointing, simple as that, it didn’t happen,” continued Lyons.

“We knew she wouldn’t handle the ground but she is still a good filly and I still have a fantastic bunch of three-year-olds to look forward to next year. But I’m not going to lie to you, I’m on the ground.”



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Babouche puts unbeaten record on the line in Cheveley Park

Connections of the “rock solid” Babouche are confident she will put up a staunch defence of her unbeaten record in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Kodiac filly has carried the Juddmonte silks to a hat-trick of wins this summer for trainer Ger Lyons, making rapid progress from a Cork maiden win in June to a Group One victory against the colts in last month’s Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

On the latter occasion, she readily accounted for the subsequent Prix Morny winner and Saturday’s Middle Park favourite Whistlejacket and while not taking anything for granted, Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon “wouldn’t swap” Babouche for any of her Rowley Mile rivals.

“She’s in great form, she’s unbeaten so far this year. Ger is very happy with her and Colin (Keane) rode her on Thursday morning and thought she was in good form,” he said.

“She’s got a little bit heavier and a little bit stronger from her last race, which is good to see.

“I think it looks a very hot renewal with the Moyglare winner (Lake Victoria) in there, which is very unusual, and I think some of them French fillies look very good. She hasn’t let us down all year, so hopefully we can keep it up.

“Put it this way, I wouldn’t swap her for anything else. She’s been rock solid, she’s beaten the colts, the form has worked out in the Morny and she’s been a pillar of consistency all year.”

Babouche with Colin Keane after winning at the Curragh
Babouche with Colin Keane after winning at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)

A total of 32 millimetres of rain fell at the track from Thursday into Friday, turning the ground heavy before it was later changed to soft. Connections will the dice, however.

Mahon added on Friday: “She will definitely run, whether she’ll go on it (testing ground), we won’t know until she does.

“We’ll all find out together whether she likes it or not, that’s the best way.

“We’re looking forward to seeing her again in a different challenge on a different track and it will be interesting to see how she fares out.”

The biggest threat to Babouche appears to be the Aidan O’Brien-trained Lake Victoria, who is turned out just under a fortnight after completing a hat-trick of her own in the Moyglare.

The daughter of Frankel has been campaigned exclusively over seven furlongs thus far, but jockey Ryan Moore does not see the drop to six being a major issue.

He told Betfair: “I am looking forward to getting back on Lake Victoria, who I rode on debut at the Curragh over seven furlongs when beating a nice type in Red Letter, who has since franked the form.

“She stepped up into Group Three company next time out in the Sweet Solera at Newmarket’s July course and handled the track well to see off Mountain Breeze, and last time out she kept her unbeaten run going when taking the Moyglare Stud Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend and that was a good race.

“She drops down to six furlongs here, which shouldn’t be a problem, and I am not fearing the slow ground will affect her either.

“Babouche is obviously our main danger, also being an unbeaten Group One winner, and it is set up to be a good match.”

There is a strong presence from France, with Patrice Cottier’s Prix Morny third Daylight joined by Francis-Henri Graffard’s impressive Chantilly scorer Rayevka, who was supplemented on Monday.

“She’s in very good form, she’s very well and we are looking forward to running her,” said Graffard.

“It was the way she did it when she won last time and the way she has come out of the race, she’s come on a lot, so we are going to give it a go before she winters.

“Obviously it’s a big challenge, I just hope the ground will not be too heavy, as that is my main worry.

“She would be happy on good to soft, we don’t know how she will take to the track at Newmarket but that is the same for nearly all the fillies and we will find out.”

Ed Walker’s Celandine earned her shot at top-level honours with a Group Two triumph in last month’s Lowther Stakes at York, while Leovanni looked the part in winning her first two starts for Karl Burke, but had to make do with minor honours in third behind Celandine on the Knavesmire.

Jockey James Doyle celebrates on Leovanni after winning the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot
Jockey James Doyle celebrates on Leovanni after winning the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Richard Brown, racing adviser to Leovanni’s owners Wathnan Racing, said: “She’s in great nick. It looks like one of the hottest Cheveley Parks we’ve seen for a very long time but she owes us nothing.

“She’s already won a Queen Mary (at Royal Ascot), so she’s going to line up and take her chance.

“There were a few things at York that probably didn’t go her way. James (Doyle) was keen to ride her with a view to getting her to stay but he felt afterwards that she saw the trip out well. We can probably ride her with a bit more confidence this time.

“It was hard carrying the penalty and she was beaten under two lengths with a 3lb penalty. She’s in very good nick and though it looks a phenomenally hot race, it is the obvious place for her.”



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Chantez on song for Leopardstown Listed strike

Chantez produced a stylish performance to give Ger Lyons and Colin Keane their third win in the Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown.

The Irish champion jockey and Lyons have dominated this Listed event in recent years and this season’s candidate was sent off 6-5 favourite to follow up her easy course-and-distance success last month.

After travelling menacingly into the contest, she briefly showed her inexperience when jinking once hitting the front, but ultimately was too good and a commanding winner at the line to attract quotes of 33-1 from Betfair and Paddy Power for next year’s 1000 Guineas.

“She’s a lovely filly. I’m surprised how green she ran because in her first two starts she didn’t show any greenness,” said Lyons.

“Colin said she seen the photographers. She did everything wrong today and still won.

“If we didn’t have Babouche and Red Letter you’d be very high on this one going into next spring.

“Getting one for each race is a struggle so having three to go to war with over the winter is something to really look forward to.

“We won’t make a decision for a week or two. Coming into this it was ‘put her away till next year’, but it’s all about ground as she’s a top of the ground filly.

“There is not much of her. We’ll talk to Maurice (Regan) and talk to PJ (Colville). We’ll see how she comes out of it, but at the minute I would say next year.”

Leopardstown Races – Saturday September 14th
Chantez (front centre) winning the Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes (Healy Racing)

Chantez is the latest in a crack team of juvenile fillies at Lyons’ disposal this term alongside Juddmonte-owned pair Babouche and Red Letter, the latter set for action at the Curragh on Sunday.

When asked what his pecking order would be among the trio, he said: “Red Letter, potentially over a trip. Babouche is fantastic and push-button, but I’d have Red Letter all day.”

Diego Velazquez justified 10-11 favouritism to score on this card for the second year running in the Tonybet Solonaway Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel colt won the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes 12 months ago and proved a decisive winner of this Group Two event in the hands of Ryan Moore.

Diego Velazquez (left) coming home on top
Diego Velazquez (left) coming home on top (Healy Racing)

““He’s a lovely, straightforward, genuine horse,” said O’Brien.

“He has pace enough for a mile and will probably get a mile and a quarter. He’s a lovely, relaxed, uncomplicated horse.

“Christophe (Soumillon) rode him (in the French Guineas) and said ‘this horse is going to win a Group One very quick’ after it.

“Then it just went a little bit wrong on us. We went to the French Derby, and it was the wrong thing as it was too quick. Then I went up to a mile and a half at Ascot, which was the wrong thing as well.

“He’s a speed horse, he’s probably a miler that will get a mile and a quarter.”

Diego Velazquez was cut to 6-1 from 20s by Paddy Power and Betfair for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day, but O’Brien suggested he may now go globetrotting in the immediate future.

“He could go to a Breeders’ Cup Mile or the Cox Plate,” added O’Brien. “Adelaide was third in a trial in France on this weekend (10 years ago) and he won the Cox Plate.”

The final group action on a stacked card went the way of Joseph O’Brien, who claimed the Tonybet ‘We’re Here To Play’ Stakes with 3-1 favourite Trustyourinstinct.

Wearing the familiar colours of JP McManus and ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, O’Brien’s son of Churchill made a welcome return to winning ways, having finished second to his father’s Jan Brueghel and Continuous the last twice.

Trustyourinstinct returned to winning ways
Trustyourinstinct returned to winning ways (Healy Racing)

“Dylan just said that on his last two runs he’s been beaten by two Leger winners. Continuous, who won last year’s Leger, beat him in the Curragh and then obviously this year’s horse,” said O’Brien.

“We weren’t sure about the mile-and-a-half trip, as his best runs had been at 10, but he really got the trip well.

“He deserves a big win and I’m delighted to have a big win this weekend for JP as well.

“We’ll enjoy the Flat with him for the rest of the season and it’s great to win a good pot here this weekend.

“He qualifies for a lot of big pots around the world as we get into the autumn, so he could potentially end up in a race internationally. We’ll enjoy today and see how he pulls up.”



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Juddmonte eyeing more Group One glory with juvenile fillies

Trainer Ger Lyons and owners Juddmonte are preparing to split their aces in the juvenile fillies’ division, with Babouche bound for Newmarket and Red Letter set to appear on Irish Champions Weekend.

Babouche stretched her unbeaten record to three when defeating subsequent Prix Morny hero Whistlejacket in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh and the daughter of Kodiac will bid to double her Group One tally in the Juddmonte-sponsored Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 28.

Frankel filly Red Letter, who finished a close second to Aidan O’Brien’s Lake Victoria on debut before going one better at the Curragh, could also bid for top-level honours on her next start in the Moyglare Stud Stakes on September 15, but she will also have a Listed option at Leopardstown the previous day.

Red Letter was an impressive winner on Irish Oaks weekend at the Curragh
Red Letter was an impressive winner on Irish Oaks weekend at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)

“We’ve discussed it with the owners and they’re keen to go to the Cheveley Park with Babouche, so that’s good,” confirmed Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“All being well, Red Letter will run on Champions Weekend. Whether that will be in the Ingabelle on the Saturday or the Moyglare on the Sunday, we’ll see how she’s working and decide closer to the time.

“Obviously, the form of Babouche’s last run looks solid. I don’t have all the times but I believe she broke some sort of record on the day and when they do that, it has to be a good performance.”

Another filly who looks bound for bigger and better things for the Lyons-Juddmonte axis is Revoke, who created a deep impression when dominating her rivals on her introduction at Naas last weekend.

She too looks set for a step up in class, with Mahon adding: “Ger has a lovely team in fairness to him and Revoke looks a smart filly. She’s not over-big, but she’d been showing plenty at home and she’s quick.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to kick on and head into stakes company for her next start. Where that will be, we’ll have to wait and see, but she’s a nice filly to have.

“She was good over six furlongs the other day and could even drop back to five, as she’s very speedy. She’ll slot into a stakes race somewhere and we’ll go a bit slower with her.”



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Revoke makes big impression with debut win at Naas

Ger Lyons introduced yet another top-class prospect for Juddmonte when Revoke made a taking winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Naas.

Lyons already has one Group One-winning juvenile filly for the same owners in Cheveley Park-bound Babouche and another nice prospect in Red Letter.

Revoke was well found in the market, going off the 11-10 favourite, and having tracked Oxford Rock for much of the contest, Colin Keane let her stride on entering the final furlong and she pulled away to win by four and three-quarter lengths.

“Colin said she’s done what we said she’d do at home, which is lovely,” said Lyons.

“That’s her first time away and her first time galloping on turf. We do that as I’m adamant I don’t care if they are beaten first time out, as they get a second bite and then we know where we can go with them.

“We won’t shy away with her from what we can get at two and heading for black type, as she’s quick.

“We’ll just see how she takes this, as there is nothing of her and she’s only a 410 kilos filly. She’ll either come forward from this or she’ll go back, so she’ll tell me what to do.

“Worst case scenario is she’ll be in Dundalk for the Mercury or something like that.”

Aidan O’Brien can barely train a loser at present and struck again with 18-1 chance Garden Of Eden in the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden, in which there was a messy finish.

Apprentice Jack Cleary kept the eventual winner handy and she did nothing wrong in the closing stages, but the original second, Celtic Motif, was demoted to third having interfered with Twolatebabydoll.

Chris Armstong, representing O’Brien, said: “They both (winner and Medici Venus, interfered with in fourth) ran in the same maiden at Leopardstown, which was probably a decent enough maiden, and they went a hectic pace throughout.

“They were both unbelievably green and have come forward nicely at home and stepped up again there on the track.

“Jack said she’s very, very tough and kept fighting all the way for him. He set a nice, even tempo in front and when challengers came, she picked up and went again.

“She’ll probably step up to a mile later in the season and is a nice filly to look forward to for next year.

“It’s great to get the Goffs (€50,000) bonus, which is a great incentive from Goffs and is greatly appreciated by everybody.”

Cleary made it a double on Chris Timmons’ Chicago Storm (20-1) in the first division of the Hartes Group Apprentice Handicap.



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Juddmonte prepared to wait for special Red Letter day

There will be no rush for a day to remember with talented filly Red Letter, with connections taking a cautious approach this season with the exciting Curragh scorer.

Trained by Ger Lyons, the Juddmonte-owned daughter of Frankel made an eye-catching introduction at the home of Irish racing, finishing a head second to Aidan O’Brien’s Lake Victoria having been slightly hampered at a vital stage of the contest.

Lake Victoria gave that form a huge boost when winning the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket, and Red Letter herself impressed when returning to the Curragh to open her account at the second attempt.

She sauntered to a four-and-a-quarter length victory on that occasion, but with plenty of maturing and development to come, her team are keen to tread a fairly low-key path during the remainder of her two-year-old campaign, in anticipation of bigger and better achievements next term.

“She’s looked good and is a lovely filly,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“She won her maiden in good fashion last time and is a very big filly and very much on the leg. She’s a filly for next year and will possibly have only one more start and a maximum of two this year – and Ger will decide where they will be in the next couple of weeks.

Red Letter (right) winning at the Curragh
Red Letter (right) winning at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)

“If we were going for a Group Three or similar at the end of the month, it would probably be the ideal scenario and we can see how she can progress then from two to three. She’s a big, big filly and not a filly we will over race this year.

“She obviously has plenty of talent and is doing things naturally off her talent rather than being mature – she’s not a filly we want to abuse this year, as she is very immature.”



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Babouche foils Whistlejacket to take Phoenix Stakes and stay unbeaten

Babouche maintained her unbeaten record with an impressive display in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

The Ger Lyons-trained filly came out on top in a good battle with Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket, denying the Ballydoyle handler an 18th victory in the Group One showpiece.

Babouche – owned by Juddmonte, just like Lyons’ previous Phoenix winner, Siskin, who went on to Classic glory as a three-year-old – oozed class throughout, with Colin Keane seemingly always having all bases covered.

Ryan Moore tried to dictate on Whistlejacket, an impressive winner of the July Stakes at Newmarket last time out, but always looming on his inside was Babouche.

Colin Keane and Babouche return to the winner's enclosure
Colin Keane and Babouche return to the winner’s enclosure (Brian Lawless/PA)

When Moore injected pace into the race, Keane was able to move up alongside effortlessly on the only filly in the race.

As Babouche was asked to put the contest to bed, she quickened up smartly and the 5-2 shot was a comfortable one-and-a-half-length winner at the line.

Lyons said: “I was more nervous before the Anglesey than today as she was quiet before the Anglesey. Before Cork she was telling us how good she was.

“She learned more here (in the Anglesey) than she did in Cork. We wondered if she was good enough today and she’s answered that in spades.

“She’ll stay over this (six-furlong) trip until she tells us otherwise. We’ll take her home and see how she is and at the minute I’d say it will be the Cheveley Park and that will be her done for the year. Colin said there is no rush to step her up at the moment, she has plenty of speed.

A big thumbs up from Colin Keane after his victory aboard Babouche
A big thumbs up from Colin Keane after his victory aboard Babouche (Brian Lawless/PA)

“These horses are hard to find, but when we find them, or lads like us find them, we can do it. The whole thing about winning Group One races is sourcing the horse.

“There is only one outfit on the planet that can source the horse consistently and that is Aidan’s, but when the rest of us get the chance we can do it.

“The fillies are definitely well ahead of the colts this year and it’s nice when they deliver.”



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Lyons believes Babouche is good fit for Phoenix test

Five years on from landing the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh with Siskin, Ger Lyons and owners Juddmonte are back for more with the high-class filly Babouche.

Siskin of course would go on to scoop Classic honours as a three-year-old and they look to have another top prospect on their hands in the daughter of Kodiac, who has successfully taken on the colts once already this season.

After opening her account in style at Cork in June, she marched on to the Anglesey Stakes last month, where she kept on gamely to see off Camille Pissarro by half a length.

With Group Three honours secured on that occasion, Babouche now takes the step up to the highest level bidding to become the first filly since La Collina in 2011 to scoop the prestigious juvenile contest.

Lyons said: “I’m looking forward to it and if she’s placed in the first three, we’re delighted.

“We can then decide if we stay at the trip for the Cheveley Park or go to the Moyglare.

“She’s a horse I’ve always liked and if you like them, you can’t be afraid to get beat.”

Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon added: “When they are in good form and they are ready to go, you have got to go where the races are.

“We would love to be taking on fillies, but the race is there against the colts and it is close to home, so we will give it a good go.

“She is in good form and came out of her last race well. She’s a nice filly and hopefully she can step up to Group One level, but it’s the next step and we will have to see how we get on.

“The signals Ger has always been getting is that she could be a very good filly and she has a great temperament and plenty of ability. She was a Group Three winner on her last start, which tells you she is a good filly, but it’s another jump up and we’ll find out more on Saturday.

“Her sister Zarinsk has been a brilliant filly for us the last two years, so it is nice to see the family continuing on with Babouche and hopefully she can enhance her profile on Saturday.”

Whistlejacket impressed at Newmarket
Whistlejacket impressed at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)

Aidan O’Brien was due to run two but with Heavens Gate ruled out on Saturday morning, he is left with just Whistlejacket.

The mount of Ryan Moore let favourite-backers down when sent off a well-fancied market leader for the Norfolk Stakes at the Royal meeting, but produced a picture-perfect display when upped to six furlongs for the July Stakes, making all for a cosy victory at Newmarket.

“He’s in good form and everything has gone well with him since the last day,” said O’Brien.

“We’re happy with him and whatever the ground will be, he’ll be fine.

“He seemed happier over six furlongs last time than the five at Ascot, so we’re hoping he’ll run well.

“When he got to the front (at Newmarket), he became a little idle, but it can happen to a green two-year-old.”

Moore told Betfair: “He appreciated the step back up to six furlongs in the July Stakes last month and it was nice to see the form of that race being boosted with the third, Aomori City, winning the Vintage stakes at Goodwood and the second, Billboard Star, ran well in the Richmond at the same track.

“You have to respect Ger Lyons’ filly, Babouche, who’s two for two, but despite showing greenness in Newmarket, my lad won well and he sets the standard here.”

Bucanero Fuerte went into Amo Racing folklore when providing Kia Joorabchian’s racing operation with their first Group One success in this race 12 months ago.

Alongside trainer Adrian Murray, the owners try to do the double with the consistent Arizona Blaze, who has a course and distance success in the Marble Hill Stakes to his name.

Murray said: “We have some very fond memories of last year and Arizona Blaze is in good order.

“He has a tough task ahead, but we have him freshened up now and hopefully he can run a big race.

“His course and distance form is a help to him and on ratings, all bar one horse (Whistlejacket), he’s bang there with the rest.”

Richard Fahey’s Robert Papin runner-up Shadow Army is the sole British raider in the line-up and is a colt getting better with every tiny bit of experience gained.

“Richard is very happy with Shadow Army, he’s a slow learner – he’s getting better with each run,” said Richard Brown, European racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing.

“This is a big ask, but it’s a tight field and I think the stiff six furlongs at the Curragh will suit him.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Rudi’s Apple completes the field and takes a huge step up in class after winning a course and distance nursery most recently.

O’Brien said: “He’s in good shape. On ratings, he’s entitled to be in the field, although he has a bit to find with some of the principals.

“He’s progressive and hopefully he runs a good race.”



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Babouche completes red-letter day for Ger Lyons at the Curragh

Hot favourite Babouche was made to pull out all the stops to maintain her unbeaten record in the Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh.

The daughter of Kodiac had made a huge impression when justifying cramped odds on her introduction at Cork last month and was the 13-8 market leader to complete a quickfire double on the card for owners Juddmonte, trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane following Red Letter’s triumph in the opener.

After initially being sandwiched shortly after the start, Babouche was soon travelling strongly as Treasure Isle blazed a trail for the first half of the six-and-a-half-furlong Group Three.

Babouche moved up stylishly as the pacesetter started to falter, but was then challenged by Aidan O’Brien’s Camille Pissarro, who was looking to bounce back from a disappointing effort when favourite for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

No quarter was given by either horse or rider in the final furlong, but it was Babouche who stuck her neck out where it mattered, with half a length the winning margin.

Lyons said: “She’s a filly we’ve always liked and has a temperament to die for.

“She’s become more switched off since she ran in Cork. It’s OK winning in Cork like we did, but we learned nothing because she did it all on her own, with the way the race was run.

“She got mashed out of the stalls there, then had to do it the hard way and then got to the front and parked and looked around.”

Babouche now looks set for a step up to Group One level, with her trainer adding: “Maybe she’ll improve and she needs to improve if we’re going to keep going forward. We’ll see how she comes out of it, but at the minute we’re going to take on the boys in the Phoenix Stakes.

“She doesn’t show a whole pile at home since her run. Before her run we knew she was special, but since then she shows you nothing.

“I’ve always said that we’re winning our Listed, Group Threes and Twos, but for the Group Ones you need the temperament. That can be the final thing that you’re missing and she seems to have that.

“Her sister was a seven-furlong/mile filly and I can see her doing that.

“She’s going to be a Guineas filly – I’ll be training her for the Guineas.”

Red Letter was an impressive winner at the Curragh
Red Letter was an impressive winner at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)

The aforementioned Red Letter had earlier confirmed debut promise with her dominant victory in the Sycamore Lodge Equine Hospital Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.

The Frankel filly was beaten just a head by the O’Brien-trained Lake Victoria on her racecourse introduction over the course and distance three weeks ago and was an 8-11 favourite to go one better.

Odds-on backers will have had few concerns for the duration of the seven-furlong contest, with Red Letter soon bowling along at the head of affairs and quickening up smartly from the front to score comfortably by just over four lengths from 50-1 shot Indigo Dream.

Ballet Slippers, a first runner out of O’Brien’s seven-time Group One-winning mare Magical, also shaped with plenty of encouragement on her first competitive outing in third.

Of the winner, Lyons said: “It was no more than you probably expected from her after seeing her on debut the first day.

“She stepped forward nicely and you’d expect her to win her maiden that way, so we’re delighted.

“We’ll see how she comes out of it before making any plans. I think it’s just raw ability at the moment, I don’t think she’s a two-year-old and I think it’s all about next year with her.

“We’ll let her tell me what we do with her. I’ll tell Barry (Mahon, owners’ racing manager) what I’m seeing at home and discuss it with the (Abdullah) family about whether we come back for the Moyglare or something like that.

“She’s done a lot quick, we are only in the middle of July. She looked raw going down to the start and it’s pure ability what you are seeing out there.”



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My Mate Alfie proves fastest in Curragh Dash

My Mate Alfie pulled out extra to scoop the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes in a pulsating five-way finish at the Curragh.

Ger Lyon’s three-year-old has been a consistent performer throughout his short career and has thrived for dropping back to six furlongs, placing in the Committed Stakes behind Givemethebeatboys and finishing third to Bucanero Fuerte at Naas in the Lacken Stakes.

With none of the seven-strong field keen to go forward, it was left to Michael Dods’ defending champion Commanche Falls to take the field along, a move that would ultimately take its toll in the closing stages.

The steady pace meant there were five in a line fighting it out deep into the final furlong, but it was Irish champion jockey Colin Keane who conjured up the most from his mount as My Mate Alfie bravely ground out a half-length victory at odds of 100-30.

“He’s been very consistent all year and the blinkers have transformed him,” said Lyons.

“He gets seven and the first furlong had me worried as they did 15 seconds and I thought it would turn into a sprint and they’d out-do him for speed.

“At home he’s bombproof and you can do whatever you like, but if you run him here without blinkers he just parks and won’t do a thing. The blinkers are the difference between winning and losing.

“It’s great for Austin (Whelan, owner) and all his gang, he’s called after his son Alfie. I’d say they’ll take a while to get home tonight.

“We aimed to have three winners this weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I said if we don’t win this it’s all on the Derby and I don’t think that’s going to happen!”

My Mate Alfie could now be set for a visit to Goodwood as connections aim to get their hands on a valuable prize while the iron is hot.

“He’s in the Stewards’ Cup because it’s a £250,000 race. I was fourth in it with a filly many years ago. I was also just chinned in an Ayr Gold Cup, I wanted to be the first Irish trainer to win it.

“Those are two races that are on my agenda. I don’t think he’s good enough, but we’ll see.

“We’re always talking about prize-money. You’ve got the Wokingham that’s worth £150,000 and the Stewards’ Cup that is £250,000 so if you are serious about prize-money you have to partake.”



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Wendla makes all for Leopardstown honours

Ger Lyons’ Wendla landed a Group Three prize at Leopardstown when taking the Al Shira’aa Racing “Mutamakina” Stakes.

The three-year-old is owned and bred by Juddmonte, and her dam, Intercontinental, is a daughter of the great mare Hasili.

Wendla started her season on a good note when winning a Naas maiden, after which she was sixth over seven furlongs in the Priory Belle at Leopardstown in early April.

She returned to the same course and over a mile this time under Colin Keane, starting at odds of 7-1 in a field of seven and making the running from an early stage.

From there she was never passed, pulling away to secure a three-quarter-length victory with Aidan O’Brien’s Buttons, the 6-5 favourite, the runner-up behind her.

“She’s a lovely, honest filly. The ground comes all the same to her, she’s handled heavy and she handled that,” said Lyons.

“She’s a light filly so I didn’t have any doubts she’d handle that.

“I probably had her wrong and Colin had her right. I thought the way the race was run it wasn’t going to suit, she’s pacier than I gave her credit for.

“I had her down as a horse, going forward, that would go further sooner rather than later.

“Colin has her as having more speed than I gave her credit for, thankfully he was right. He was in the right place on her and she answered and did it well. You couldn’t knock the performance.

Wendla after winning the Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes during the Derby Trials
Wendla after winning the Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes during the Derby Trials (Lorraine O’Sullivan)

“When you get those fillies, you try to win a maiden to tick the first box and then you are looking for black type and winning black type is brilliant.

“I just thought we were going too slow, they were doing 14-seconds fractions and that’s too slow. I was thinking we’re in trouble and that speed is just going to go past us. Thankfully I was wrong about my filly, she’s quicker than I gave her credit for.”

When asked if she could tackle the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Lyons added: “I wouldn’t think so but we’ll talk to Barry and Rory (Mahon, of Juddmonte) and better brains than me will decide that.

“She’s earned the right and the lads can decide that. If she ends up doing what Zarinsk did last year, we’ll be over the moon.

“There are big races here at the end of the year that we can aim for, the mile race (Matron Stakes).”



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Moss Tucker takes Woodlands win for Condon

Moss Tucker repeated his victory of last year in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes at Naas.

Ken Condon’s charge lifted the Listed prize 12 months ago before going on to win the Group One Flying Five Stakes later in the campaign, with that success ensuring the six-year-old was conceding weight all round this time.

However, Moss Tucker (4-1) made light work of his burden, travelling well in the hands of Billy Lee before stamping his authority in the final furlong to see off 5-2 favourite Ocean Quest by two lengths with Go Athletico back in third.

Condon said: “That was a very good performance with 10st. He was very relaxed and Billy said he went through the race lovely. He said that’s as good as he’s felt on a seasonal return.

“We had a few little things that held us up earlier in the spring and a few weeks ago we were thinking this might come too early for him. The last 10 days or so he’s come to himself.

“He might go for the Greenlands and he’s entered for both sprints at Royal Ascot. He obviously won’t go there if it’s lightning fast ground, so the weather will decide.

“Later on there is the Flying Five and maybe Champions Day at Ascot.”

Ger Lyons is eyeing a possible tilt at Royal Ascot’s Queen Mary Stakes after Sparkling Sea made an eyecatching debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

There was plenty of hype around Aidan O’Brien’s Fairy Godmother ahead of the six-furlong affair and she was sent off as an odds-on favourite.

However, although the market leader showed plenty of promise in finishing second under Ryan Moore, she had no answer to the speed of 7-1 shot Sparkling Sea, who hit the front just over a furlong out and raced clear to win by two and a half lengths in the colours of Moyglare Stud.

“I’ve a lovely bunch of two-year-olds and I’d say the fillies are smart,” said Lyons.

“She was raw, all speed. She did what we thought she would do and let’s see how she comes out of it.

“There should be huge improvement, as we don’t take them away on grass and this is their first day out.

“She’s all speed and she will get quicker. At the minute, we would be thinking Queen Mary-type filly.”



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Mutasarref keeps up the good work for Lyons in Leopardstown feature

Mutasarref came home best to provide trainer Ger Lyons with a fourth win in the last five runnings of the Bahrain Turf Club Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown.

The County Meath handler landed the Listed prize with Psychedelic Funk in 2019, Masen in 2021 and Power Under Me 12 months ago.

With Power Under Me declared a non-runner this time around, 8-1 shot Mutasarref was the stable’s representative and the five-year-old picked up well when the gap came to defeat Honey Girl by a neck in the hands of Colin Keane.

The front-running 7-4 favourite Cairo, making his first appearance since filling the runner-up spot behind esteemed stablemate Paddington in the Irish 2,000 Guineas in May, finished third.

Colin Keane and Ger Lyons at Leopardstown
Colin Keane and Ger Lyons at Leopardstown (Damien Eagers/PA)

“I genuinely thought I was only running him because Eleanora (Kennedy, owner) was over for a do at the weekend,” Lyons said of the winner.

“He’s been on the wane all year. Colin said he’s just a class horse and the ease in the ground helps him as he’s had injuries and it helps his old bones.

“He’s been a very lucky horse for us since we got him. I thought we were on the road to dropping him down the handicap, but that’s undone all that. You don’t mind when they win.

“They went no gallop and it fell into his hands. On his day he’s a good horse.”

Aidan O’Brien and Seamie Heffernan teamed up to land the Thomas’s Of Foxrock “Jim And Kathleen Murphy” Memorial Trigo Stakes with 9-2 chance Boogie Woogie.

Boogie Woogie in the Leopardstown winner's enclosure
Boogie Woogie in the Leopardstown winner’s enclosure (Gary Carson/PA)

The Naas maiden winner had failed to trouble the judge in her last three starts in Group-race company and made the most of having her sights lowered in this Listed event.

The daughter of Dubawi quickened up smartly to take a couple of lengths out of the field halfway up the home straight and had enough in the tank at the finish to repel Sunchart by three-quarters of a length.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong, said: “She’s a filly that has promised a lot all year but things just haven’t gone right for her at times. She’s run some good races in Group races and it’s great to get the Listed win now.

“She’s a filly with a lot of ability. Seamie said she didn’t handle the ground but her class got her through.

“There might be a Group Three or something left for her, but we’ll see how we go.”



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Rising Sign makes her mark at Punchestown

Ger Lyons unveiled a nice prospect at Punchestown as Rising Sign made a winning start to her career.

The Juddmonte-owned and bred youngster is by Frankel out of Quail, making her a full-sister to the John and Thady Gosden-trained Covey, the winner of three of his six starts and tried at Group Two and Three level recently.

Well-backed at 9-4 for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, Colin Keane’s mount stretched clear when asked to account for 13-8 favourite Grand Job by four and a half lengths.

Lyons said: “She’s very much a work in progress and can be a bit buzzy. We knew she had that in her, but it wasn’t all about today.

“We’ll discuss it with Barry (Mahon, Juddmonte racing manager) and see how she comes out of it, but there will be no rush back and you might not see her until a trial next year.

“All our fillies are ready like that. They have done their work and I just want to see them on the track. If they don’t win first time, they’ll win second time and I put them away.

“You would like what you’ve seen there. Like a lot of Irish maidens you don’t know what you’ve beaten, but she was trained to enjoy the experience and it was all about tomorrow.

“She quickened away and I love how she ran from the winning post to the hill, that was the most impressive part I thought.”



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