La Collina burns Curragh punters with 33/1 win

Favourite backers had their fingers badly burned when La Collina sprung a 33/1 surprise in the Group 1 Keenland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.
Kevin Prendergast’s runner wasn’t among the leading fancies for this six-furlong contest, yet the daughter of Strategic Prince belied her outsider status when rallying close to home to collar Aidan O’Brien’s 7/4 favourite, Power, in the final 50 yards.
Richard Hannon’s UK raider Lilbourne Lad led the nine-strong field in the early stages until Power hit the front at the two-furlong pole. Seamie Heffernan’s mount looked set to score when still holding the call well inside the final furlong until Declan McDonogh got a late rattle out of La Collina, who powered past to score by a neck.
“This filly was working well at home and I looked at both this race and the Debutante Stakes and thought we’d run here,” said trainer Kevin Prendergast. “She will probably have her next outing in the Moyglare Stud Stakes back here at the end of this month.”
The Moyglare Stakes is also the intended target for Maybe, who bounded to victory in the Group 2 Keenland Debutante Stakes over seven furlongs.
Joseph O’Brien did the steering aboard this Magnier/Tabor/Smith-owned daughter of Galileo who, having gotten her head in front two furlongs out, stuck her neck out in the manner of a smart filly when crossing the line for a very easy two and a half-length verdict over Dermot Weld’s Yellow Rosebud.
Unbeaten now in her four starts – including a win in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot – Maybe can be expected to progress even further.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien said, “Joseph was very pleased with her when she won the Silver Flash Stakes (Group 3) at Leopardstown, even though she only won by half a length. I was worried about that soft ground but she obviously has no problem with it.”
Maybe was cut to 4/1 favourite, (from as high as 8/1) for next year’s Qipco 1,000 Guineas, while La Collina is available at 20/1 with Ladbrokes for that contest.
The O’Brien team had earlier combined for the opening leg of a double when their well-bred 9/2 shot, Was, scored in the opening two-year-old maiden. This filly showed a pleasing attitude on her racecourse debut when quickening up willingly inside the final furlong to beat stable companion, Cabin, by two and a half lengths.
Jim Bolger’s Banimpire is a tough filly and the 4/5 favourite needed to be to land the Group 2 Royal Whip Stakes under a power-packed ride from Kevin Manning.
Niggled along in last place approaching the entry to the home straight, the Holy Roman Emperor filly responded to her rider’s urgings when running on gamely in the closing stages to beat Dunboyne Express by three parts of a length.
There were quite a few British-trained runners at Headquarters on Sunday and James Fanshawe’s hot favourite, Deacon Blues (4/11) ensured the visitors didn’t leave Kildare empty-handed when registering a bloodless success in the Group 3 Patrick P O’Leary Phoenix Sprint Stakes.
Johnny Murtagh was on board the market leader, who simply toyed with his seven rivals before passing the post seven lengths in front of Aidan O’Brien’s Empowering.

Fallon dances to German victory

Kieren Fallon showed he has lost none of his legendary tactical awareness when giving Dancing Rain a brilliant front-running ride to land the German Oaks at Dusseldorf last Sunday.
Dancing Rain was taking on the best three-year-old fillies around last Sunday, but, under a masterful ride from Fallon, the William Haggas-trained daughter of Danehill Dancer found plenty in the closing stages to comfortably hold the challenge of runner-up Djumama by three lengths.
“That was the plan and Kieren carried it out to perfection,” said winning trainer Haggas’ wife Maureen, who is a daughter of former top jockey Lester Piggott. “We were a bit worried about the softening ground but she is a very class filly and handled it well in the end,” she added.
For Fallon, who has been doing very well on the domestic scene in Britain of late, this was just reward as he was deputising for Murtagh, whose services were required at the Curragh.
Reflecting on Sunday’s success, Fallon said, “It was very easy in the end. Once I was in the lead I knew nobody would catch me. She is very, very classy and must be one of the top three-year-old fillies over this trip in Europe at the moment.”

Kilbeggan success for Hughes

Curragh trainer, Dessie Hughes registered a important victory when his 3/1 shot, Action Master, claimed a last-gasp success in the Kieran Kelly Memorial Beginners’ Chase at Kilbeggan on Saturday evening.
Kieran Kelly was a Cheltenham-winning jockey, who tragically lost his life in this race back in 2003 and this victory was a really poignant one as Kelly spent most of his racing life attached to Hughes’ Curragh yard.
Up-and-coming Kerry-born claimer Bryan Cooper gave Action Master a great ride when conjuring up a renewed effort in the closing to just shade this two-and-a-half mile contest by a short-head from Gordon Elliott’s 15/8 favourite Traffic Article.
Hughes said, “It’s sad, but I’m delighted to win Kieran’s race. This is the race that Kieran lost his life and it is the first time I’ve won it.
“It is great that his father, John is here tonight to make the presentation and Kieran, who rode Hardy Eustace to win the Sun Alliance Hurdle at Cheltenham for me, will never be forgotten.”
Hughes and Cooper had a night to remember at the popular Midlands track when combing to land a treble.
Aside from the success of Action Master over fences, the pair joined forces to claim the opening Betpack maiden hurdle with 2/1 shot, Rockofinspiration before going on later in the evening to bag the marathon two and three-quarter mile Follow Kilbeggan on Facebook maiden hurdle with 6/4 favourite Eyre Apparent.