By Tom Frary
Up markedly in trip and racing for the first time since October, TDN Rising Star Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) made it a winning return in Roscommon's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Lenebane S. on Tuesday evening. Tracking the leading duo throughout the early stages with Ryan Moore navigating the track for the first time, Ballydoyle's 11-10 favourite took time to pick up but after gaining the advantage inside the final furlong asserted for a 1 1/2-length success from Young Ireland (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). “He had very good form as a two-year-old, but it's taken a while to get him back and I was delighted with him today,” Moore said. “It was a nice performance and I think he's a quality colt who stays well. He got that mile and three quarters well and will be very comfortable up to fourteen.”
Espionage the history maker!🥇
Ryan Moore makes his first ever ride @RoscommonRaces a winning one as the lightly-raced Espionage makes a successful seasonal return in the Listed @IrishEBF_ Lenebane Stakes.@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud pic.twitter.com/aC2YNmtmP3
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 4, 2023
Stable representative Chris Armstrong added, “We'll probably look at something like the [G2 Great] Voltigeur from here. He's one to look forward to. It was a good renewal of this race. Over the last few years three-year-olds maybe didn't have the strongest record and it is tough for a three-year-old coming here against some solid older horses.”
The dam Even Song (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who captured the G2 Ribblesdale S., also has the unraced 2-year-old filly Maenad (Ire) by Galileo and a yearling daughter of Wootton Bassett (GB). She is a half to Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), who was successful in the G1 St Leger and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. as well as the G2 Park Hill S. and G3 Lillie Langtry Fillies S. The family includes Red Stars (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), whose two listed wins included the 2016 renewal of his race and who is alongside her relative two of three 3-year-olds to beat their elders in this in the last 10 runnings.
IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF LENEBANE S.-Listed, €40,000, Roscommon, 7-4, 3yo/up, 11f 154yT, 2:13.45, g/y.
1–ESPIONAGE (IRE), 124, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Even Song (Ire) (GSW-Eng, $181,130), by Mastercraftsman (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Westerberg,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €24,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 4-2-2-0, $94,997.
2–Young Ireland (Ire), 124, c, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Ard Fheis (Ire), by Lil's Boy. O-Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-J S Bolger (IRE). €8,000.
3–Jackfinbar (Fr), 136, h, 8, Whipper–Anna Simona (Ger), by Slip Anchor (GB). (€41,000 Ylg '16 AROYRG). O-Haven't A Pot Partnership; B-Larissa Kneip & Sandrine Grevet (FR); T-Willie Mullins. €4,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, SHD. Odds: 1.10, 22.00, 18.00.
Also Ran: Serious Challenge (Ire), Kingswood (GB), Angels Wrath (Ire), Sionnach Eile (Ire), Imaginarium (Ire), Vega Magnifico (Ire). Scratched: Harbour Wind (Ire).
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