By Tom Frary
Four withdrawals marred The Curragh's Listed GAIN First Flier S., with the winners and likely favourites Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Noche Magica (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) among them, resulting in the bizarre circumstance of just five runners with two outings between them. In the event, it was the three newcomers who filled the frame with Ballydoyle's His Majesty (Ire) (No Nay Never–Czabo {GB}, by Sixties Icon {GB}) coming out on top to provide the stable with back-to-back renewals. Looking set to play a bit-part at best when caught flat-footed two out, the 5-2 second favourite picked up for Seamie Heffernan's whip to head the Adrian Murray-trained Valiant Force (Malibu Moon) inside the final 50 yards and score by 3/4 of a length, with 1 1/2 lengths back to the other Rosegreen runner and 15-8 favourite Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in third.
“He did it lovely, he's a lovely big sleepy horse,” Aidan O'Brien said. “Seamus said he had loads of speed but he was relaxed, he said when he clicked he found plenty. He's like a four-year-old, a big mature horse. You always try to get two runs before Ascot, but it's hard enough to do it here because there aren't many races.”
Czabo, who was successful in the G3 Park Express S. and Listed Prix des Lilas, produced as her first foal the useful Coill Avon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) who beat St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in a maiden here three years ago. Out of the Listed Masaka S. runner-up Fiumicino (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) related to last year's G3 Prix Miesque winner Moon Ray (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), the descendant of the G1 Irish St Leger heroine Dark Lomond (Ire) (Lomond) also has a yearling full-brother to the winner.
Monday, Curragh, Ireland
GAIN FIRST FLIER S.-Listed, €40,000, Curragh, 5-1, 2yo, 5fT, 1:04.84, sf.
1–HIS MAJESTY (IRE), 131, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Czabo (GB) (GSW-Ire, SW-Fr, $128,990), by Sixties Icon (GB)
2nd Dam: Fiumicino (GB), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
3rd Dam: Valhalla Moon, by Sadler's Wells
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (325,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Smith,Magnier,Tabor,Westerberg,Brant; B-Newstead Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Seamie Heffernan. €24,000. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $26,514.
2–Valiant Force, 131, c, 2, Malibu Moon–Vigui's Heart, by Quality Road.
1ST BLACK TYPE. ($75,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $100,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Rachael O'Callaghan; B-Ramon Horta Rangel & Spendthrift Farm (KY); T-Adrian Murray. €8,000.
3–Unquestionable (Fr), 131, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Strawberry Lace (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€340,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Al Shaqab Racing,Coolmore,Westerberg; B-Camille Vitse Porin, Axelle Vitse, Valentine Vitse & G Vitse (FR); T-Aidan O'Brien. €4,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, 3. Odds: 2.50, 7.00, 1.88.
Also Ran: Blame Thechampagne (Ire), Love Ya (Ire). Scratched: Bucanero Fuerte (GB), Noche Magica (Ire), Sturlasson (Ire), Vanity Pays (GB).
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