By Sean Cronin
Coolmore and Westerberg's 3-year-old colt Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road–Cuff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), a multiple Classic entry, justified long odds-on favouritism with a comfortable success in Friday's one-mile Listed Patton S. at Dundalk. The homebred bay followed up an August maiden win at the Curragh with a second in the Co. Louth venue's Sept. 30 Listed Star Appeal S. and closed his juvenile campaign with a 2 3/4-length triumph in October's G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown. The eventual winner, Aidan O'Brien's first domestic runner of the year, was sharply into stride from the outside stall and raced in a close-up second through halfway. Nudged along to gain control soon after turning for home, the 3-10 chalk was not for catching thereafter and kept on strongly under urging inside the final furlong to prevail by two lengths from News At Ten (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}).
Cairo is the third of five foals and one of two winners from as many runners produced by Listed Naas Fillies' Sprint S. victrix Cuff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself kin to six black-type performers headed by MG1SP sire Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Gran Criterium heroine Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and G1 St James's Palace S. third Mars (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The April-foaled bay's second dam, MGSP Listed Empress S. victrix Massarra (GB) (Danehill), is daughter of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}) and thus a half-sister to G1 Haydock Sprint Cup-winning sire Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert) and to the dam of three-time Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). He is half to a 2-year-old filly by No Nay Never and a yearling colt Wootton Bassett (GB).
The Night Boat to Cairo 👀
2000 Guineas entrant Cairo gives Aidan O'Brien a first domestic winner of the year from his very first runner, landing the €40,000 Listed Patton Stakes under Ryan Moore
The race is part of the European Road to the @KentuckyDerby pic.twitter.com/sRdCivqf2O
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 3, 2023
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