Precise pounces late to upstage market leaders in Moyglare

Precise upset better-fancied stablemate Composing and previously unbeaten British raider Venetian Sun to land the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Silver Flash and Debutante Stakes winner Composing looked the clear first string of three runners for Aidan O’Brien as the even-money favourite, with Albany, Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and Prix Morny heroine Venetian Sun a 5-2 shot to provide Karl Burke with his fourth winner of the weekend.

Composing was soon in front in the hands of Christophe Soumillon, with another Ballydoyle runner, Beautify, her nearest pursuer passing the two-furlong marker and Precise and Venetian Sun in behind.

While Venetian Sun and Clifford Lee were caught in a pocket as the race began in earnest, Precise (11-2) had clear daylight down the outside under Ronan Whelan and quickened up well to grab the lead inside the final furlong and beat Beautify by three-quarters of a length.

Venetian Sun was a further length and three-quarters behind in third having never really got into top gear, while Composing was ultimately a little disappointing in fourth given she had the run of the race.

“That’s what it’s all about,” said Whelan. “I know it’s a cliché but it’s not what you know, it’s who you know! It’s great to be associated with this time. Any time you get the leg over, you know you always have a chance.

“We didn’t jump as well as I’d have probably liked. She was a little bit sluggish but being honest, the beauty about riding a second or third string is you can just let it happen a little bit more.

“I was happy the two boys were going to take me as far as I needed. Roger Quinlan rides her every day and he said to me that ideally, you wouldn’t be hitting the front too soon on her. So the way it played out, it couldn’t have worked out any better.

“Wayne Lordan, I feel for him. He probably should be here talking to you but I’m very grateful for the opportunities. Wayne told me all about her, Ryan rang me this morning and couldn’t have filled me in any more. They’re just a great team to be associated yet and everyone is out to help each other.”

O’Brien was suitably impressed by both horse and jockey.

“She’s an improving filly. She had a lovely run the last day, came forward a lot. She’s a homebred filly. There’s a strong headwind but Ronan had her in a lovely position and gave her a lovely ride.

“It was probably tough out there making the running. Obviously they all couldn’t make it. Christophe’s won making the running her last couple of times and didn’t want to change it too much. Dylan was there beside him nursing (Beautify) along and Ronan ended up with the perfect position, controlling the race where he was but she quickened up very well. She’s growing and maturing all the time.”

Paddy Power make Precise their 10-1 favourite from 33-1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas, while she was introduced into their Oaks market at 14-1.

Burke would undoubtedly have been disappointed by Venetian Sun’s reverse but he had already gotten on the board for the day, bringing his tally for the Irish Champions Festival to date to three winners, after Alparslan ran out a ready winner in the €250,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Stakes.

The North Yorkshire trainer registered a big-race double at Leopardstown yesterday, Fallen Angel’s third Irish Group 1 triumph in the Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes under James Doyle the obvious standout.

That followed Convergent’s victory in the Group 3 CMG Group Stakes, when Clifford Lee did the steering.

It was Lee on board Alparslan too and the heavy market confidence that led to the Dandy Man colt go off at 5/4 favourite, having opened at 7/2 in the morning, was justified.

Lee never had a moment’s worry up the rail as Alparslan lengthened magnificently without the pilot needing to over-exert himself.

Magny Cours, trained by the youngest licensed conditioner in Ireland, Danny McLoughlin, did connections proud by holding off the chasing pack stoutly to be second at 16/1, but could never land a blow on the victor.

“Alparslan is a lovely colt and we purposely left him for this race after he won his maiden,” Burke explained. “He’d improved a lot on that, and we’ll throw him into black-type races now and see how high we can take him.

“It was the same at Leicester over seven, he was doing his best work at the end. He’s a lovely big colt. He’s workmanlike at home, he’s not a speed horse, but you never know until you get those horses onto the track and see what is under the engine.

“He could go for the Horris Hill at the backend (of the year) in Newbury. He obviously handles a bit of cut in the ground as well.

“There are some great trainers over here and some great horses, but you’ve got to take them on and should never be afraid of getting beat. I don’t understand why a lot more UK trainers don’t give it a go. There is good prize money, particularly this weekend.

“I love travelling horses and like the challenge of taking on the great trainers whether it be here or in France or wherever. It’s all part of life — you have to give it a go.”

The day got under way with a huge shock as Pat Foley saddled Tango Flare to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bold Lad Handicap at odds of 50/1.

A son of the late Tom Foley, who stewarded the career of National Hunt legend Danoli, the Bagenalstown trainer is hoping to build his Flat string and scoring in a €150,000 Premier Handicap on the second day of Irish Champions Festival should aid that process.

Tango Flare was third in this race last year and with the predicted levels of rain not materialising, was able to put his best foot forward under Luke McAteer to deny the Charles O’Brien-trained eight-year-old top weight and eight-time course winner Big Gossey (22/1), who had to settle for the silver medal for the second time in three renewals.

“I was very worried about the ground, if the forecast had been right,” Foley revealed.

“Jim (McSharry, owner) rang this morning and we were wondering whether we’d run at all. But we said if we don’t run at all, what are we gonna do as it’s only going to get softer (for the rest of the year)?

“He was in off eight pounds lighter than last year when he was third. He ran a cracker in it last year to finish third and we were hoping he’d put his best foot forward.

“We only have a handful of Flat horses. We’re known as a National Hunt yard but I’d love to be busier in the summer and this won’t do us any harm.”

Followers of Racing TV's website tips may have been celebrating as Johnny Ward selected  the winner.