RACING/Leopardstown report:Fame And Glory emerged as another Ballydoyle inmate with serious Classic potential when winning the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes this afternoon.
The unbeaten son of Montjeu travelled supremely well from the outset in the Group Three heat, in which he was conceding weight to all of his rivals.
Aidan O’Brien’s colt was nudged by Johnny Murtagh into a prominent position as they turned into the home straight, and gained a clear-cut advantage over Fergus McIver passing the one-furlong marker.
Although that rival stuck on gamely to finish second, Ballydoyle’s 4-1 winner was one length ahead at the line.
John Oxx’s Mourayan, the 5-4 favourite, lost little in defeat and made late headway to finish just a head away third.
O’Brien, who has now won the 10-furlong Ballysax six times since 1998, said: “I am delighted with that performance, he should improve a good deal from this run, as all of mine do. We may come back here for the Derrinstown (May 10th), but that is just one of our options.”
Jim Bolger’s rich vein of form continued earlier on the card when Gold Bubbles proved victorious in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The Street Cry filly made a big impression on her debut as she powered home in the hands of Kevin Manning.
The 13-2 chance drew alongside O’Brien’s 6-4 favourite Air Chief Marshall a furlong out and went clear in the last 100 yards to win by two and a half lengths. Mister Tee made good late progress to get to within a head of the runner-up.
Bolger said: “We thought she would need seven furlongs, and that looked the case when she was sluggish in the early stages, but she did it well and we may now look at the Group Three Swordlestown Stakes at Naas. I would have no doubt that she will get a mile.”
Murtagh, rider of Air Chief Marshal, gained quick compensation with a narrow victory on the David Wachman-trained Carlito Brigante in the Maple Handicap.
The 9-2 favourite had just a short head to spare over Kevin Prendergast’s Rantavan Wood. Izagonawin made a bold bid for home when hitting the front before the home turn, but Carlito Brigante and Rantavan Wood made strong runs in the straight. In a tight finish, it was the former who got the nod to land a gamble.
Kargali (5-2) ended Three Rocks’ bid for a four-timer in the Listed Heritage Stakes. After Tian Shan and then Poet had made the running, Oxx’s successful colt got first run on the slowly-away Three Rocks, who made his bid down the centre of the course.
However, Kargali withstood the challenge of Bolger’s 2-1 favourite, answering Mick Kinane’s every call to win by a length and a quarter. Celtic Dane was another two lengths away in third.
Oxx said: “He’s a nice, genuine sort and a lovely galloper. I thought the ground might have been a bit quick for him, and I wouldn’t want to run him on anything quicker.
“We’ll step him up in trip next time for the Mooresbridge Stakes (Currgh) in two weeks’ time.”