Grafelli grinds out a neck win

RACING:GRAFELLI WILL head for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day after recording a second Group Three success in a matter of days in the Korean Racing Authority Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown last night.

Sent off the 13 to 8 second-favourite after strong support for Lines Of Battle, Jim Bolger’s charge was being urged along three furlongs out as Kingston Jamaica set searching early fractions.

Lines Of Battle appeared to be travelling best on the outside of the field under Joseph O’Brien, but he wandered under pressure and had to settle for second as Grafelli kept finding for Kevin Manning to grind out a neck victory.

Grafelli, who landed the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, was adding to Bolger’s recent Tyros wins with Modeeroch (2005), Teofilo (2006) and New Approach (2007). Bolger said: “He showed his class again today. He stays the trip well and shouldn’t have any trouble with a mile. He will have a bit of a break now and then go to France for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day.

“I never saw a horse go on that ground on Sunday (soft to heavy) and lose just a kilo in weight. He was back to exactly the same weight this evening.”

Manning said: “I thought it was a good performance giving them 3lb, he had to fight them off on both sides. It’s a lot better ground tonight (than at the Curragh) and he’s put up a game performance. He’s improving from race to race and there’s more improvement in him.”

Stan James cut Grafelli for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, with spokesman Joseph Burke saying: “He has now proven himself a solid Group horse on both soft to heavy ground and on good ground, and as a result we have cut him to 20 to 1 from 33 to 1 for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.”

The same firm also shortened the Aidan O’Brien-trained Afonso de Sousa to 20 to 1 for the Guineas from 33s after he bolted up in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Famous Name raced to a hat-trick of wins in the Jockey Club of Turkey Meld Stakes. Dermot Weld’s seven-year-old boosted his fine course record with a comfortable success over Ballybacka Lady, with the outcome never in doubt as he recorded career success number 18.

The 3 to 10 favourite was settled in third early on and the race was over at the furlong pole as Famous Name cruised clear when Pat Smullen pressed the button.

Smullen was able to ease right off near the line, with Ballybacka Lady in second. Weld said: “What can I say, he does it all. That is his 18th win and 17 of those have come at either Listed or Group level. He must be getting close to a record total of stakes race wins.

“The Royal Whip at the Curragh is the logical follow on from here and this is his ground tonight. He is also entered in the Irish Champion Stakes here. He loves it at Leopardstown.”