Blue De Vega stakes Classic claims with Leopardstown win

Blue De Vega staked his Classic claims as he showed an impressive turn of foot to land the Group Three Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown.

Michael O’Callaghan’s charge won a Naas maiden on his second start last month, triumphing by nearly five lengths over Tribal Beat, with that performance prompting a post-race change in ownership.

Qatar Racing, Sheikh Khalifa, Sheikh Suhaim and Mohd Al Kuba snapped up the Lope De Vega colt and he ran in the colours of the first-named owner as he started the 11-10 favourite for this seven-furlong heat.

Blue De Vega could be noted travelling particularly well a couple of furlongs out and when jockey Colin Keane gave him the signal, he shot clear to win by a comfortable three and a half lengths from the reopposing Tribal Beat, with Black Sea a further half-length back in third.

O’Callaghan said: “He showed what he was made of at Naas, but it’s a big step up from a maiden to a Group Three and he’s bridged the gap well.

“He’s a very talented colt and does everything very easy. There was a bit of added pressure after being bought by Sheikh Fahad, and it’s great to win a Group Three for him.

“We’ll let him develop over the winter and hopefully we will have a Guineas horse in the spring.

“You need these kind of horses in the yard, and it’s great when they go and do it on the track.”

Pat Smullen will be officially crowned champion jockey at the track on Sunday and he produced Zannda with a perfectly-timed challenge to land the Listed Trigo Stakes.

The Dermot Weld-trained filly was sent off the 5-4 favourite after landing the Group Three Give Thanks Stakes when last seen in August and Smullen was happy to take a pull as Queen Of Alba cut out the early running.

Zannda still had a couple of lengths to find on the leading players as the race began in earnest in the straight but Smullen kept his cool and produced his mount with around a furlong to run.

Zannda had to work hard for the win though, eventually seeing off Torcedor by a head with Princess Aloof a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.

Weld said: “She’s a battler and at stages in the race it got a bit tight. The plan is to keep her in training next year and we’ll try to win more Group races with her.”

Weld, Smullen and owner the Aga Khan were completing a double after Tirmizi had earlier landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden.

The son of Sea The Stars made quite an impression on his debut, seeing off Reckless Gold by half a length at odds of 4-1.

The trainer said: “He’s a very big colt and that was pleasing. Pat said he won with raw ability.

“He’s come forward in the last few weeks, and did a nice bit of work the other day. He’s got big potential, and will start off in one of the Classic trials next year.”

Even Song (9-10 favourite), a half-sister to St Leger winner Simple Verse, justified favouritism as she landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden by three and a half lengths to initiate a treble for Aidan O’Brien.

Winning rider Colm O’Donoghue said: “She’s a good filly and is hard to fault. I had to come wide to challenge and they got two lengths on me turning in but she picked them off well. She’s an Oaks filly for sure.”

Jaqen H’ghar (15-8 favourite) then claimed the Leopardstown Club Members Nursery Handicap in the hands of O’Brien’s son Donnacha, with the duo also teaming up to take the closing Dr. Walter Halley Lifetime Achievement Handicap with 5-1 market leader Prospector.