Racing

Minding stars in Aidan O’Brien’s Group-race four-timer

Ryan Moore streaks clear of the field to win by four lengths

Minding ridden by Ryan Moore wins the Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. Photograph: PA Wire
Minding ridden by Ryan Moore wins the Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. Photograph: PA Wire
Sun Jun 26 2016 - 18:10

Another brilliant performance from Minding lit up an Aidan O'Brien Group-race four-timer at the Curragh on Sunday as she easily justified long odds-on in the Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes.

Magnificent in the Qipco 1000 Guineas and equally so in the Investec Oaks, the Galileo filly was beaten in between in the Irish Guineas but again oozed class trying 10 furlongs for the first time.

Colm O'Donoghue rode an enterprising race from the front on eventual second Bocca Baciata, but it was only a matter of time once Ryan Moore engaged something like top gear on the favourite. Four lengths was the winning margin.

O’Brien said: “She has two options really for her next run, the Irish Oaks and the Nassau, and we are eyeing the Irish Oaks with Even Song.

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“I hope she will stay in training next year, and I’ll certainly plead that she does. She is very talented and progressing all the time.”

Minding’s stablemate Sir Isaac Newton appears to be finally on an upward curve and could be on his travels after a tenacious success in the Finlay Volvo International Stakes.

The 11-8 favourite was opening his Pattern account after victory in the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot, knuckling down to beat Chemical Charge by three-quarters of a length.

O’Brien said: “It’s taken a long time for the penny to drop with him. He’s starting to mature and relax. He’s a horse that could suit America as he likes a nice bit of pace.”

Roly Poly (3-1 favourite) was another to dig deep for Ballydoyle, finally getting the better of a protracted duel with British raider Seafront in the Grangecon Stud Stakes.

O’Brien said: “She could go for the Debutante if we want to try her over seven furlongs.”

And Queen's Vase hero Sword Fighter again advertised his toughness as he made all in the Coral.ie Curragh Cup, just as he had done at Royal Ascot. Seamie Heffernan was on board, with Moore on runner-up and favourite Landofhopeandglory.

“He’s made for the St Leger (at Doncaster),” was the O’Brien verdict on the 11-4 winner.

There was a 50-1 stunner in the opening maiden, as the Tommy Stack-trained Alexios Komnenos floored some big names, while Sea Wolf (11-4 favourite) won at the first attempt since joining the Ger Lyons stable when storming home to lift the Equisoft 25th Anniversary Handicap.

Sors was a big winner for trainer Andy Slattery as he came out best in a Tote Rockingham Handicap that saw four horses spread across the track deep inside the final furlong, all with chances. The 20-1 chance was ridden by 7lb-claiming apprentice Killian Leonard.

Slattery said: “I told anyone that would listen that he would win. We had been holding him up over six and he was getting sick of it. He needs to pop out and go over five.”