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| Sumita Pawar |
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David Allan guided Art Power to a commanding victory in the Gr.2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday, further solidifying their impressive Irish record.
The talented offspring of Dark Angel has emerged victorious in all five of his races in the country under the training of Tim Easterby, with the most recent four triumphs occurring at the Curragh.
Despite facing challenging competition in the July Cup just last week, Art Power effortlessly overcame a reduction in distance to win by an impressive margin of four and a quarter lengths.
Allan said, "He just livens up coming here, and down at the start I could feel him coming to life. Getting a lead today probably did him the world of good, it kept him concentrated and gave him something to race with.
"When I let go of his head it's probably the most impressed I've been with him. The way he travelled there, you would think that if it came up really soft in one of those Group 1s it would be right up his street."
Impressive Debutant Kairyu Shines
Trained by Michael O'Callaghan, Kairyu remains undefeated in two races after winning the Group 3 Jebel Ali-sponsored Anglesey Stakes with champion jockey Colin Keane in the saddle.
Despite some close calls with their juvenile horses this season, the yard's impressive debutant at Naas, the daughter of Kuroshio, continued her winning streak by defeating a strong field.
Although she hit the front too soon and showed some inexperience, in the final 50 yards she regained control and finished ahead of Pearls And Rubies, who was the runner-up in the Chesham Stakes, by a length and a quarter. It is possible that she will compete in the Lowther Stakes at York next month.
O'Callaghan said, "She looks very smart. Colin said she doesn't want that ground; it was soft enough for her. The gap appeared a little before he wanted it and she got a bit lonely, but he felt that she relaxed so well that she could go up to 7f. She was good and tough today.
"I was thinking about going to Newmarket last week but I just wasn't completely happy with a piece of work she did, so we waited for today. We will probably go for something like the Lowther now and see where that takes us."
Pearls And Rubies, trained by Aidan O'Brien, finished in second place, while Henry Longfellow, a promising colt sired by Dubawi and dual Classic winner Minding, made a strong debut in the opening maiden. Under the guidance of jockey Ryan Moore, he showcased impressive speed and secured a victory by a length and three-quarters. Paddy Power subsequently reduced his odds to 20-1 for both the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby.
"He had been working well and came on the scene really over the last three weeks. He's an exciting type of horse," said O'Brien.
'She grows a leg on soft ground'
Emily Dickinson, who finished fourth in the Ascot Gold Cup, returned to form with a win in the Gr.2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup and is considering running in the Goodwood Cup.
The convincing victory of Emily Dickinson, with jockey Ryan Moore, was attributed to the softer ground as she displayed strong stamina to triumph over market rival Rosscarbery by a margin of three lengths.
Aidan O'Brien said, "She would give a good horse a very hard time on that ground. She runs well on good ground, but she grows a leg on soft ground.
"She has the class to be ridden patiently. We will see what way the ground comes up at Goodwood. If she doesn't go there, she has races like the Irish St Leger and the stayers' race on Champions Day at Ascot."