Bittersweet victory for Cairde Go Deo in Navan feature

Cairde Go Deo landed the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats Stakes in clearcut fashion but the 1m5f Navan Listed race was marred by a fatal injury to odds-on favourite Arbutus

The Ger Lyons-trained filly was prominent throughout and took control from three furlongs out at which point the 4/6 favourite was pulled up quickly with a serious leg injury.

Colin Keane ’s mount was soon six lengths clear and galloped on strongly from over a furlong out to beat Hotter Than Hades by eight. Willesee kept on one paced a further three lengths adrift with Shark Bay disappointing in fourth.

Lyons said, "She's all about the trip and loves the ground. We were going to wait for the Munster Oaks (in Cork) but we took a view at the start of the week that this might cut up, and it did, and we were afraid of our lives. We would never be afraid of Aidan (O'Brien) but you'd be afraid of him the way his horses are running at the moment. I don't like seeing that (Arbutus injured).

"We watched the Lingfield Trials last weekend and part of me thought did I leave one behind me but I'd rather do it in Navan and take it from there.

"A mile and a half and good ground at the minute would be the Munster Oaks. Time will tell whether she is worth stepping up into the big game.

"These type of horses show me nothing at home. We've always seen her as a nice two-year-old last year.

"Even So was a quality, quality filly. When we won the Oaks, we were running for pieces. Trip horses don't show me much at home, I have to see it out here. It will be another step forward in the Munster Oaks and then we'll see.

"She's very straightforward and a gorgeous looking filly, a typical Camelot. A good temperament and Even So had a great temperament. I've had a few Camelots that don't have a good temperament but she does.

"She's a Group 3 horse, what she is after that time will tell. Those Group 2s and Group 1s are hens' teeth but we are on the right track."

(MG & AM)