Cheap yearling wins Curragh's weekend opener

Bargain yearling purchase Beauty Inspire impressively won the Curragh's opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden on Derby weekend today, as Ger Lyons' Phoenix Stakes-entered colt scored under Champion Jockey Colin Keane.

Bred by Michael O'Mahony and sold as a yearling for €10,000, the son of Mehmas was bought by Cross Stables and while withdrawn from last April's Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale, today debuted for Lyons and Hong Kong-based owners Beauty Stable Partnership.

Backed in to 16/5 favouritism, Beauty Inspire showed signs of greenness, particularly when leaning left in the closing stages, but still easily beat runner-up Cowboy Justice by 3.75L.

Lyons was represented by his brother Shane Lyons who later reported “we don’t normally make early closing entries for horses that have never ran but we did with this lad because we have always liked him.”

He added “he came from Tally-Ho Stud very well prepared. Ours improve for their first run but in fairness to the boys (Tony and Roger O’Callaghan, Tally-Ho) he came well recommended and how right they were.

“His owners are from Hong Kong and ultimately he will probably end up going there but we are going to enjoy his two-year-old career. He’s smart and has always showed a very good temperament.”

Quotes from Alan Magee