Baron Samedi and Dylan Browne McMonagle win readily© Photo Healy Racing
Under a 6lbs penalty last week’s easy Down Royal win, Baron Samedi (6/4 fav) was officially 13lbs well-in for the Market Square Handicap.
He won like a horse with that amount in hand, eased down for a four and three quarter length victory from Lord Park (5/1), with the winner’s stable companion Cerberus (11/2) just a head further back in third.
It was a double for Joseph O’Brien after Dense Star in the opener, and of course just half an hour earlier the progressive Pista had landed the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster under William Buick.
Baron Samedi is a rapid improver, winning for the first time off 65 at Cork last month and completing his hat-trick here off 79, with his mark due to rise to 92 in future handicaps.
The Harbour Watch gelding was ridden by 7lbs claimer Dyaln Browne McMonagle, for whom it was an 18th winner of the season.
Brendan Powell, assistant to winning trainer Joseph O’Brien,said: “I suppose he was nearly a stone well in. Dylan (Browne McMnagle) said he has one kick. He said when he got inside the last furlong-and-a-half he gave him one flick and he took off, then he keeps galloping.
“I think he'll stay any trip. It was a nice bit of placing to win again and he's going to go up a few more pounds now. He's a big horse with a bit of scope so you wouldn't know where he'll stop.
“Dylan said he travelled better today than before and the penny is only dropping. He was a big backward horse.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
