Off the track since last years Epsom Derby, Septimus completed Aidan O'Brien and Seamie Heffernan's second double in as many days at the Curragh on Monday when landing the Group 3 High Chaparral Mooresbridge Stakes in fine style.
The four year old Saddlers Wells colt showed no sign of lacking race fitness when kicking for home a furlong out and staying on well to score by a length and a half from Fracas, with Mustameet a disappointing even money favourite back in sixth.
A delighted Aidan O'Brien said afterwards, 'He did that well, he is a very tough horse. Considering he has been off since the Derby, when he came back a bit sore, I am very pleased. It is possible now we will leave him off and give him an autumn campaign, and I think he could be a serious horse in the autumn.'
Warsaw made it two from two in the Listed Coolmore Stakes over five furlongs to instigate the double for the in form Aidan O'Brien and Seamie Heffernan team. Justifying odds of 8/13 the two year old made all the running on his way to a length and a half success to add to Coolmore's abundance of riches at this level. Aidan O'Brien afterwards said, 'He done that effortlessly, he is very fast. There is plenty of length about him and he will stay running over five or six furlongs.'
Indeed Heffernan went on to complete a 104/1 treble when he was aboard Kyles Bay for Caroline Hutchinson in the Ad Valorem handicap. That brings to 17 the Kildare jockeys total for the season so far.
Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning returned to the winners enclosure on home soil following the success of Finsceal Beo twenty four hours previously at Newmarket. Creachadoir in the colours of the trainers wife Jackie, was settled in mid division by Manning before coming to join English raider Mr Napper Tandy 200 yards from home.
When asked to go on by Manning the 11/4 favourite quickly asserted to score by three lengths from Mr Napper Tandy in second and Eyshal in third. Afterwards Bolger revealed, 'The Irish Guineas would definitely be on his agenda,' before reporting on 1000 Guineas heroine Finsceal Beo. 'She was quite lively this morning and I am very pleased with her.'
Local trainer Michael Halford landed the Group 3 Athasi Stakes for a second year in a row when Eastern Appeal, the outsider of his two runners, got up late home to win by a neck. The 10/1 shot in the colours of the Fair Is Fair Syndicate collared the supplemented favourite Modeeroch in the dying strides after being switched off the rail by jockey Rory Cleary.
'The trip and ground suited her today,' said winning trainer Halford after the race. 'She is a very genuine and consistent filly who we had trouble settling in in races. Thankfully she settled well today and the small field helped.'
King Rama recorded his fifth career success on the flat when landing the Ivan Denisovich Handicap over a mile and two furlongs for trainer John Kiely and jockey Mick Kinane. The six year old was another to come with a late run and got up to deny long time leader Balakan by a neck. 'He wintered well and held his form if not improved slightly. We will stay on the flat for now and perhaps go over hurdles later on in the year,' said Kiely.
Time In Madera (11/1) made a winning debut for Tommy Stack and in form jockey Wayne Lordan. The three year old Colt by Danetime was always travelling well under Lordan over on the far side and went on to score by an impressive one and three parts of a length.
Fozzy Stack son of winning trainer Tommy said afterwards, 'He is a horse we always thought a lot of but he just took a bit of time to come to himself. He could possibly go to the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot next.'
Joseph Crowley saddled a 1-2 in the concluding race of the Rockview Amateur Riders Series when Logan's Run got up in the dying stages to defeat stablemate The Black Lion by a neck with Andrew Duff up. The winner last seen when winning at Punchestown could well now be given a break before possibly coming back for an assault on next years Cheltenham bumper.
