Dick Whittington, near side, beats Toscanini in the Anglesey© Photo Healy Racing
The joint favourites fought out the finish to the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh and it was Dick Whittington who prevailed. Itorio showed good speed to lead his four rivals in this six and a half furlong contest. Toscanini narrowly headed him a furlong from home, but he was swiftly grabbed by Dick Whittington and Joseph O’Brien who thundered home to win by half a length at 2/1. Rapid Applause at 10/1 didn’t have the clearest of runs behind a weakening Itorio and Toscanini on the rail, however, when he got in the clear he finished well to be only three parts of a length off 2/1 joint favourite Toscanini.
Aidan O’Brien said: “I’m delighted. He‘s a fast horse and five or six furlongs looks his trip. I think it would be tight to get a mile with him. The Phoenix Stakes looks the race for him.”
Joseph O’Brien said: “He didn’t stay seven furlongs in Ascot the last day. He has loads of pace - six furlongs on fast ground, even five furlongs. He is a horse that could progress. He jumped and travelled well. He’s by Rip Van Winkle who is an exciting stallion. He’s done that nicely. He stuck his head out all the way to the line.”
Toscanini had been reluctant to set foot on the racetrack and his trainer Mick Halford said: "He got a bit silly and he decided he wasn't in love with coming under the archway. He was perfect before hand and leaning across his door asleep. He travelled through the race and there are no excuses, he was second best on the day."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
