Treasure Isle and Ryan Moore win for trainer Aidan O Brien from Saratoga Special Healy Racing© Photo Healy Racing
The Aidan O'Brien trained Treasure Isle stepped up on a promising debut second when going one place better in the opening Coolmore Stud Calyx Race at Naas.
Sent off 8-13f on the back of that pleasing introduction at the Curragh last month, the son of No Nay Never had to work hard to justify those short odds.
Breaking quickly under Ryan Moore, the colt led a quartet of rivals for the first couple of furlongs. With the others all making their racecourse debuts, the once-raced Ballydoyle representative had that vital edge in terms of experience.
However, Shane Foley was soon upsides on newcomer Saratoga Special keeping the favourite honest every step of the way.
As the pair settled down to battle it out inside the final furlong, Treasure Isle made his previous run count to edge it by half-a-length.
Aidan O’Brien said: “Ryan said he was very green and was surprised how green he was as he was swapping and changing and looking. He felt that he had plenty still to learn but has a lot of speed.
“We thought he was going to be one for Royal Ascot and hopefully he knows enough. He certainly has the speed for it. We’ll see how he takes the run and how much he comes on from it.
“River Tiber won this last year and went on to win the Coventry but this horse will be very happy staying at five.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
Paddy Power cut Treasure Isle to 14/1(from 20/1) for the Coventry Stakes.
