Those in attendance at Leopardstown today were treated to some top class Flat racing with Grey Swallow and Yeats adding to their reputations while Jamie Spencer and Aidan O'Brien combined to win three races although Spencer did receive a one day suspension.
Star of the show was possibly Grey Swallow who ran out the narrow winner of the Leopardstown 2000 Guineas Trial Stakes.
Dermot Weld's much talked about colt was making his seasonal reappearance and had been rated a doubtful runner due to the soft ground. In the end, jockey Pat Smullen needed to drive the son of Daylami out to hold the persistent challenge of Meath to win by a head.
Afterwards Weld stated 'that was a workmanlike performance but he needed the race badly - he blew up half a furlong out.' He added 'the track was beautifully prepared so we decided to run him. He will now take his chance in the English 2000 Guineas although it may come a bit too soon.'
Yeats had little difficulty disposing of his two rivals in the Ballysax Stakes, thus completing a hat-trick for trainer Aidan O'Brien and stable jockey Jamie Spencer. The winner will now run in the Derrinstown Stud Stakes before running in the English Derby. He was described by O'Brien as 'a well balanced horse who should handle Epsom.'
O'Brien earlier saddled Last Love to win the opening Foxrock Maiden by a short head while his Royal Tigress was another to triumph by a similar margin, in the Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes. O'Brien reported 'Royal Tigress will stay further and Jamie said she will love fast ground. She will now be given a break and then prepared for the Irish 1000 Guineas.'
However, Royal Tigress' win left jockey Jamie Spencer in hot water with the stewards who suspended him for one day for improper and excessive use of his whip. The suspension (May 2) rules Spencer out of the English 1000 Guineas.
Michael Hussey was seen to good effect when guiding Dukestreet (16 - 12/1) to an all the way win in the seven furlong handicap while Leos Shuil was another well backed winner (12 - 7/1) for trainer John Kiely and jockey Danny Grant.
Not to be outdone by the wins of Weld and O'Brien, trainer John Oxx saddled the first two home in the 1m2f maiden. However, the result proved a disaster for punters, who greeted 20/1 winner The Last Hurrah with groans as stablemate and 7/4 favourite Ebaziyan finished one length behind in second.
