Lord Massusus lands a third Stakes success Lord Massusus (4/1) registered a third Stakes success today, as the Joe Murphy-trained 107-rated gelding landed Leopardstown’s Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Heritage Stakes under jockey Gary Carroll. The five-year-old, previously successful in a Group 3 over today’s same mile course in 2023 and in a Curragh Listed race last June, went in pursuit of stronger-travelling leader Mutasarref with a furlong to race and finished better to score by a neck. Afterwards Joe Murphy junior reported “he got a little bogged down in the ground at the Curragh the first day where seven furlongs probably didn’t suit him either. We expected a better run that day but were very disappointed coming home. “We put the hood on and he settled better today: he has been over-racing through his races a little bit.” He added “we’ll keep him to Listed and Group 3s here and maybe come back here on Champions Weekend for the Boomerang Stakes. He’ll be a solid horse in all those Listed and Group races here and at the Curragh for the season. “We tried him in a Group 1 last year and he’s just not quite that level but he’s very solid at this level and he’s able to carry the penalties. People say he’s effective on soft ground but that was in a nursery and in a conditions race as a two-year-old, but this - and quicker, is his preferred surface.” Quotes from Gary Carson
