Madhmoon and Chris Hayes © Photo Healy Racing
Madhmoon set himself up for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next month with victory in the Desmond Stakes at the Dublin venue this evening.
Kevin Prendergast 's charge, runner-up in the Epsom Derby, was sent to post a 4/7 shot for the Group 3 contest and quickened up inside the final furlong to seal matters.
The son of Dawn Approach missed the kick slightly and Chris Hayes held his mount up before asking him to make up ground turning for home in the mile contest.
He drove the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt into contention passing the furlong pole and he got the better of I Am Superman inside the final 150 yards to get his head in front and record a length-and-a-half win.
Zuenoon stayed on to take the runner-up spot without making any impression on the winner.
“He did it well. The run will do him good because he's fairly burly looking,” said Prendergast.
“He'll come on a lot and the Champion Stakes is his next outing. After that if he puts up a good show he'll go to Ascot for the Champion Stakes there. We'll see how he gets on here first.
“I thought he did it well. He stumbled out of the gate and just got a little bit unbalanced in the first furlong then he settled in and raced nicely after that.
“He travelled well, quickened up well and won without a smack.”
When asked if ten furlongs could be his optimum trip he replied:-
“Well he was second in the Derby over a mile-and-a-half and you can't argue with that as he's only beaten half a length in the English Derby.
“On the day any of the first four or five could have won and I'm sure some very good horses will come out of the Derby.”
