Alegranza upset the odds laid about Ishiguru when taking the five furlong Tipperary Race in great style to initiate a double for John Murtagh.
The Declan Gillespie-trained filly bounced out of stall one, and proceeded to make all. She had her six rivals fully stretched at the two furlong pole, and 2/7 chance Ishiguru, who is expected to compete for top sprinting honours this year, could make no headway as Alegranza went on to score by seven lengths.
'She is a nice filly, and is going the right way. David Wachman (who trained her last year) said she could be Group class, and he may be right', said Gillespie afterwards.
Aidan O'Brien was not too despondent about Ishiguru saying: 'It was his first run of the year, and he got a bit tired. We will see how he comes out of this race, but at this stage Royal Ascot is still the plan'.
Murtagh completed his double half-an-hour later over the same sprint track aboard Gossie Madera in the Excel Handicap. Liam Reilly's charge struck the front a furlong out to beat Apollonius by a length and a half, and the Granard handler commented: 'He is effective from five to seven furlongs but was wrong all last year with a virus'.
O'Brien and Michael Kinane gained some compensation for Ishiguru's defeat when Darwin took the Aidan O'Leary Memorial Race in convincing fashion. The uneasy 1/2 favourite, who competed in Group 1 company on his previous three starts, made all to beat Destorm by three lengths. 'He's a nice mover, and good ground is very important for him', said O'Brien, who nominated the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot as a likely target.
Charles Byrnes will head next to Tralee with Golden Row who justified prohibitive odds in the Tipperary Racecourse Novice Hurdle, and the Limerick handler was unlucky not to complete a double when Shallee fell two out with the Oola (QR) Handicap Hurdle at his mercy. Victory here went to Totheroadyouvgone, who ended a long losing run for Clare permit-holder Noel Glynn.
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