Mendelssohn leads home O'Brien 1, 2, 3

Mendelssohn led home a 1, 2, 3 for Aidan O'Brien in the feature at Dundalk this evening, the Listed 32Red Patton Stakes.

Ryan Moore made the journey across the Irish Sea for the ride on the successful son of Scat Daddy, who was last seen winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November.

Having opened at 4/5 on-course, the bay victor touched 11/10, before going off the even money favourite.

Settled in second in the early stages, he was third on the inner as they entered the home straight. He was soon pushed along and got to the front at the furlong pole, keeping on well from there to see off Threeandfourpence by three parts of a length.

The runner-up, who attempted to make all, was well-backed on-course, opening at 9/2 before going off a 5/2 chance under Seamie Heffernan.

The front two were three and three parts of a length clear of Seahenge (7/2) who finished third under Donnacha O'Brien.

Aidan O'Brien said afterwards: "You'd be delighted with that. It was nice to get him started and he did everything right, he travelled and quickened well.

"He was a little bit rusty obviously on his first run in a long time but Ryan was very happy with him.

"You'd be very happy with him. Physically he's done very well and mentally he is good, he's very relaxed which is good.

"The plan was to come here then go to Dubai and then hopefully the Kentucky Derby.

"We always felt that we would need a couple of runs in this part of the world before we go.

"If everything is well hopefully we'll go on to Dubai with him.

"Hopefully then we can look at Kentucky but obviously we have to run a big race in Dubai and go on from there but that's what we'd be hoping to do.

"There is plenty of dirt in his pedigree and as we saw he's a good traveller and very good physically.

"Seamus' horse was a little babyish in front, as he's not used to being there, and Donnacha's horse was a little bit slow away but they are all things we can work on.

"The plan with the three colts that ran tonight is to go to Dubai and then hopefully we go on from there."

On what kind of horse you need for Kentucky Derby O'Brien added: "You need a very good horse, a very seasoned hardened horse. He has to be tactically quick, he has to travel strong and has to be tough at the end. You just need a very good horse really."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson