Adelaide River ridden clear© Photo Healy Racing
Irish Derby runner-up Adelaide River justified favouritism in the Group 3 Paddy Power Stakes to bring up a Leopardstown treble for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore on day one of Irish Champions Festival.
He popped away smartly to lead over this mile-and-a-half trip and Moore was able to set the pace he wanted.
The pair were pressed outside the two pole by Mashhoor and Ben Coen, however, Adelaide River dug in against the rail and began to move on a furlong and a-half from home.
He was ridden clear entering the final furlong and that enabled him to fend off the closers who charged late as the leader sought the line.
The 11/8 favourite repelled Al Aasy (9/4) by half a length with Layfayette a spot out of the places in a closing third, the same distance back.
“I'm delighted. Ryan said if he had a choice of 10 or 14 (furlongs) he'd definitely go 10 on him because he relaxes, but he does quicken,” said O'Brien.
“He's a lovely big horse and we've always viewed him as a next year horse.
“We always thought he was kind of like Duke Of Marmalade, as he's after competing in big ones and getting very close in them but he's such a big horse that he's definitely going to have to be a way better horse next year.”
Or whether he could be a horse for Australia he added: “It might be a bit soon for him this year, he could go next year. He's a big horse and if we had the choice we'd probably wait until next year.
“He's after having a few tough races in second so it was nice for him to come here, and Ryan was able to dictate his own pace on him.
“He said he did quicken very well, but just got a bit lonely in the last half a furlong. He was very happy.”
Paddy Power shortened Adelaide River from 50/1 to 33/1 for the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
