Royal Rebel claimed a notable scalp at Leopardstown this evening when short-heading last season's Gold Cup winner Enzeli in the Listed Saval Beg Stakes.
Enzeli made a bold bid to defy his welter-burden of 10st 1lb, taking the lead from his pacemaker Katiykha approaching the final furlong before being caught right on the line by Royal Rebel in the hands of Irish champion jockey Michael Kinane.
Both owner Peter Savill and Yorkshire trainer Mark Johnston were on hand to greet Kinane although it took some study by the judge before the photo showed a nostril in favour of their 6-1 chance.
'This is Royal Rebel's third time coming to Leopardstown, and I'm relieved that he has won tonight because he has been disappointing us.
'He didn't figure last time at Ascot behind Orchestra Stall, but the blinkers were back on and it's good to see him winning again,' trainer Johnston remarked.
The plan is for Royal Rebel to come back to Ireland for the Curragh Cup on Budweiser Derby weekend, while the odds-on favourite Enzeli is being aimed at a repeat bid for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
'Enzeli is very lazy at home. It was a tougher assignment tonight than when he won this race last year and we just hope he goes the right way in the next few weeks before Ascot,' said trainer John Oxx.
Kinane had earlier initiated a double aboard Aidan O'Brien's Little Firefly who looked a smart recruit on her debut in the Roundwood Maiden Stakes.
Despite drifting from odds-on to 13-8, Little Firefly recovered from a tardy start to come through with a decisive late challenge that impressed both her trainer and jockey.
'She went to sleep in the stalls, but Michael thinks a bit of her. She is a big, scopey filly and could be very good later in the season,' said winning trainer O'Brien.
The champion trainer indicated that Bach would miss this weekend's Entenmann's-sponsored Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, as he will instead be going to France on Sunday week for the Prix Jean Prat on the French Derby card.
