Slade Power, third from left, finds an extra gear close home under Wayne Lordan© Photo Healy Racing
Wayne Lordan is certainly the man to follow at the Curragh this afternoon, Slade Power bringing up a treble for him in the Group 3 Woodies DIY Sapphire Stakes (won the first on Tarn and the fifth on Sudirman .
The successful Eddie Lynam trained colt, who is in the same ownership as Royal Ascot hero Sole Power, was sent off the 11/4 favourite for the five furlong contest.
Having finished seventh in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes just last Saturday, he showed no ill effects this afternoon.
He was settled on the outside in third before he came under pressure inside the final furlong, hitting the front with 100 yards to race and going on from there to score by half a length. Russian Soul came with a late rattle on the inside, but the winner had done enough in front, and the Mick Halford trained gelding had to settle for second at 13/2 under Shane Foley. Morawij was a further half a length back in third under William Buick for Roger Varian at 7/2.
Eddie Lynam said afterwards: "That is a bit special as the owners (the Power family) also bred him.
"He is a bit like his trainer in that he has taken a while to mature and get his act together. He is still a big raw horse and he is learning about racing.
"We will look at the July Cup for him now. He will probably wear the blue cap (Sole Power is also likely to take his chance in that race).
"He broke his pelvis at Ascot last year and he had to spend three months over there recovering. Full credit to everyone concerned as they did a great with him."
Paddy Power go 10/1 (from 14s) about the winner for the July Cup at Newmarket on the 13th of next month, while Ladbrokes go 14/1 from 16s.
Powers go 10/1 about Sole Power for the same race while Ladbrokes go 12s.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
