Iberia and Ricky Doyle (left) win from Knight Of Malta (red and white)© Photo Healy Racing
Two choicely-bred ex-Ballydoyle horses fought out the finish of the Sea Moon & Jukebox Jury At Burgage Stud Maiden Hurdle (Div II). Iberia (13/2), trained by John Halley for his wife Carly, having his third start over hurdles, got to the front after the second-last and, after being steadied into the final flight by Ricky Doyle, got going again to hold his former stablemate Knight Of Malta (40/1) by a length and a half.
It was the same margin back to Up With The Play (25/1) in third while German import Auckland sent off 5/6 favourite, weakened from two out to finish ninth.
The winning son of Galileo won a Curragh maiden first time out for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore before going on to finish third in both the Royal Lodge Stakes and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial.
Winning rider Ricky Doyle said: “We (the jockeys) learned from the first race and went steadier because the ground is so testing.
"His first two runs (over hurdles) weren’t bad, were a good education for him and toughened him up. In Leopardstown he got stopped at the second last and the last day in Naas he ran into trouble as well.
“It wasn’t the greatest race but he was entitled to do it. He had that bit of form and he’s well-bred. He’ll be a bit of fun anyway.”
“I think two and half miles on a bit better ground will be his trip.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
