3 minute read

Aidan O'Brien completed a Curragh treble on a big day for the Ballydoyle battalions when Giovanni Boldini took the Dubai Duty Free Millenium Millionaire Celebration Stakes.

Sent off the 8-13 favourite for the Listed contest, the three-year-old was settled in midfield by a confident Joseph O'Brien, who was content to bide his time when the action hotted up in the straight.

Pulled wide to make his challenge, Giovanni Boldini cut down his rivals in the final furlong and was well on top at the line, winning by three-quarters of a length from Paene Magnus as he followed up his third-place finish in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The father and son team had already won the Irish Derby with Australia, while O'Brien senior was also successful with Fountain Of Youth, who was ridden by Seamie Heffernan.

The trainer reported: "Joseph said he loved the fast ground, but you have to hold on to him for as long as possible as he loves cover. Derrick (Smith, part-owner) was talking about some races in America for him."

Johnny Murtagh will think about running Mutual Regard (8-1) in the Ebor at York after he defeated Edge Of Sanity by two lengths in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship EBF Handicap.

Murtagh said: "We always thought he was a nice horse and he loves fast ground. He could fit into the Ebor."

The day ended with another victory for Leigh Roche, who had earlier won the Scurry on Line Of Reason.

He hit the front shortly after the two-furlong pole on Sparkle Factor in the Dubai Duty Free Jumeirah Creekside Hotel Summer Fillies Handicap and Dermot Weld's 7-2 joint-favourite pulled out all the stops to hold Tobann and Colour Blue by a neck and a nose.