3 minute read
Popular veteran Gordon Lord Byron rolled back the years to cause a 20-1 upset in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh.
The Group Two lost its sheen following the defection of likely favourite Acapulco, who made such a striking return to action at this track a fortnight ago.
But the outcome was no less satisfying for connections of Gordon Lord Byron, who proved a belligerent ally from the front and never really looked like getting caught in the hands of Chris Hayes.
Eventual runner-up Only Mine tried hard, but the Tom Hogan-trained nine-year-old still had a length and a half up his sleeve at the line.
Hayes said: "He doesn't quicken on this ground, he lengthens on it. He won despite it (the ground).
"In fairness to Tom, he let me do my own thing."
Hogan said: "He doesn't relish that ground any longer but Chris was brave and said he'd ride him up there as nothing was going to come from behind on that ground.
"He's tough and he's genuine. That's his 16th win and I'd like to get to 20!
"He'll be up in the invitation area now for races abroad again but he's a horse that has always needed a lot of attention to keep him right.
"He gets a mile well so seeing the trip out here was going to be no problem to him, but it's nice to win over six furlongs as well.
"It's a privilege to have him and his owners. He's a very special horse."
Creggs Pipes dominated from the front in the Lanwades Stud Stakes.
Andrew Slattery's star mare was a 3-1 shot in the hands of Declan McDonogh after a fine effort to finish third in the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas a couple of weeks ago.
The five-year-old enjoyed herself in front from flag-fall and was not for catching in the testing ground, coming home three and three-quarter lengths clear of Opal Tiara.
Slattery said: "She was in season on Friday morning but Evan Arkwright (Curragh commercial manager) rang me just before 10 o'clock to say there was only four in the race and we said we'd take our chance.
"Everything was in her favour with the ground and the trip.
"That is my biggest winner, and we'll go to Royal Ascot now for the Duke of Cambridge."
