Galileo’s Mohawk Leads a Ballydoyle 1-2-3 In the Royal Lodge

[Wandering Eyes]

   Giving credence to the idea that Quorto (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the best juvenile colt around, Derrick Smith’s colour-bearer Mohawk (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) came off a fourth behind that TDN Rising Star in the G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National S. to collect Saturday’s G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket. Slowly away under Donnacha O’Brien, who had ridden his 100th winner of the campaign the evening before, the 8-1 shot recovered quickly to race over two lengths off the pace and was delivered “Saxon Warrior-style” wide to head stable companion Sydney Opera House (GB) (Australia {GB}) passing the two-furlong pole. Asserting from there, the bay had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over that barnmate at the line, with Cape of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who had finished runner-up to Quorto in the G2 Superlative S., a further 1 3/4 lengths away in third. “It’s probably the first time he’s got some good ground and the extra furlong really suited as well,” his rider said. “He’s a nice horse going forward and I’d see him as a mile-and-a-quarter or mile-and-a-half horse who could start in a Derby trial or something like that. All our horses were just running five pounds below their best and in the big races that’s where it showed.”

MOHAWK (IRE), c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Empowering (Ire), by Encosta de Lago (Aus).
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Donnacha O’Brien. £75,850. Lifetime Record: GSP-Fr, 5-2-0-1, £107,816.

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