After having four horses beaten at the Curragh on the opening day of the Irish flat season, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore resumed business as usual as the pair teamed up to land a hat-trick as Naas on Sunday.
The first leg came in the 2:40 as Siyouni colt Accredited powered up the hill despite a sluggish start. The €1,000,000 Breeze-Up didn’t travel all too sharply throughout, but was comfortably on top at the line.
Speaking to Racing TV after the race, via Sporting Life, O’Brien said: “He’d done very well through the winter, very straightforward, laidback horse at home. We thought that he was ready to come racing, we thought he’d improve plenty. Tough ground out there, we weren’t sure about that. But Ryan said better ground and he’d have no problem going up to a mile; couldn’t be happier.
“He’s a lovely mind. Even though he’s a breeze-up horse we took our time with him. He’ll go for a winners now and if that went well, he’ll step into a stakes,” continued O’Brien.
Winner of Madrid Handicap ‘has a long way to go’ before Paddington comparisons
At a media day last week, O’Brien flagged Causeway as a potential Paddington 2.0, which came to fruition in the Madrid Handicap. Paddington won the race in 2023 off a mark of 97, before winning four Grade 1’s that season. The Siyouni colt climbed 27lbs in the ratings, and it remains to be seen if Causeway can emulate him. The son of Wootton Bassett was given a typically excellent ride by Ryan Moore to gamely win by a head.
Ryan Moore told Racing TV: “You’d be very happy with what he’s done today. He carried a big weight, seven furlongs would be on the tight side for him. He’s the sort of horse who should progress, good attitude and he can only improve from today.
“He’s got a long way to go before we talk about him like that,” Moore added regarding Paddington Comparisons. “But he’s a big horse, lightly raced and he’s only going to improve.”
The impeccably bred Drop Dead Gorgeous completed the hat-trick as she took the 4:57 Fillies Maiden. It was a commanding performance as she easily swept past her 85-rated stablemate. Connections have won the race three times since 2021, including with Epsom Oaks winner Tuesday.
Moore and O’Brien couldn’t land a fourth as strong favourite Straight Up bombed out in the last. Nevertheless, it was a productive day for the yard as all three of their winners look to have a bright future.