English/Ire
Beautify battles bravely to end Lady Iman’s unbeaten run
Aidan O’Brien’s Beautify showed a willing attitude to see off Ger Lyons’ unbeaten two-year-old Lady Iman in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
Sent off a 2/1 chance under the hands of Ryan Moore, Aidan O'Brien's filly looked to have her work cut out as the unbeaten 8/15 favourite Lady Iman, who skipped a trip to Royal Ascot in favour of this event, breezed into contention for Colin Keane.
However, Moore quickly asked his mount of maximum effort, and she duly responded, picking up again to battle past the weakening Lady Iman before staying on strongly to make virtually all of the running by lengths.
Speaking to the PA, O'Brien, who was winning the contest for the four time on the bounce, said: "Ryan gave her a lovely ride. She had a lovely run first time and came forward lovely since then,"
"The plan was to get a run into her and then come here for this race. It's a very good race, a Group Two, an important race and a great track. It's a very important race for a filly."
The daughter of Wootton Bassett could be set for a step up to seven furlongs, with O'Brien earmarking the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes over Irish Champions weekend as a potential target.
He added: "Ryan was very impressed. He said he'd love to go up to seven with her, that's a very good sign when you hear him talking like that,"
"Obviously she's a Moyglare-type filly when Ryan says that but obviously gets six very strong and travelled very strong.
"Ryan said she really got going inside the furlong marker and started to really open up. It's great to hear that."
Earlier on the card, Dorset joined the likes of City Of Troy on the roll of honours list with a polished performance in the seven-furlong Barronstown Stud Irish EBF at the Curragh.
A son of Wootton Bassett who cost €400,000 as a yearling, Dorset was sent off the 4/9 market leader following a highly promising debut second behind stablemate Amadeus Mozart over the same course and distance on debut earlier this month.
Always well-positioned under Ryan Moore, the striking grey travelled powerfully before finding plenty in the closing stages to see off stablemate Benvenuto Cellini by a length and a half.
Speaking on Racing TV, O'Brien said: "He's a straightforward, lovely horse. He came forward from his first start and he will get further. We're very happy and Ryan gave him a very confident ride.
"He's a good mover and will have no problem getting further than a mile next year."
On future plans, O'Brien added: "He could go for the new Pat Smullen race, he could go to the Tyros, the Futurity or he could go over to Newmarket for the Superlative. Any of those races."
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