3 minute read
Aidan O’Brien looked to unleash another useful performer in the opening Avenuebloodstock.com Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden at the Curragh when Brussels struck at the first time of asking under Ryan Moore.
Having landed the prize with subsequent French 2000 Guineas hero Henri Matisse twelve months ago, O'Brien saddled two interesting contenders, with Ryan Moore opting to side with the unraced Brussels over stablemate Kansas.
Always towards the fore under Ryan Moore, the striking son of Wootton Bassett picked up smartly in the closing stages to get the better of the front-running Kansas by three quarters of a length.
The Ger Lyons-trained favourite Learntodiscover finished a further length and a quarter back in third.
"Ryan was very happy. He said he was very green; he was very babyish when he got on and going down. He said he will come forward a lot from it," said O'Brien.
On a potential trip to Ascot, O'Brien and Moore feel it could come too soon.
O'Brien added: "All these horses are running with Ascot in mind, but Ryan said that he was so babyish that it might come too quick. We'll see how much he comes on.
"He said that he thought he would have no problem getting seven. He's very big, a massive, big, powerful horse.
"The second horse ran lovely. I'm not sure if he's quick and six is far enough for him. It was five in Naas, and he might be a fast horse."
Later on the card, O'Brien's son Joseph struck with the likeable Trustyourinstinct, who gave weight away to his rivals to get back to winning ways for owner JP McManus.
An excellent third behind Los Angeles and White Birch in the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes last time, Trustyourinstinct relished stepping back up in trip, staying on stoutly under Dylan Browne McMonagle to beat Romzina by four lengths.
Speaking of his 5/4 (F) Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Orby Stakes winner, O'Brien told the PA: "He's a lovely horse, very consistent and he loves it here at the Curragh. I'm delighted to have a nice winner for JP.
"He's well enough handicapped over hurdles but he doesn't really jump with great fluency. He'll probably stick to the Flat.
"He's a very solid Listed/Group Three horse and he pays his way every year. We've ran him internationally a few times as well and we might look at that again at a later date."
