Youngster looked apparent Ballydoyle second-string.
Aidan O’Brien’s Antelope Canyon has stamped his authority as a promising colt with a hard-fought victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Naas. The two-year-old, sired by No Nay Never, showed tremendous grit and determination to overcome Paddy Twomey's Currawood in a thrilling head-to-head battle that set the tone for an exciting future.
Under the guidance of Wayne Lordan, Antelope Canyon delivered an impressive performance, bouncing back from his debut fifth-place finish over the same course in July. With the form from that maiden race holding up well, expectations were high. Lordan, picking up the ride as Ryan Moore opted for stablemate Mississippi River, didn’t disappoint. The duo engaged in a fight for the line with Currawood, and Antelope Canyon managed to cross the finish half a length ahead.
O’Brien's Team Pleased with Progress
Chris Armstrong, representing O’Brien’s stable, was full of praise for the colt’s progression from his debut run. “He came forward a lot from his first run. He was a bit green in that first race, and the ground was slightly on the slow side,” Armstrong explained.
Now that Antelope Canyon has registered his maiden victory, there’s already talk of stepping him up in distance. "Wayne thought he has the makings of a lovely horse," O’Brien said. "He’ll have no problems stepping up to seven furlongs, and he handles the quick ground very well."
Orby Book 1 graduate ANTELOPE CANYON battles to the line to win @NaasRacecourse, taking the Goffs GBP 50K Bonus for @Ballydoyle ⭐️
2YO #GoffsGrad sold by @BarodaStudIre to M V Magnier @coolmorestud. #GoffsOrby | #TwoMillionSeries
— Goffs (@Goffs1866) September 19, 2024
.The connections have their eyes set on the Legacy Stakes at Dundalk as Antelope Canyon's next target. There’s a growing belief that this talented colt could shape into a contender for next year’s Guineas trial. With such potential, it’s clear that this is just the beginning of what could be a stellar career for Antelope Canyon.
Carla Ridge’s 100-1 Shock Victory Stuns Naas
While Antelope Canyon was busy showcasing his promise, Carla Ridge turned heads with a stunning upset in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. The two-year-old filly, trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty, entered the race as a massive 100-1 outsider, having finished 17th out of 19 on her debut at the Curragh in August. Few expected her to mount any real challenge, but she defied all odds to claim a resounding victory under jockey Chris Hayes.
Carla Ridge’s improvement from her disappointing debut was dramatic. Hayes guided her to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory, leaving everyone, including her trainers, astonished. "She’s a beautiful filly, and we loved her from the day we saw her at Arqana," said Patrick Harty. "We were very conscious that she needed to go to the races and enjoy her day out, and she did just that at the Curragh. She came home after that first run and seemed to have a great time."
The sudden leap in performance has filled the connections with optimism about her future. "She did today what we all hoped she was capable of," Harty added. "Winning a maiden and showing a bit of promise that she might be a stakes filly."
Carla Ridge ran out an impressive winner in The @IrishEBF_ Fillies Maiden of EURO 18,000 for team @HartyRacing 🤝@chrishayes24 pic.twitter.com/2525EfONel
— Naas Racecourse (@NaasRacecourse) September 19, 2024
What’s Next for Carla Ridge?
With her shock victory in the books, attention now turns to what lies ahead for Carla Ridge. The trainers are considering potential stakes races while the weather remains favorable. "We’re enjoying an Indian summer, so while the ground is still on the nice side, we might look for a Listed race or even a Group race, maybe stepping up to seven furlongs," Harty revealed. Despite the surprising win, there’s still a chance she could be entered in another race before the year’s end.
Cercene Impresses in Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden
Not to be overshadowed, Cercene, trained by Joseph Murphy, delivered a smart performance to take the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden at odds of 5-2. Ridden by Gary Carroll, the filly came with a late surge down the outside of the track to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Though the race didn’t unfold as smoothly as her connections might have hoped, Murphy was thrilled with the outcome. "We were never really happy watching it, to be honest. She was going nowhere, and then suddenly she won well," said Joseph Murphy Jnr.
Trainer Joseph G Murphy's filly Cercene showed a sweet turn of foot in the closing stages, building on her debut third with a win in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden, @garyfcarroll in the saddle 🚀 pic.twitter.com/YB8mbPDF0a
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) September 19, 2024
Cercene’s talent has not gone unnoticed, and plans for her future are already in the works. "We think she’s a very good filly," Murphy added. While there’s uncertainty about whether Cercene will race again this year, she’s being considered for the Auction Final at Naas and could also receive entries for the Guineas next season.
With a potential stellar career ahead, Cercene’s team is hopeful for her continued development into a top-tier competitor. "She’s a filly who can only improve, and we’ll look forward to seeing what she can achieve next year," said Murphy.
