Composing calls the tune in informative Curragh maiden

Wayne Lordan managed to get a great tune out of Composing, as Aidan O’Brien got his Irish Derby weekend off to a flying start at the Curragh on Friday evening.

O’Brien will seek yet another Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby victory with Epsom hero Lambourn on Sunday, but first extended his fine record in the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Irish EBF Fillies Maiden that has produced a plethora of Group One winners for Ballydoyle in recent years.

Lake Victoria (2024) and Ylang Ylang (2023) are the most recent winners of the seven furlong event and Composing – who was sent off at 3-1 – looks to be developing into a smart operator herself as she reversed the form of her debut fifth at this track with Donnacha O’Brien’s Cape Sounion who was second once again.

Ryan Moore was on Minerva who finished well beaten in ninth.

O’Brien said of the winner: “I’m delighted with her, she came forward lovely from her last run.

“The two fillies worked together the last day. Ryan’s filly (Minerva, ninth) followed her up and looked to be going better than her but, for whatever reason, Ryan’s filly is just not getting it together.

“Ryan said all she wanted to do was go right. She’s obviously just very green and babyish mentally so we’ll give her more time.

“Wayne’s filly is lovely and straightforward and he gave her a lovely ride. She’s a filly that will get further, she’s uncomplicated. Ryan was very impressed with her when he came in, watching Wayne’s filly, and Wayne was very happy with her too.

“Wayne said she went to the line with her ears pricked and she probably has the makings of a lovely filly. She’s out of an Australia mare so she’s going to stay as well.”

O’Brien hinted the Debutante Stakes could be her next port of call.

However, the Ballydoyle handler did not get it all his own way on the card and had to settle for second in the opening Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub Irish EBF Maiden, as Moore and Puerto Rico lost out to Ger Lyons’ Learntodiscover.

Sent off 7-2, Learntodiscover was given a forward-going ride by Colin Keane and had enough in reserve to hold off the 4-6 favourite by a neck.

“Boxed ticked for our horse and I’d say Ryan (Moore) was a little bit unlucky,” said Lyons.

“It wasn’t a wow performance. He’s a horse that we like but I was probably a tad disappointed with the performance.

“I didn’t like his head carriage in the last furlong, whether that’s conditions or whatever.

“I don’t think he hit the line as strong as you’d like him to hit it if he’s going to go forward into the next level, so let’s just see.

“We’ll go back to Glenburnie and dream about something and try and get him to the next stage, which I haven’t been doing greatly this year so I need to sort that out.”