Aidan O'Brien out to continue Eyrefield Stakes domination with 12th win

Eyrefield Stakes | Group 3 | 1m1f | 2yo | RTV

A race designed to blood future stayers has been won 11 times by Aidan O'Brien, who saw subsequent Irish Derby winner Sovereign beaten into third in it last year.

Whether O'Brien sends another Classic aspirant into battle remains to be seen, but in Persia and Dawn Rising the master of Ballydoyle will be out to continue his record in this 1m1f contest.

O’Brien said: “Persia won his maiden at Galway before being a little green at Newmarket and Dawn Rising is a big powerful horse. He's a brother to Sovereign and we've always liked him. He seems to be ready to start.”

Ger Lyons has never won the Eyrefield but Justifier could be just the right type to provide the trainer with a breakthrough success.

A winner of his maiden at the track on debut back in June, Justifier went on to land a Listed contest on soft ground at Tipperary before being beaten the last two times.

All of Justifier’s racing has been done over seven furlongs and this will be his first time at the trip.

Joseph O’Brien is responsible for the rest of the field, with impressive maiden winner Degraves and Franklin Street completing the five-runner contest.

He said: “Degraves is in good form. He won his maiden well and he handles a bit of juice in the ground. We’re hoping for a good run. Franklin Street will like the soft ground and he should get the trip well.”

It’s been a season to remember for trainer Gerry Keane, father of former champion jockey Colin, and the pair will team up together with the mud-loving Laughifuwant in the Knockaire Stakes (3.05).

The trainer said: “He ran well at Cork and he deserves to take his chance. This will be his last run of the season and he should appreciate the ground. We’re hopeful.”

Aidan O’Brien is turning out Amedeo Modigliani quickly after he finished down the field in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot last week, with the trainer believing a step back in trip can bring about the best in the colt.

O’Brien said: “We think Amedeo Modigliani is a horse with plenty of pace and we think he'll be very comfortable back at seven furlongs. He's come out of Ascot very well.”

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