O'Brien targets Lockinge after Lope Y Fernandez breezes home on Listed return

Aidan O'Brien believes he has found classy Lope Y Fernandez's optimum trip and is plotting a mile campaign this season after the four-year-old's successful reappearance under Seamie Heffernan in the Listed Heritage Stakes.

The Lope De Vega colt, who was placed in four top-level events from six furlongs to a mile last season, ended 2020 with a creditable third in the Breeders' Cup Mile behind stablemate Order Of Australia and took advantage of a good opportunity on his return, obliging comfortably at 4-6.

"Last year we messed around with his trip a good bit, we didn't learn what it was until the end," said O'Brien.

"He's a miler and you take your time with him. He's at his best when he's able to quicken and likes nice ground. We're thinking about next month's Lockinge, then possibly the Queen Anne Stakes."

Weld newcomer impresses

Colin Keane recorded his second winner of the turf season for Dermot Weld when promising Aga Khan debutante Alazenya created a fine impression in the opening three-year-old fillies' maiden over a mile and a quarter.

The 100-30 shot, who holds entries for the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas and Juddmonte Irish Oaks, edged out favourite La Joconde and showed the benefit of the patience shown by Weld last season by not running her as a juvenile.

Alazenya: looks to have a bright future for Dermot Weld and the Aga KhanCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Weld said: "With this being her first start there was a little bit of inexperience and greenness, but she’s a very nice filly. We’ll see how she progresses before we decide on her next target but we'll be looking for a bit of black type."

The champion jockey later doubled up on Juddmonte's Ger Lyons-trained Acanella, a promising three-year-old filly who looks bound to improve with experience.

Treble joy for Joseph

Some of Joseph O'Brien's runners may be shaping as though they will improve from their seasonal reappearances but that didn't stop the trainer sending out a treble.

Southern Lights: impressed at Leopardstown on WednesdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Barrier trial winner Southern Lights, an Epsom Derby entry, defied market weakness to go one better than his sole start at two, posting a pretty classy display under Declan McDonogh at 4-1 (from a general morning price of 6-4).

Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: "I think Joseph is keen to go for one of the Derby trials with him, he hit the line well from a slow pace."

The second leg of the Owning Hill team's treble was much stronger in the market. Dancing Approach, making her first start since switching from Roger Charlton, obliged at 5-1 (from 14) under Shane Crosse.

Tough three-year-old Larado clearly responded well to being gelded as he completed a good day at the office for O'Brien when holding on grimly under a fine Declan McDonogh ride from the front at 11-1 in the first of the 7f handicaps.

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