Stone Age cut for the Derby after nine-length rout for Aidan O'Brien

Tuesday: Navan

Aidan O'Brien sent two of the three highest-rated maidens in Ireland to Navan and duly registered a double, completed by impressive Classic hopeful Stone Age in the 1m2f maiden.

Since the turn of the millennium, the Ballydoyle maestro has registered 44 maiden winners to have won by a margin of seven lengths or further, and two of them came on Tuesday's card with well-fancied favourites.

A Derby trial date now awaits Stone Age after his bloodless nine-length success at odds of 1-3, although Ryan Moore, who rode both Ballydoyle winners on the day, suggested the Galileo colt doesn't necessarily need to step up to the Derby distance.

Paddy Power cut him to 33-1 (from 50-1) for the Epsom Classic on June 4.

The winner's rating of 109, the highest of any maiden in Ireland before this breakthrough, was achieved thanks to a narrow defeat in Group 2 company on Irish Champions Weekend and when filling the same position in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last October.

Moore said: "He was very smooth today. It was nice for him to come out and do things nicely and comfortably. Hopefully he can gain a bit of confidence from this. I think he's a smart horse.

"The last time I rode him was on heavy ground in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and he didn't like it [when sixth]. It was nice to get him on some good ground."

On whether Stone Age could be an Epsom or Curragh Classic candidate, Moore said: "I don't know yet. He's a good-moving horse who doesn't have to go a mile and a half."

Ryan Moore on New York City: 'He's a beautiful, big, strong horse and he was entitled to win like that'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

A tilt at the Listed Committed Stakes back here next month is on the cards for Stone Age's stablemate New York City, who obliged in the style that his SP of 2-9 suggested he would in the opening 5f maiden.

Rated 101, the smart three-year-old made his class count in scoring by seven lengths.

Moore said: "He's a beautiful, big, strong horse and he was entitled to win like that. Hopefully he can go on from here. The ground is good and he's quite straightforward."

Bolger off the mark

Jim Bolger opened his account for the 2022 turf season with a name to note as the imposing Wexford Native made a winning debut under Kevin Manning at 5-1.

Wexford Native impressed in the concluding maidenCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

A standout in the parade ring beforehand, the three-year-old son of Teofilo showed plenty of natural ability to get the better of the 92-rated Sun King by two and a half lengths after being handed a tricky draw in stall 21.

Wexford Native holds entries for the 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby.

"It was tough to overcome his draw and get across, but I think he's got a big future," said Manning.

"He's been showing us some nice work at home, as he was last year as well, but he was just a big backward horse. We'll see where he goes from here. He's a horse for the future."

Results, replays and analysis

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