Moss Tucker won the Woodlands Stakes at Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital at Naas once again, just like he did the previous year.
Prior to winning the Group One Flying Five Stakes later in the season, Ken Condon's charge had lifted the Listed prize a year earlier. As a result of that victory, the six-year-old was conceding weight all around this time.
But Moss Tucker (4-1) made light work of his burden, moving smoothly under Billy Lee's guidance before establishing his dominance in the last furlong to defeat Ocean Quest (5-5) by two lengths, with Go Athletico finishing third.
Condon said: “That was a very good performance with 10st. He was very relaxed and Billy said he went through the race beautifully. He said that’s as good as he’s felt on a seasonal return. We had a few little things that held us up earlier in the spring and a few weeks ago we were thinking this might come too early for him. The last 10 days or so he’s come to himself. He might go for the Greenlands and he’s entered for both sprints at Royal Ascot. He obviously won’t go there if it’s lightning fast ground, so the weather will decide. Later on, there is the Flying Five and maybe Champions Day at Ascot.”
After Sparkling Sea made a stunning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, Ger Lyons is considering a potential run in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Before the six-furlong race, Aidan O'Brien's Fairy Godmother was the subject of a lot of hype and was the clear favourite at the start.
Though the market leader ran a strong second under Ryan Moore, she was no match for the pace of 7-1 shot Sparkling Sea, who took the lead just over a furlong out and won by two and a half lengths in the colours of the Moyglare Stud.
“I’ve a lovely bunch of two-year-olds and I’d say the fillies are smart,” said Lyons. “She was raw, all speed. She did what we thought she would do and let’s see how she comes out of it. There should be a huge improvement, as we don’t take them away on grass and this is their first day out. She’s all speed and she will get quicker. At the minute, we would be thinking of a Queen Mary-type filly.”