Yosemite Valley's Gladness success fulfils an early promise

Yosemite Valley, driven by Donnacha O'Brien, fought bravely to win the Curragh's Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes.

The colt was making his fifth race at the track out of a total of seven, and he was well-versed in the sport, having placed second to Little Big Bear in the Anglesey Stakes as a juvenile.

This season, he made a different impression at Cork in Listed company, where he finished second.

The four-year-old was a 3-1 shot when he returned to the Curragh and was easily won by Gavin Ryan, crossing the finish line two and a half lengths ahead of 7-4 favourite Jumbly.

“It was a good performance. I always thought he was a proper horse but he was unlucky a few times,” said O’Brien. “He ran well in Cork the last day and the step up to seven seemed to suit him. It’s nice to get a stakes win for him. He could get away with a stiff six, but he travelled so well there today and all the big seven-furlong races will be open to him.”

About upcoming plans, the trainer said: “There is the Maurice de Gheest over six and a half in France. Whether he’s up to that level I don’t know but I’d like to give him a shot at it to see. The Greenlands is here in about a month but that is back to six. A stiff six could be an option or we might give him a little break and aim for seven furlongs in France.”