Leopardstownreview

A round-up of the key action from Leopardstown yesterday as Wendla made all the running for Group 3 glory under Colin Keane.
Wendla from the front end
Colin Keane was seen to best effect on the Ger Lyons-trained Wendla in the Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ Stakes, dictating a steady tempo and kicking for home on the top bend.
The daughter of Ulysses responded well to pressure when asked to quickened and Keane had cannily kept enough in the tank for the 7/1 shot to hold off the late challenge of well-backed 6/5 favourite Buttons, who just failed to given Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan a third straight winner on the card.
There was just three-quarters of a length between them at the line, with another head back to Vina Arana (66/1) back in third.
Igor blows away rivals in opener
Igor Stravinsky (5/2), beaten a short-head on his racecourse debut at the Curragh last month, made it second time lucky when dancing his way to victory from the front in the opening Fitz Agriplant Maiden.
Ridden positively by Wayne Lordan, who took the ride with Ryan Moore in France for Guineas day, the No Nay Never colt got across from a wide draw and kept up a strong gallop over the seven-furlong trip to ultimately repel the 11/10 favourite Apricot Ice by a comfortable two and a quarter lengths.
There was a further two lengths back to 12/1 chance White Clover staying on encouragingly in third.
The winner has an entry in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on May 25.
Highbury scores in style
There was more of the same in the mile and a half Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden as O’Brien and Lordan struck again with Highbury.
The son of Galileo was unraced at two but clearly learnt plenty from his debut third at Cork last month as he readily put the race to bed with a furlong and a half to go, drawing right away to score by seven and a half lengths from Himalayan Heights (7/2) and stablemate Vice President (6/1), who had cut out the early running.
Highbury’s only future engagement is in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on June 30.