Diamond Necklace sparkles on debut for O'Brien
Moore's mount raced prominently throughout and as Diamond Necklace really hit her stride in the closing stages, Minerva had no answer and had to settle for a length-and-a-half defeat.
O'Brien is anticipating plenty of progress from the winner and said: 'She's a lovely filly with a great pedigree.
'Her dad didn't win a maiden for another three weeks so that's St Mark's Basilica for you. He went on to win the Dewhurst and how he improved from two to three was incredible.
'She could end up being one for the Fillies' Mile with maybe a run or two in between. She's going to be lovely next year.'
Paddy Power make Diamond Necklace a 25-1 chance for next year's 1000 Guineas.
O'Brien and Moore had claimed the preceding Audi Naas Irish EBF Maiden in style as Mission Central (4-1) galloped home eight lengths clear of Chicago Pope.
The son of No Nay Never was out of the places on his initial outing in April but O'Brien felt a subsequent gelding operation had the desired effect.
He said: 'We ran him in Dundalk the first day and he was a bit worse than green, so that's why we took him home and gelded him.
'He's been perfect since and we'll go up to a Listed or Group race with him next time. He's a very quick horse.'
Geryon sprang an 18-1 surprise for Ger Lyons in the opening Revamp Conservation And Restoration Irish EBF Maiden, although the trainer was not shocked to see Colin Keane's mount prevail.
He said: 'We have two colts that we like, this fella and Res Ipsa who ran at Leopardstown on Thursday. Res Ipsa fluffed his lines so I suppose it took away confidence and hence his starting price, but they are two similar horses.
'You would like to think there would be plenty of improvement as it was his first day away from Glenburnie and first day on turf.
'The best-looking horse I had by Lope de Vega was Endless Drama, who was second in the Guineas, and this is the second best one I've had by him. He's a very good-looking colt.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Middleham Park happy to be heading straight to Doncaster with Lazy Griff
Owners Middleham Park Racing considered a trip overseas in a bid for a Group One breakthrough with Lazy Griff, but have instead elected to keep their powder dry for the world's oldest Classic on September 13. 'We thought about going to Germany for the race Rebel's Romance won (on Sunday), but it was quite a warm race and we didn't really want to leave any Leger chances over there,' said Middleham Park's Mike Prince. Christophe Soumillon returns aboard Lazy Griff after his runner-up finish at Epsom (PA) 'There's the Great Voltigeur next week, but we felt there wasn't going to be enough time between that and Doncaster. I think the ground will be plenty quick at York for him anyway and waiting for September just gives us the chance for hopefully a little bit softer ground if the weather breaks in the next couple of weeks. 'Charlie has had the Leger in mind for him all year and we'll go straight there now, that is absolutely the plan.' Paddy Power make Lazy Griff the 7-1 third-favourite for the St Leger, with the O'Brien-trained pair of Scandinavia and his old rival Lambourn the two ahead of him in the betting at 5-4 and 7-2 respectively. Prince added: 'I'd say Scandinavia might be the favourite (to run) out of the two, just because of the trips he's been running over. I wonder whether they'll go for the Arc with Lambourn, you never know. 'Whatever Aidan sends will probably go off favourite, whether it's Scandinavia or Lambourn, and if he sends both then I suspect they'll both be ahead of us in the market. Scandinavia will be one of the big dangers to Lazy Griff at Doncaster (Matt Alexander/PA) 'He's got plenty of ammo, but we're all geared up and ready to go.' The Middleham Park team have also started to make plans beyond Doncaster, with Prince saying: 'We've given him an entry in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day at Ascot and I suppose the options after the St Leger are that and the Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud at the end of October. 'It'll probably be the Leger and then one of those.'
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
A Boy Named Susie lined up for Futurity test
The Starspangledbanner colt was very impressive in giving weight away on his debut in a race at Killarney which has produced the likes of Luxembourg and Lambourn in recent years. For O'Brien it is a real family affair as A Boy Named Susie is owned by his sister, Ana, who has so far resisted the temptation to cash in after his hugely likeable debut. 'The plan is to go to the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in about a fortnight,' said O'Brien. Impressive 👀 Group 1-entered A Boy Named Susie shows his rivals a clean pair of heels on debut. The Starspangledbanner colt looks one to follow 📝@KillarneyRaces — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 16, 2025 'I don't think coming back a furlong will bother him. He showed plenty on his debut and that turned into a sprint so it wasn't really like a mile maiden anyway. I don't have any concerns coming back to seven. 'There was a lot of interest in him, which was to be expected, but we decided to keep hold of him, for now anyway. Obviously it's a gamble when you hold on to impressive maiden winners, but we're keeping him for now anyway.' Another nice juvenile in the yard is Havana Anna, a Listed winner in good style at Naas last month. 'She's going to go to Longchamp on August 31 for a Group Three,' said O'Brien. 'We've entered her in the Cheveley Park, so long term we see her going back over six, but we wanted to keep her at five for now which is why she's going to France.' One of O'Brien's most promising juveniles last year was Falling Snow, by Justify out of Winter, who made a winning debut against Ballet Slippers, who went on to be third in the Fillies' Mile. She has not been seen since but her return is imminent. 'She's on the comeback trial. I'd planned to start her back in the Snow Fairy Stakes on August 30,' he said. 'On paper it looks a very hot race, but there's not many options for her so it's possible she runs there. She'll obviously need the run, we wouldn't be expecting her to win first time but we need to get her started. 'I think she'll probably need further in time, but she only won over seven so I wouldn't send her straight over a mile and a half or anything. This is a mile and one so this is what I have in my head, for all it will be a tough ask first time out on only her second ever run.'
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
A Boy Named Susie lined up for Futurity test
The Starspangledbanner colt was very impressive in giving weight away on his debut in a race at Killarney which has produced the likes of Luxembourg and Lambourn in recent years. For O'Brien it is a real family affair as A Boy Named Susie is owned by his sister, Ana, who has so far resisted the temptation to cash in after his hugely likeable debut. 'The plan is to go to the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in about a fortnight,' said O'Brien. Impressive 👀 Group 1-entered A Boy Named Susie shows his rivals a clean pair of heels on debut. The Starspangledbanner colt looks one to follow 📝@KillarneyRaces — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 16, 2025 'I don't think coming back a furlong will bother him. He showed plenty on his debut and that turned into a sprint so it wasn't really like a mile maiden anyway. I don't have any concerns coming back to seven. 'There was a lot of interest in him, which was to be expected, but we decided to keep hold of him, for now anyway. Obviously it's a gamble when you hold on to impressive maiden winners, but we're keeping him for now anyway.' Another nice juvenile in the yard is Havana Anna, a Listed winner in good style at Naas last month. 'She's going to go to Longchamp on August 31 for a Group Three,' said O'Brien. 'We've entered her in the Cheveley Park, so long term we see her going back over six, but we wanted to keep her at five for now which is why she's going to France.' Falling Snow with trainer Donnacha O'Brien (left) (Brian Lawless/PA) One of O'Brien's most promising juveniles last year was Falling Snow, by Justify out of Winter, who made a winning debut against Ballet Slippers, who went on to be third in the Fillies' Mile. She has not been seen since but her return is imminent. 'She's on the comeback trial. I'd planned to start her back in the Snow Fairy Stakes on August 30,' he said. 'On paper it looks a very hot race, but there's not many options for her so it's possible she runs there. She'll obviously need the run, we wouldn't be expecting her to win first time but we need to get her started. 'I think she'll probably need further in time, but she only won over seven so I wouldn't send her straight over a mile and a half or anything. This is a mile and one so this is what I have in my head, for all it will be a tough ask first time out on only her second ever run.'
