By Tom Frary
1st-TIP, €15,000, Mdn, 5-25, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.16, g/f.
MURILLO (c, 2, Scat Daddy–Mostaqeleh {GSP-Fr}, by Rahy), a $500,000 KEENOV foal, was last of six on debut in a Curragh maiden May 13 and raced behind the leading trio early. Taking on the market-leader Wolfofbaggotstreet (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}) approaching the final furlong, the 7-4 second favourite got the better of that rival with 150 yards remaining en route to an authoritative three-length success. “I thought he was a danger to my horse [U S Navy Flag, who was third] going to the Curragh the last day, but they ran green and Ana [O'Brien] said he ran better than where he finished,” jockey Seamie Heffernan told Irish-racing.com. “I didn't have to give him a belt–he was another one I didn't have to give a belt to. He is a big scopey lad and I'd say he'll be heading to Ascot. He showed us a little bit at home and to be honest he ran so bad at the Curragh, it just wasn't his run but he did it well today.” The dam was runner-up in the G2 Prix de Sandringham for the John Dunlop stable and is a half-sister to the G3 Greenham S.-winning sire Muqbil and also to the dam of the G3 Fred Darling S. scorer Muthabara (Ire) (Red Ransom). Also from the family of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and G1 St. James's Palace S. hero Bahri and fellow sire Bahhare, she has already produced Nawwaar (Distorted Humor), MSW-UAE, $329,197, and Raagheb (Street Cry {Ire}), MSP-US, $206,699. After Murillo, she has a colt foal by The Factor. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $10,367. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Lynch Bages LTD (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien.[bullet ad=”lanni-hillndale-purchased”][bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred-keen-grad”]
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