By Tom Frary
Consolidating a memorable spell for the Ger Lyons stable, Justifier (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) who was his sire's first winner at Leopardstown June 13 is now his first black-type scorer after this game effort in Sunday's Listed Coolmore Caravaggio S. at Tipperary. Settled in a share of second early by Colin Keane, the chestnut was taken to the centre of the track after turning for home and had first run on Harpocrates (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) there. Always doing enough to comfortably hold that Ballydoyle rival by 1 1/2 lengths, the 6-4 second favourite looks set for a step up to a mile now.
“Colin said he is still green and handled the ground and will get a furlong extra no problem,” the trainer's brother Shane told Irish Racing.com. “He has done what we've asked him there and will genuinely improve for stepping up and he is ticking all the right boxes at the minute. It is five weeks to the [G2 Champions] Juvenile Stakes [at Leopardstown] on Champions Weekend, but we'll run wherever the race presents itself.”
Justifier's speedy dam Pale Orchid, who also has a yearling filly by Mehmas (Ire) and a filly foal by Galileo Gold (GB), is a daughter of Chelsea Rose (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}) who landed the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at two and was also runner-up in the G1 Pretty Polly S. Her progeny list is headed by last year's G1 St Leger and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis winner and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest runner-up Thawaany (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). Chelsea Rose is a half-sister to the Listed Amethyst S. winner and GIII Elkhorn S. runner-up European (Ire) (Great Commotion) and the dual listed-winning Downdraft (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). This is also the family of the G2 Prix Eugene Adam scorer and GI San Juan Capistrano H. runner-up River Warden (Riverman) and the GIII Hoist the Flag S. winner Sweettuc (Spectacular Bid).
COOLMORE CARAVAGGIO S.-Listed, €52,500, Tipperary, 8-11, 2yo, 7f 115yT, 1:39.20, s/h.
1–JUSTIFIER (IRE), 129, c, 2, by Free Eagle (Ire)
1st Dam: Pale Orchid (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
2nd Dam: Chelsea Rose (Ire), by Desert King (Ire)
3rd Dam: Cinnamon Rose, by Trempolino
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (€60,000 Ylg '18 GOFOR). O-Sean Jones & David Spratt & Mrs Lynne Lyons; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane. €30,975. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $46,797.
2–Harpocrates (Ire), 129, c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Ideal (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O-Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €9,975.
3–Rebel Tale, 129, c, 2, Tale of the Cat–Purr and Prowl, by Purim. ($37,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-P Garvey; B-Parrish Hill Farm & Ashford Stud (KY); T-Andrew Slattery. €4,725.
Margins: 1HF, 3 3/4, 4 3/4. Odds: 1.50, 1.25, 10.00.
Also Ran: Lougher (Ire), Cap d'Antibes (Ire). Scratched: Royal County Down (Ire), Vitalogy (GB). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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