By Tom Frary
1st-Curragh, €20,000, Mdn, 8-9, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.64, gd.
GERYON (IRE) (c, 2, Lope De Vega {Ire}–Oboe, by Mizzen Mast), sent off at 18-1 for this hotly-contested maiden, travelled smoothly without cover just off the pace throughout the early stages. Joining Kensington Lane (Starspangledbanner) inside the last half a furlong, the newcomer asserted to score by 1 1/4 lengths.
“We have two colts that we like, this fella and Res Ipsa who ran at Leopardstown on Thursday,” trainer Ger Lyons said. “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.”
Colin Keane added, “It was smooth the whole way and I'd say there is a good bit of improvement in him–he went to the line well and he'll go an extra furlong as well, no problem.”
The dam, a 290,000gns purchase out of the Juddmonte draft at 2019 Tattersalls December, has a yearling full-brother to the winner due to sell at the upcoming Goffs Orby Book 1. The second dam is Seattle Slew's Alabama and Kentucky Oaks heroine Flute, whose daughter Filimbi by Oboe's sire Mizzen Mast was successful in the GII Goldikova Stakes before producing the GIII West Virginia Derby and GIII Indiana Derby winner and GI Pennsylvania Derby third Dragoon Guard (Arrogate).
Also close up in the pedigree are the GIII Dixiana Bourbon Stakes scorer Current (Curlin), the Ashland heroine Weep No More (Mineshaft) and Scat Daddy's Qabala who took the Nell Gwyn and was third in the 1,000 Guineas. Descended from the Oaks runner-up Media Luna (Star Appeal) which also links her to Brian Boru (Sadler's Wells) and Sea Moon (Beat Hollow), Oboe's filly foal is by Showcasing.
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $13,970.
O/B-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd; T-Ger Lyons.
Pretty, pretty, pretty good
Debutant (Lope De Vega) handsomely defeats a strong bunch in the seven-furlong @IrishEBF_ maiden @curraghrace
Previous recent winners of this include a certain Delacroix last season and Al Riffa … pic.twitter.com/4Ct3fU8fxS
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 9, 2025
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
