Chrys sparkles in Park Express

Chrysanthemum claimed top honours for David Wachman in the feature race at the Curragh on the opening day of the Irish Flat turf season.

The 8-1 chance had mixed it at the very highest level during last season and was fitted with blinkers for this return to action in the Group Three Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes.

Wayne Lordan eased the filly to the front soon after passing the two-furlong marker and she proved a tough a nut to crack when hot favourite Twirl went in pursuit under Ryan Moore, holding her comfortably by a length and a half, with Princess Sinead in third.

Wachman said: “She did it well and she likes an ease in the ground. She was third in a Group One here last year, so she’s entitled to win a race like that.

“When she goes up in trip she might be a little better. A mile would be the bottom end of where she’d want to be. This was the initial plan. We’ll just have to keep her away from Coolmore and the breeding shed now! Ground is the key to her.”

Lordan went on to a treble including another winner for Wachman, Amira’s Prince (14-1), who looked a useful sort when seeing off all-comers in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden to win by three and a quarter lengths, beating fancied pair Speaking Of Which and Violet Lashes.

The trainer added: “He will run in stakes races now and a step up in trip will help him. We hadn’t intended to make the running, but Wayne said that he was raw and green and just pricked his ears. He should improve.”

Lordan’s other success came when he struck gold on Willie McCreery’s 7-2 shot Coolnagree in the Gabriel Curran Memorial Madrid Handicap.

The rider waited a little longer to deliver his challenge than he had done in Chrysanthemum’s race and the grey filly picked up well once he did ask her the question to register a length victory. Ishvana got going late to grab the runner-up spot.