Caravaggio powers to comeback success at Naas
CARAVAGGIO showed an impressive turn of foot to make a winning seasonal reappearance in the EMS Copiers Lacken Stakes at Naas.
Unbeaten in four starts as a juvenile, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Scat Daddy colt boosted his claims for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot - where he won the Coventry Stakes last season - in taking fashion.
Gorane set a good pace, but it teed the race up for the finishers, with Ryan Moore moving Caravaggio out from behind Psychedelic Funk to make his bid.
The 8-15 favourite shot clear in the final furlong to win the Group Three heat by four and three-quarter lengths from Psychedelic Funk.
O'Brien said of Caravaggio: "He's an unbelievably quick horse. We said that we would come here and if everything went well we would go to Ascot for the Commonwealth Cup.
"I've never seen a quicker horse and that's why we went this way with him. He's showed nothing to say he wouldn't get a mile.
"We worked him seven furlongs and the petrol gauge never shifted, but I was afraid that he was so quick that it would be the wrong thing to do.
"We could train him for a mile and go back, but we didn't want to lose the brilliance.
"He was carrying plenty and was a good bit above what he was last year. A long way above. You couldn't be happier."
Bookmakers reacted with Betfair cutting Caravaggio to 6-4 from 5-2 for the Commonwealth Cup.
Elsewhere at Naas, Alpha Centauri stamped herself as a leading juvenile filly by turning the Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies' Sprint Stakes into a procession.
The Jessica Harrington-trained youngster sprinted right way from her rivals to triumph by a long-looking five lengths from Actress.
Harrington said: "The great thing today was she got a bit of an education, and she was behind for a while. She was very good, and when she went she just went.
"She's so relaxed and takes everything in her stride. She hardly break sweat."
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She added: "If she goes to Ascot it would be for the Albany. She's such an easy filly to train, and she has some stride on her. I don't think going further will be any problem, as the further she went today the further she went away."
The Joseph O'Brien-trained True Blue Moon staked his own Royal Ascot claims with success in the Coolmore War Command Rochestown Stakes, coming through strongly under Donnacha O'Brien in the closing stages to beat Verhoyen by half a length.
The winning trainer said after the 8-1 Listed strike: "He won nicely in Dundalk, but he had a little setback after that and we were a bit worried coming here. He's quick and tries hard, and Donnacha gave him a great ride. He should improve from that as he missed a week.
"He'd have to go to Ascot after that, but which race I'm not sure. I'd be inclined to stay at five (furlongs) as he's quick and travels well."