Commanche Falls and Conor Beasley win the Dash Stakes © Photo Healy Racing
English raider Commanche Falls ground out victory in the Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes at the Curragh.
The Michael Dods-trained gelding went to post a 5/4 shot in the Listed contest over six furlongs having been placed in Group 2 company at York on his most recent outing.
Connor Beasley tracked the leaders on the Lethal Force gelding before asking him to challenge going to the two furlong marker.
His mount went on from Anthem National over a furlong from home and galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-quarter winning margin.
Chloe Dods, daughter and assistant trainer, said:- “He always takes a while to warm into his races and you would be worried if he wasn’t like that. Connor thinks he will be a better horse in a better race.
“He’s really chilled at home and doesn’t sweat at all. He’s a very chilled out horse and good to train.
“The races for him in the UK are quite limited so that’s why we came here. I don’t think we will be put off coming here again if there is something.
“He got too high to rn in handicaps and has stepped up to stakes races. He’s performed well in them and my dad said the York run was probably his best run.
“We were going to go to Ascot for the Wokingham but he was too high and came here instead.”
Beasley told RTE:- “He's one in a million really. He's won me two Stewards Cups and he's been in all the big handicaps there are back at home. Now he's obviously into this next level.
“I was very confident, obviously on his last run he finished third at York in the Group 2 Duke Of York and had some smart fillies in front of him, Highfield Princess and Azure Blue.
“Today the ground would be quick enough for him but at the same time he's one of them, if you've got him off the bridle from halfway you know he's going to come home strong.
“I was niggling away from halfway but once I met the rising ground, and gave him a dig, he went about his job really well.
“It's great placing by the boss and fantastic for everyone involved in him, owners and the staff that do him at home. It's a good result.
“I haven't had many rides here and it's great to come over with a live chance, to do the job is even better.
“It felt more of a tail wind there coming at the back of us and helped us if anything, it definitely didn't stop us anyway.
“Looking on paper beforehand there didn't look much pace but as soon as the gates opened there was plenty of pace on.
“He's the type of horse that once he's off the bridle from halfway you know you're going to run a big race, which he was, and they must have been going quick enough for me.
“He's a big grinder and if anything he's a bit lazy about giving you what he has but today he gave me plenty anyway.”
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
