Rock rolls to emphatic Gallinule triumph

Alan Magee
May 26, 2024 4:19 pm

No catch O’Brien three-year-old at the Curragh.

Chief Little Rock turned what looked a competitive renewal of the Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes into a procession at the Curragh.

The Galileo colt lined up as one of three runners for Aidan O’Brien in the 10-furlong Group Three, and with Ryan Moore instead siding with the once-raced Dundalk winner Mundi, Wayne Lordan came in for the ride aboard a horse who was last seen finishing a close third in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom.

In the early stages it looked like Chief Little Rock (11-4) was being deployed as a pacemaker as he was quickly out of the stalls and soon opened up a big lead over the chasing pack.

However, from halfway up the straight it was clear the three-year-old was not going to relinquish his advantage and he passed the post with three and three-quarter lengths in hand over Stromberg.

Mundi weakened to finish eighth of nine, while 9-4 favourite Spoken Truth, so impressive when losing his maiden tag at Cork last month, was last of all.

Of the winner, O’Brien said: “I’m delighted with him. He stays very well, is an honest horse and could go to Ascot or back here for the Irish Derby. He’d love going a mile and a half.

“We felt in Epsom it was just a bit of a dawdle for him.”