All-Action display caps off a memorable week for Cork jockey Wayne Lordan

Wayne Lordan’s memorable week got even better at Galway on Saturday afternoon when he landed the two-year-old maiden, aboard Action, on the penultimate day of the annual extravaganza in the west. 

It topped and tailed two of the marquee juvenile maidens at Ballybrit for the Innishannon jockey and the all-conquering Ballydoyle operation. He'd combined with Aidan O’Brien to secure victory on the opening night in Galway, when he made all on Constitution River the red-hot 1/5 favourite in the two-year-old maiden on Monday.

Interspersed in between those juvenile victories was his £500,000 Group One Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup victory on Tuesday on Scandinavia for Aidan O'Brien. Lordan got the better of Ryan Moore on stable companion Illinois in a thrilling finish to the Goodwood Cup. 

It's already been an amazing year for Lordan, who landed the Epsom Derby in June aboard Lambourn. On Saturday in Galway, he made all the running on Action, the heavily-backed 4/9 favourite in the two-year-old maiden.

Aidan O'Brien had a productive ten minutes at Goodwood and Galway this afternoon. He registered an across the card two year old double with Isaac Newton at Goodwood and Action in the Whiriskey Refrigeration Irish EBF Maiden at Galway under Lordan.

Those Ballydoyle juveniles were second and third behind another Coolmore colt New Zealand on their respective debuts at the Curragh last month. Action had drifted to 8/11 from 2/7 before strong late support saw him contract into 4/9. Action boasts a great staying pedigree; he is a half-brother to the dual Derby hero Lambourn, who holds a special place in Wayne Lordan's heart.

Perisher momentarily looked a real threat in the straight but Action gave generously with the rail to help in the closing stages. He had a length and a quarter to spare at the line. The runner-up was an eye-catcher under Dylan Browne McMonagle for Joseph O'Brien. The horse to take out of the race was newcomer Christmas Day (11/2), the Ballydoyle second string who was back in third, after a lovely introduction.

Chris Armstrong, Ballydoyle stable representative, said: "It was his first time out in front and he was very green and raw but once he asked him, he found the line well."

Earlier in the week, Lordan enjoyed a famous victory when Scandinavia loomed large to battle it out with Illinois, his much vaunted stable companion. The concession of a stone proved too much for Ryan Moore’s mount, who went down by three-quarters of a length. 

With Kyprios retired, a new staying star was born in the shape of Scandinavia. He became the first three-year-old since the great Stradivarius to win the Group One Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup. He looks like the horse that can regain the Ascot Gold Cup for Ballydoyle next year and could take in the St Leger at Doncaster in September.