The grey son of Clodovil was making just his second career racecourse appearance in the five furlong race for two-year-olds, having made an eye-catching winning debut at Naas a week ago.

Entering the final two furlongs, Steel Bull had a wall of horses in front of him but the Irish-trained runner made rapid headway under Keane to move into a challenging position a furlong from home. The eventual winner overhauled the Kevin Ryan-trained 16/1 shot Ben Macdui (Kevin Stott) half a furlong out and went on to score by a comfortable three-quarters of a length. Internationaldream, trained by England-based Irishman Richard Fahey and ridden by Irish-born jockey Paddy Mathers took third at 50/1, a further length and a half behind the second.

The winning handler, Michael O’Callaghan, speaking from his base at The Curragh said:

“Colin was as good as ever – he is top-class and has done a great job on him. Obviously, we have a nice horse on our hands, thank God. We had a little bit of interest in him after winning his maiden but, at the end of the day, it was a five-furlong maiden and he had to go and prove he could do something like that. I don’t own him myself – I am involved with my father and another man called John Fleming.”

Colin Keane who, like O’Callaghan, was having his first Goodwood success, commented:

“Looking at the replay of Steel Bull winning his maiden, he won it very well and when I was talking to Michael beforehand, he was very confident that he would have a lot of speed. He showed a very good turn of foot. He puts his head down and tries very hard. I would imagine he is a horse who is going to keep progressing. I think he would get an extra furlong, because he settles. He is a nice colt.”

The top-class Irish rider continued:

“It was an unknown as to whether he would handle the track, but he’s a very straightforward horse. He handled it very well. I had to wait, but the lads beforehand were very adamant he had a good turn of foot, and that’s what I was hoping and hanging on to, and when I got out, he did have it. When you are on a horse like this, it makes it easy for you. He travelled everywhere and, when I gave him a squeeze, he picked up very well.”

2.45pm Group 3 Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes 5f

1 Steel Bull – Michael O’Callaghan and Colin Keane 2/1f

2 Ben Macdui – Kevin Ryan and Kevin Stott 16/1

3 Internationaldream – Richard Fahey and Paddy Mathers 50/1

10 ran
Time: 58.59s
Distances: ¾, 1½

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The two-year-old, a son of war Front, out of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Found, was a comfortable winner, having been held up early on in the contest behind front runner King Zain.

The Coolmore partners-owned colt took up the running a furlong from home and had two lengths to spare at the end over the runner-up Devious Company (4/1), with Youth Spirit (13/2) a further length and a quarter back in third.

Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien, speaking to the media via Zoom, said of the winner:

“This was his second run after Ascot – we were very happy with him at home. The ground was lovely and safe. He’s a horse we’ve always loved. He’s very genuine (like his mother), a big powerful horse.”

The Chesham Stakes winner at Royal Ascot is now likely go for the Group 1 National Stakes at The Curragh on Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

The victory gave the Ballydoyle handler his third win in the Vintage Stakes, having taken the race previously with Highland Reel in 2014 and War Decree in 2016.

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