Aidan and Joseph O’Brien completed a double on the Listowel card when taking the feature Flat race, the Edmund Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes, with Eye Of The Storm.
The three-year-old, who only has one eye after an accident as a foal, looked set for a big campaign earlier on this season after finishing second to Sugar Boy in the Sandown Classic Trial but he was not seen again until Galway last week.
He was surprisingly turned over at odds-on by the gallant Missunited that day but as soon as his rider asked him to take up the running from Inis Meain three furlongs out, the result was never in any doubt and the 10-11 favourite galloped through the mud to win by two and a half lengths.
O’Brien jnr said: “He didn’t do things right at Galway. It was his first run back but he ran off the first bend which cost us six lengths and but for that we would probably have won.
“He travelled nicely today and quickened very well. The plan was to try and get him relaxed and let things happen after that. It was his first time going left-handed which was a little bit of a concern, too. He probably wants nicer ground.”
The brace began when Craftsman opened his account in the Listowel Arms Median Auction Maiden. Second on debut, the 2-5 favourite always looked likely to win, but he was just workmanlike in beating The Panhandler by two lengths.
The winning jockey said: “He’s a grand horse and he had a nice run first time out. He shows plenty of pace so the trip was no problem. He handles an ease but that was very testing.”
Star apprentice Connor King registered his 35th victory of the campaign on Cash Or Casualty (16-1) in the Exchange Inn Ballybunion Kevin Brodericks Bar Listowel Handicap.
Trainer Damian English said: “I thought he was a quick ground horse but Rory Cleary said that six furlongs on soft ground might suit him. He seems to handle any type of ground and he’s tough and hardy. He’s so hardy as he was lame last week. The farrier James Stafford did a great job. He’s in again on Friday over nine furlongs. It’s a big pot so it might be worth a go.”