Curran-Cournane bags second grand prix win on new mount
The rider from Glenbeigh, Co Kerry, is fast becoming a force with the 16-year-old son of Furisto since taking over the ride from Capt David O’Brien and opened his account at Crecora, Co Limerick, last month.
“He’s brilliant,” said the winner of his new ride after bagging his brace yesterday. “He’s super careful and, with his big stride, he covers ground. These are his strong points,” said Curran-Cournane, who is in his third season with the Army Equitation School.
Yesterday, in the main arena of the Green Glens, he left no one in doubt as to his hunger to win, galloping to the first and, in uncompromising fashion, maintaining his speed to the finish line. The high-stepping veteran horse also played his part and never looked like faulting, with the result the pair crossed the finish line in 39.56 seconds, to seize the lead from Shane Breen and Luandra.
Curran-Cournane knew he had to be fast, with Sarah Kate Quinlivan destined to have the last shout. The former Army rider from Kanturk has been in top form this season with Billy Daly’s Newmarket Girl and lies second in the league. Bidding to close the sizeable gap between her and Cian O’Connor, she put in a determined effort. However, when the mare slipped a shoe in the turn to the fourth, her effort was stymied and she had to settle for second place with a clear in 40.98.
The second place earned Quinlivan eight points to put her on a total of 61, 24 behind O’Connor. Curran-Cournane’s win moves him up to sixth on 39.5 points, while Breen’s third place has elevated him two places to third on 50 points.
Yesterday’s Kingspan-sponsored grand prix was the first of two league contests at Millstreet this weekend and riders will line out in tomorrow’s €8,000 feature in the search for more valuable league points.
However, Carraig Dubh will not be among the entries having suffered an over-reach injury. Curran-Cournane will, instead, ride River Boyne.
Breen did not end the day yesterday without a win, having earlier claimed the top prize in the Boomerang Qualifier.
Riding Mullaghdrin Gold Rain, the Tipp rider took victory in the prestigious competition for young horses by one-hundredth of a second.
Thurles rider Greg Broderick, aboard Ballypatrick Esperanza, was the unfortunate one to be pipped, with Waterford man Tholm Keane third on Ronan Tynan’s Warrenstown You 2.
