O’Brien moves seven clear in title race
Hot-pot Kingdom need strong handling from the teenager to land the opening two-year-old maiden, making most of the running before holding the late challenge of Pay Day Kitten by a neck.
“He’s tough and genuine and stays well,” was the rider’s post race comment before completing his double on three-year-old debutant Sidereus Nuncius in the Curragh Membership 2013 Maiden, from which morning favourite Muntasaf was a notable absentee.
Siderius Nuncius came from of the pace to foil the flattering September Lily by two lengths, prompting Joseph to comment: “He was always a big, backward horse. He had some niggly problems early in the year and took time to come right. But he’s a horse to look forward to next year.”
Johnny Murtagh was seen at his strongest on top-weight Man Of Erin as the progressive, Bill Farrell-trained gelding carried 10-2 to a gutsy all-the-way win in the Curragh Gift Vouchers Handicap, beating dead-heaters Bitsanbobs and Fast On by three-quarters of a length.
Farrell admitted that he has no firm plans for the winner and emphasised: “All the credit goes to Johnny, who gave him a very strong ride, and the Swedish girl Marie Richardt. She has done a great job with the horse — he’s a difficult horse to settle and it’s been hard to get him right mentally.”
Winner of his maiden at Navan only last Wednesday, Brinestine followed-up and gave trainer Joe Murphy his third win in a week when slamming eight rivals in the nine-furlong Curragh On Facebook & Twitter Handicap.
The Bernstein, built to go jumping, took over from front-running top-weight Jeremy’s Girl with a furlong and a half to race before stretching clear to triumph by eight lengths in the hands of Gary Carroll.
Enjoying his best ever season, Chris Hayes pounced late on Paul Deegan’s Srucahan in the six-furlong Go Racing In Kildare Membership Handicap, catching Edenshaw close home to triumph by a half-length.
Lake Louise, which contested the two-year-old maiden — won by Europe’s top juvenile Dawn Approach — on the opening day of the season last March, got up close home under Wayne Lordan to land the www.curragh.ie Nursery Handicap at the expense of Versilia Gal. She was a welcome winner for Mitchelstown-based owner-trainer Danny O’Sullivan.
Noel Meade declared: “I’ve had a winner at the Curragh every year for a long time. But it was a long wait this year!” after Leroy Parker, ridden by apprentice Conor Hoban, landed the finale, beating Eighteen Summers and well-backed favourite Hisaabaat, which stayed on in the closing stages.
“I thought he had a good chance after his run in Navan, when he came home strongly,” added Meade. “He’s due to go to the Sales, but might get a reprieve after this. He’s entered for the October handicap in Naas on Sunday and will go there, if he gets in.”
