Cato stars in Gold rush
Dylan Thomas suffered his first defeat of the season when losing out in an enthralling battle with Notnowcato in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.
Last year’s Irish Derby winner looked as good as ever with two smooth wins this spring, and lost little in defeat with his head reverse by Sir Michael Stoute’s raider.
Dylan Thomas, the 1-2 favourite, moved up to challenge Notnowcato soon after swinging for home in the 10-furlong Group One event.
But Johnny Murtagh’s mount was not for yielding and kept battling away nose-to-nose down the straight.
Stoute’s 7-1 shot never faulted and, with the rail to help, the Juddmonte International winner pipped Aidan O’Brien’s monster four-year-old on the line.
The Mick Channon-trained Youmzain stayed on nicely for third over a distance two furlongs short of his best.
Connections of Notnowcato were predictably ebullient at the outcome of the race.
Evelyn de Rothschild, representing his two sons, the horse’s owners, Anthony and David, said: “It was a wonderful ride by a wonderful jockey.
“I wasn’t sure how he’d go as he doesn’t like to be in front but Johnny got him settled.
“Dylan Thomas came up to him and they had a real battle and that was as good as it gets.
“He did beat Dylan Thomas at York last year and it’s nice to see a horse as good as that.
“He’s improving all of the time and is now entered in the Prince Of Wales’s (at Royal Ascot) and the Eclipse (at Sandown).”
O’Brien was gracious in defeat and said: “He (Dylan Thomas) ran a great race - I’m not going to make any excuses.
“We’ll take him home and see how he is but all the big races are open to him.”
Youmzain is now set for step back up in trip at Royal Ascot after his creditable third.
Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Jaber Abdullah, said: “He doesn’t like to be in front so we had to let him follow the other horses through.
“He got outpaced and will now go back up to a mile and a half, probably in the Hardwicke.”
Coral quote the winner at 7-2 from 8s for the Prince Of Wales’s, with Dylan Thomas their 11-4 favourite.
Jim Bolger has another potential 1000 Guineas contender on his hands after Saoirse Abu spreadeagled the field in the six-furlong maiden.
Like Irish and English 1000 Guineas heroine Finsceal Beo, the juvenile filly is also by Mr Greeley and obviously possesses some of her stablemate’s talent.
Hot on the heels of her promising debut at Naas, the filly turned the screw passing the two-furlong pole in the Boylesports 1800 221 221 EBF Maiden in the hands of Kevin Manning.
The heavily-backed 9-4 favourite scooted clear in the closing stages for a four-length success over newcomer Norman Invader – to earn a 20-1 quote with Boylesports for next year’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Bolger said: “She is one for next year, so we will give Royal Ascot a miss.
“She nearly wants a mile already and we will now take her back to Naas in a couple of weeks for the Swordlestown.”
