Luck lands big money at the Curragh
Luck Money struck gold by leading home a British one-two-three in the Parknasilla Hotel Goffs (C & G) Million at the Curragh.
Paul Cole’s charge put the icing on Richard Quinn’s comeback from retirement as he powered home to collect a mammoth €1m for connections.
Quinn always had the 9-2 favourite in a good position, but he was challenged strongly by Kieren Fallon on the Gary Moore-trained Hitchens (9-1).
The latter made his bid down the centre of the course, but could not quite peg back the leader and was eventually beaten two and a half lengths.
Major Willy (33-1), trained by Willie Jarvis, was third, with David Wachman’s Lisvale the first of the home team in fourth.
The winner was cut to 16-1 from 20s by the sponsors for next season’s Stan James 2000 Guineas.
Cole, speaking from America, said: “We’ve always thought highly of him and we think he’s a Group horse. Our faith in him has been rewarded and it’s very exciting
“We were very pleased with the ride Richard gave him. There was no point holding him up to see if he got the trip. He would either get it or he would not.
“He kept a bit up his sleeve, and it all went to plan.
“The Dewhurst is a possibility, but you can’t make snap decisions about these things,” the Whatcombe trainer told At The Races.
Quinn said: “He was third in the Coventry and then had a break and freshened up. This was always the plan from when he was bought at the sales.
“It was pretty straightforward. He was slightly slowly away but I rode him positively, as if he got the trip.
“There was never much fear – he has got Group class.”
Jim Bolger’s newcomer Lush Lashes made most of the running to land the Parknasilla Hotel Goffs Fillies Million.
The only debutant in the field, Kevin Manning’s mount saw off the challenge of Rinterval, trained by Richard Hannon, to take the first prize.
Lush Lashes (10-1) got home by a length from Rinterval (7-1), with Carribean Sunset (25-1) third.
The winner was introduced into the betting for the Stan James 1000 Guineas at 20-1 with the sponsors and 16-1 with totesport.
Bolger said: “She was due to run about a month ago but got a ’shin’, but we’ve got through all that now.
“We will try to get some black type for her this season – she could go anywhere next – but she will be going for the Guineas next season.”
Rinterval’s jockey Jimmy Fortune said: “My filly has done nothing wrong. Perhaps the ground was a bit quick for her and she was running around a little bit in the last furlong.
“Mine’s a very nice filly, but you’ve got to take your hat off to the winner. It was her first run and it’s a hard thing to do in a race of this standard.”
The 11-strong British bid was reduced by one when James Fanshawe’s Falcolnry, the mount of Jamie Spencer, was withdrawn after playing up at the start.
She appeared to kick a stalls handler, who laid on the ground and was attended to by medical staff. He was taken to Naas General Hospital for X-rays on his leg.
Four Sins just held Queen’s Best in a thrilling finish to the Irish National Stud Blandford Stakes.
The two fillies, who could not be separated in the betting as the 9-4 joint-favourites, were neck and neck throughout the final furlong.
But it was Four Sins, always in the front rank, who prevailed by a short head for jockey Mick Kinane and trainer John Oxx.
Spencer had to settle for second on Sir Michael Stoute’s Newmarket challenger, with Dalvina third.
Oxx said: “She did it well. She’s been working well recently and I thought today would be her best day.
“She has been in top form and thriving lately, but she did need a bit of luck on the line.
“She’s done well, winning a Group Three and a Group Two and finishing fourth in the Oaks, so we will have to wait and see what we do next. She’s better on this fast ground, although she does go on soft.”
Paul Green enjoyed another successful raid on Irish soil when Invincible Force (7-1) took the William Fry Handicap.
The Merseyside trainer landed a double at the same course last month highlighted by Sudden Impact’s victory in the Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes.
Invincible Force, who won the latter juicy pot 12 months earlier when trained by Green’s ex-partner Deborah Evans, made a triumphant return when holding Mist And Stone and If Paradise by a head and a neck in a driving finish.
