Niall McCullagh wins third Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch
THIRD WIN: Puturhandstogether & Niall McCullagh win the Irish Cesarewitch for Joseph O'Brien. Pic: HEALY RACING
Niall McCullagh, senior member of the jockeys room at 56 years of age, won the Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch for the third time when landing yesterday’s €600,000 Curragh feature on the J P McManus-owned, Joseph O’Brien-trained Puturhandstogether, backed into 7/1 favourite.
Runner-up in the ‘Lartigue in Listowel on Thursday, Puturhandstogether was second reserve for the 30-runner affair, got the call-up yesterday morning and was the only ride on the card for McCullagh, previously successful in the race on Marlion (1989) and Elupa (1994).
Drawn 30, McCullagh manoeuvred the four-year-old Cheltenham festival winner into a handy slot in mid-division, tracked the leaders into the straight and produced him to lead and burst clear before holding the late surge of 66/1 shot Chally Chute by a half-length, with Queenstown back in third.
“I’m around a long time and I’ve seen it all, the highs and the lows,” said McCullagh, whose son Scott finished fifth on Dawn Rising, “I’m 56 but still enjoying it. I’ve been very lucky for JP and I get a great kick out of big-race wins like this.”
Having completed a Sunday double, trainer O’Brien explained “We didn’t think he’d get into the race during the week, so we went to Listowel, where he ran great. He bounced out of the race and we got the call this morning that he was getting in, so it has all worked out.
“Niall gave him a super ride. He’s a tricky horse and he got him into a lovely position from a high draw, got him settled and produced him beautifully. He quickened clear, but had a good look around. It’s a great ‘pot’ to win, some result. We’ll give the horse a break and bring him back for a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas.”
The Tim Easterby-trained eight-year-old Art Power won the Group 3 Tote Renaissance Stakes for a third time when making all under David Allan and holding the late flourish of King Cuan by a neck.
The popular grey was registering his fourth win over course and distance, having landed this prize in both 2021 and 2022.
And winning rider Allan stated “He has a love affair with the Curragh. When he gets soft ground and six furlongs, he gallops the opposition into the ground.
“Five furlongs was too sharp for him the last day. But he’s hard as nails and, even at eight years of age, he still has great enthusiasm for the game.”
Runner-up King Cuan missed the ‘kick’, but produced a career best effort and will now head for the Group 1 British Champion Sprint in Ascot.
Narrowly denied with King Cuan, Paddy Twomey had earlier landed the Group 3 Weld Park 2-Y-0 Stakes with Black Caviar Gold, confidently ridden by Billy Lee to come from off the pace, lead at the furlong pole and stretch away to beat Pivotal Attack by almost three lengths.
“She had sore shins in the spring and we took our time with her, running on rain-softened ground,” explained Twomey. “She’s learning about racing and her best days are ahead of her. And, as she matures, she’ll cope with all types of ground. We can dream a bit over the winter.”
The two-year-old maidens, for which Aidan O’Brien saddled the favourites, were won by his sons Joseph and Donnacha.
Runner-up in his two previous starts, Spangled Sands ran out a clear-cut winner of the seven-furlong Fitzpatricks Mercedes Benz Maiden, an 81st success of the season for stable-jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle (now five ahead of Colin Keane in the title-race) and first leg of a double for the Carriganog operation.
“That was impressive,” declared O’Brien. “He ran well in a good Gowran maiden the last day. He stays well but is not slow – I think he’s a stake/group horse in the making. If he runs again this season, the obvious race for him is the ‘Killavullan’ (Group 3, at Leopardstown, on October 18).”
The opening Tote Maiden, over a demanding nine furlongs, went to Donnacha O’Brien’s South Island (Gavin Ryan) who made it fourth time lucky, at the expense of odds-on favourite Cape Cod.
“We’ve always considered him a very nice horse, but he has been disappointing,” said the winning trainer. “He doesn’t need that extreme trip, but we thought he’d be able to dictate things, and it worked out well. He’s a fine, big, strong horse and should stay well next year.”
