Melbourne Cup an option for Trustyourinstinct after Curragh victory
Trustyourinstinct and Declan McDonogh went from last to first to win the 1xBet.ie Proud Supporters Of Irish Racing Curragh Cup (Group 2). Pic: Healy Racing
Tackling a mile and six furlongs for the first time, Trustyourinstinct came from last to first to land the 1xBet.ie Supporters Of Irish Racing Curragh Cup, Group 2 twin-feature at the Curragh.
The six-year-old was registering his eighth success on the flat and his first at Group 2 level, in the colours of JP McManus, who was watching his beloved Limerick win another All-Ireland hurling title. It was the final leg of a Sunday treble for trainer Joseph O’Brien.
Second winner on the day for Declan McDonogh, the 15/2 shot swooped down the outside to get the better of 25/1 shot Happy Pharoah by three-quarters of a length, with the winner’s stable-companion and odds-on favourite Al Riffa third.
“He always runs well and, although he was stepping-up in trip, we were confident he’d stay and Declan was quietly confident,” stated O’Brien.
“He’s been running well all year and is at his best here. And the race set up well for him. He’s been a great servant and we have lots of options open to him, including the Melbourne Cup.”
McDonogh had provided O’Brien with his second winner when partnering Kirkland Sioux, up 12lb for a recent win in Fairyhouse, to a gutsy all-the-way win in the Racing World 50th Anniversary Fillies Handicap, digging deep to keep last year’s winner Pink Oxalis at bay.
“She’s progressing and stays the mile well,” said her trainer. “She had a nice light weight and Declan gave her a good, positive ride. There might be something for her in Galway.”
Champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, hero of Saturday’s Juddmonte Irish Oaks, had sparked the Carriganog treble on board newcomer Star Performer in the Cavalor Equine Nutrition Fillies Maiden.
The trainer said: “She came from the Breeze-Ups and did a satisfactory trial last week. It was a nice race for her and it set up well. You’d have to like the way she won and she’ll go further in time. We’ll take small steps with her.”
Back at the scene of his Group 1 Phoenix Stakes victory last August and dropping from top-level company, Power Blue justified 11/10 favouritism for Amo Racing, Robson de Aguiar and Rossa Ryan in the other Group 2 on the card, the Glenroyal Hotel And Shoda Café Minstrel Stakes.
The Space Blues collared front-runner Audience inside the final furlong before beating Curragh stalwart Big Gossey by a length and a half.
Trainer De Aguiar explained: “He’s been running in tough races, the two Guineas and Ascot, against the top three-year-olds in Europe. He deserved this today, his first time against older horses – it should help his confidence. He always runs well. He puts his head down and tries hard for you. He is always off the bridle, but keeps finding. And he can run over six furlongs to a mile.
“He’ll go to York now, for the Group 1 (the City Of York Stakes). The flat seven furlongs there should suit him.”
Having her third start, Shi Yang proved a shock winner of the seven-furlong 1xBet.ie Supporting Irish Sport 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden, making all to beat debutante Admires Beauty by a half-length and sparking a double for the AMO team.
The winning trainer said: “Five furlongs was too short for her and she’s improving with racing. Today, over seven furlongs, we let her gallop in front and she kept on well. If she improves again, she could be a black-type filly. We might wait for the listed race (‘Ingabelle’) on Champions Weekend.”
In the five-furlong maiden for juveniles, the Ger Lyons-trained La Tache (Colin Keane) got up late to foil Star Above Me and Sothern Boulevard in a blanket-finish, prompting his trainer to comment: “He’s slow out of the gates, but that’s how he is – he’s so laid-back. It’s taking a while for the penny to drop with him, but this is great – he’s a real fun horse for his owners.”
Colin Keane completed a double when the Paul Flynn-trained I Ready got home by a head a three-way tussle for the James Nolan Bar Kildare Nursery, denying Joseph O’Brien a fourth winner of the day with Seven Nation Army.
