EL Salvador capped a day to remember for the O’Brien family when defying top-weight under 16-year-old Donnacha in the Irish Cesarewitch, the highlight of a 381/1 treble for the champion trainer as the curtain came down on the season at the Curragh.

Owned by his mother Annemarie and trained by dad, Aidan, the 25/1 chance came from off the pace to provide the teenager with his fourth winner. The son of Galileo got the better of Hidden Universe inside the final furlong to score by a length, with the O’Brien-trained Marchese Marconi in third. “It’s a hard race to win and it’s great for Donnacha as he’s a big fella. It was a nice patient ride as the start was a bit messy but he kept calm,” said a proud father afterwards.

Royal Navy Ship set the ball rolling for O’Brien in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and was far from neglected in the market (16/1 in the morning and sent off just 6/1) despite not being the stable first choice in this newcomers’ event. Seamie Heffernan had the War Front colt prominent throughout from stall one to beat stable-companion and easy to back 100/30 favourite Jacobean by a length and a half.

O’Brien felt the draw had a big bearing on the result, and the other leg of his treble – which brought up a magical 100 winners for the season – came with the decisive victory of Together Forever (11/10fav) under his elder son Joseph in the Listed Staffordstown Stud Stakes.

Boylesports quote her at 25/1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas and that may prove far from fanciful following an impressive three-length verdict over stablemate Cocoon. “She quickened up well, and Joseph feels she is more of a Guineas than an Oaks type. We were making too much use of her before and she has more speed than we were giving her credit for. We will probably leave her alone now as she is going a bit hairy but is a filly to look forward to.”

Viztoria (15/8fav) booked her place in the Champions Sprint, a race she finished third in last year, after a commanding three-length win in the Listed Go Racing In Kildare Waterford Testimonial Stakes. Pat Smullen’s mount drew clear in the final furlong to beat stablemate Gathering Power, and trainer Eddie Lynam was full of praise afterwards for the Lavery family (owners) as much as the filly. “It’s great to have a good horse but even better to have a good owner. They have been very patient as that’s the first time in yonks she’s had her ground. She ran poorly on bad ground in France but we never found a reason for it. That’s the only blip on her CV. We flew her over and she’d never been on a plane before and maybe that gave her a fright. She’s entitled to take her chance at Ascot.”

The other listed race on the card went for export as the Luca Cumani-trained Second Step (13/2) got up in the closing stages under Andrea Atzeni to take the mile and a half Finale Stakes. “The Curragh is the best course in the world. Cursory Glance in the Moyglare and now this!” exclaimed a beaming Craig Bennett, whose Merry Fox Stud own and bred the Dalakhani gelding. “Andrea gave him a great ride. We have 20 in training and have a full-sister to this one going into training with Luca.”

Willie McCreery made it three out of three with the group of juveniles sent to him by Sheikh Mohammed after Devonshire opened her account in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. The 7/1 chance was produced with a well-timed challenge by Leigh Roche to beat Corail by half a length, and McCreery said: “She had to do the donkey work at Roscommon but Leigh was able to sit in today and she did it well. She grinded it out to the end and the bit of experience helped her.”

Fastnet Mist gained a deserved winning bracket when justifying 11/8 favouritism in the Irish Field EBF Fillies Maiden. Trained by David Wachman, and sporting the colours of Clem Murphy, she led over a furlong out and gamely held off Diylawa by a neck. Winning rider Wayne Lordan said: “She was entitled to win as the filly that beat her in Killarney has been listed placed twice since. The nine-furlongs suited her but she has the pace for a mile. I’d be very hopeful that she can pick up some blacktype next year.”

The widest margin win came in what appeared the most competitive event on the eight-race card as Shukhov romped to a six-length victory in the 24-runner Stephen Quirke Memorial Apprentice Handicap. A second winner for New Ross youngster Donagh O’Connor in the colours of Seamus Mannion, trainer Johnny Levins explained: “I’d say they went very quick in front and the Curragh mile takes some getting. He’s really sprinted clear, and I’m only starting to work him out. I’ve 17 horses at the moment and have just got five yearlings. Donagh is apprenticed to me and is going to be a top class jockey.”

Identity query

Jolyne was withdrawn from the newcomers’ juvenile maiden as the Johnny Murtagh-trained filly could not be positively identified from the markings provided on the passport or the microchip number. The matter was referred to the chief executive of the Turf Club for further investigation.

ACTING STEWARDS

P.N. Reynolds, C.E. O’Sullivan, C.P. Magnier, Dr P. Molony, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

OFF LIMITS (D. Wachman): She took a while to get going on debut but came home strongly and will benefit greatly from this experience.