Tattersalls Gold

Cup (Group 1)

FEW, if any, overseas trainers can match Roger Charlton’s strike rate in Irish Group 1 races and, for the third time in the last five years, the trainer had the answer to this prize in Decorated Knight.

In the absence of Minding this race took on a more competitive look and, despite concerns about the slow ground, Decorated Knight was sent off the 7/2 favourite under Andrea Atzeni. Unlike his seven rivals, the Galileo horse had already bagged a top level prize this year, courtesy of a victory in Dubai, but this looked an appreciably tougher challenge.

Decorated Knight, who carries the colours of Derby-winning owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar, was always nicely placed on the heels of the leaders in a steadily run race. In the straight, he was able to switch out and head Success Days with over a furlong to run and once he held the outright lead he began to prick his ears and idle.

Last season’s Meld Stakes winner had more than enough left to deal with Somehow when she was eventually able to get into the clear. It briefly looked as though Somehow might sweep past but Decorated Knight responded to her effort and went to the line well to score by a length and a quarter. Deauville had to settle for third with Success Days taking fourth.

REMARKABLE SEQUENCE

Decorated Knight, who was led up by Asif Sayyed, was continuing a remarkable sequence for his trainer whose last four Group 1 runners at the Curragh (Al Kazeem twice and Thistle Bird) have all collected.

“When I saw all the rain that fell here yesterday I was very worried but we came and had a look at the track today and I was pleasantly surprised, it was in great condition,” declared Charlton. “They didn’t go very fast but that wasn’t a problem as Andrea was able to sit close to the pace and it opened up nicely for him in the straight.

“He’s just improved and improved all the way along. He has won a Group 1 already but this was a stronger race than the one he won in Dubai and he’s progressed again to win it.

“I did have it in my head that we would be travelling abroad with him this summer but now he’s won this I think we will look at the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot,” added the trainer.

Aidan O’Brien expressed himself very pleased with the efforts of Somehow and indicated that she could well take on the winner again at Royal Ascot.