ALBERT Einstein was the centre of attention at the Curragh last Saturday but it was old favourite Big Gossey (25/1) who stole the show again in the featured 1xBet.ie Gladness Stakes. The much-touted Ballydoyle colt went to post 11/10 favourite in the seven-furlong listed event but failed to make much impression, finishing sixth on his return from a long absence.

The Charles O’Brien-trained Big Gossey shone again at his local track, recording a remarkable ninth victory up the straight course. Billy Lee produced the grey with a strong surge to lead inside the final furlong and record a length-and-a-half success over East Hampton.

“I wasn’t really expecting that,” admitted the winning trainer afterwards. “Coming here last year I thought he had a good chance, but today I thought there were a few in there that probably had a bit more class than him, but you can’t beat honesty.

“The longer I hang around this game, attitude is more important than an awful lot of things.

“If you look at his programme for the last seven or eight years, it’s going to be pretty much the same! He couldn’t be any easier to deal with at this stage, he’s an old pro.”

Carroll collects

Aidan O’Brien hinted on the day that Albert Einstein would be going the sprinting route as he addressed the press after the victory of 3/1 shot Lewis Carroll in the following seven-furlong maiden.

That Siyouni colt made a good impression under Ryan Moore, quickening away at the two-furlong pole before holding the renewed challenge of Spacebound late on for a half-length win.

“We’re delighted. Ryan liked him, he said the seven was no problem and he handled the ease in the ground,” said O’Brien.

“He disappointed us last year; we thought that he was better and maybe he was a bit weak. Ryan said he was surprised when he let him go. He felt he let him go a little bit too early in that ground.”

ANDY Slattery continued a good start to the season when saddling a double on the card, with both winners ridden by his son, Andy Slattery junior.

The pair struck in the opening 1xBet.ie Fillies Maiden over six furlongs when Opalite made a winning debut. The Zoustar filly led inside the final furlong and kept on well in the closing stages to beat Slaney View by half a length.

“It’s great for Seamus (Neville), he bought her off us a month ago,” said the trainer. “I think it’s his first flat horse. He met me at Navan in January and said he’d love to get a flat filly and I said ‘I have one for you’ and this is it.

“We might look at a stakes race, something like the Polonia, although we could maybe take our time with her if we got a winners’ race somewhere.”

Money talks

There was money for Red Charlie in the concluding Cavalor Equine Nutrition Handicap and he ran out an easy winner. Produced to lead a furlong from home, the 11/1 shot (from 25/1) scooted clear for a four-and-three-quarter length win.

“The owner (Padraig O’Rourke) had lost faith after having him as a two-year-old and sent him on as a last resort. We have him about four months,” said Slattery.

“The owner is in shock there! I told him he’d win. We don’t know what he is yet, but he’s a nice horse. He’s probably not badly handicapped, he won with a bit in hand.”

Galway goal

Maurice Ahern and Julian Pietropaolo struck gold in the Feel The Rush With 1xBet.ie Handicap earlier on the card, as Perry Mason scored at 4/1.

The five-year-old had a terrific battle with long-time leader Electric Beauty from two and a half furlongs out and stuck his head out late on for a neck success. “He was probably a bit too far back in the Lincoln, we were a bit disappointed, but it probably crowned him for today,” said Ahern.

“This place is good to me; I had my first winner here as well last year. It’s a lucky place. It’s nice to have a Saturday horse, that’s the dream really, and hopefully we have one in him.

“We’ll probably aim for the Galway Mile with him. He has won around there and that would be the plan.”

DONNACHA O’Brien is hoping Shaihaan will prove good enough to take up his Irish Derby entry after an impressive success in the Final Furlong Podcast At 1xBet.ie Maiden. The 13/8 shot travelled well under Gavin Ryan to lead three furlongs from home and asserted in the closing stages for a three-and-a-quarter length win.

O’Brien, who trains the winner for Al Shaqab Racing, said: “He’s a beautiful big horse. He had good form last year and he developed well this year. It’s nice to get a win into him.

“He’s by Night Of Thunder, so I don’t know how far they stay in general, but he’s out of a Sea The Stars mare so there is plenty of stamina on that side.

“We’ll maybe look at the Derby Trial in Leopardstown, and then maybe the Irish Derby if that went well. That would be plan A anyway.”

Winning start

Luke McAteer made a decisive move early in the straight as PJ Kavanagh’s homebred Rock Of Ireland bagged the McDonnell’s Bar Handicap. The 7/1 shot was pressed inside the final furlong by Factual Fact but pulled out plenty to score by a length-and-a-quarter.

Rory Devin, who was saddling the five-year-old for the first time, said: “We actually thought he wanted a bit further so we were going to be good and positive on him and kick for home early.

“His homework was very good. I only have him a few months, but I know the horse well as I used to pre-train him and I rode him out when I was with Barry Fitzgerald. He did it well and we’re delighted with him. He loves that ground.”

Devine’s debut winner as a trainer had come here last year with the winner’s half-sister She’s A Nation.

Back to best

Bodhi Bear made a smart start to four-year-old campaign as he ran out a commanding winner of the €35,000 Your Game, Your Odds, Your 1xBet.ie Handicap for Fozzy Stack

Seamie Heffernan came up the middle of the track on the 8/1 shot and made most of the running in the five-furlong contest to record a length-and-a-half victory over Stag Night.

“He did that well, probably being gelded helped him. He always seemed to be in command,” said Stack.

“Five could be more his trip than six. We wouldn’t rule out going six again, but he showed plenty of pace there.

“We’ll try and get as much money as we can with him! Today’s race was worth a bit and wherever there is something similar, we’ll look at it.”