DYLAN Browne McMonagle strengthened his bid to retain the Irish jockeys’ championship with a 722.63/1 five-timer on Saturday at the Curragh, highlighted by Green Empress’ (15/8 – 11/4) Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes win.

The daughter of Saxon Warrior appeared boxed in on the rail late on, but Browne McMonagle switched her out, and The Thoroughbred Racing Corporation’s filly got up close home to score by a neck from Dancing Destiny. 4/6 favourite Alpha, was a further half-length behind in third.

“Her form has worked out very well. Dylan gave her a lovely ride. I’m really delighted for Prince Faisal to be able to be here. To win the Debutante is very special for us,” commented Joseph O’Brien, who supplied four of Browne McMonagle’s five winners.

“She had a bit of a setback so we thought that fitness-wise she probably would need the race today. She’ll probably come back here for the Moyglare.”

Opening winner

Browne McMonagle’s first winner came in the opener aboard Monogram (2/1 – 4/6 favourite), who justified strong market support in the Coolmore Stud St Mark’s Basilica Irish EBF Maiden.

The Juddmonte-owned colt by Kingman broke slowly and was held up in the rear until he was asked for his effort over a furlong out and made rapid gains, getting to the long-time leader Salt Lake in the dying strides to score by a short head.

Winning trainer O’Brien commented: “We wanted him to relax early and I thought his last furlong was good. It was obvious from his homework that he was a nice horse.

“It’s just really nice to have a horse for the Juddmonte team and for the family. He has won his maiden so whether you’d like to go somewhere between now and a big race we’ll discuss it and see.”

Blacktype on the cards

The combination’s second winner came in the Moloney’s Bar And Music Venue Maiden with Acula (11/8 favourite).

The Newton Anner Stud-owned filly raced in fourth before coming under pressure over two furlongs out. The daughter of Sea The Stars was always doing enough once she hit the front and fended off the flashing home The Austrian by half a length.

O’Brien reported: “She had a nice debut and she came on. I’d say the ground was probably sharp enough for her. We think that hopefully she’s a filly that, long term, blacktype will be on the agenda.”

BEAR On The Run (14/1) gave Dylan Browne McMonagle a quick treble by winning the Mitsubishi Electric Handicap.

Danny Murphy’s filly settled in mid-division and, although still some way back, she was last off the bridle. The Kildare and Kilmichael Racing Syndicate’s challenger picked up well between rivals and led inside the final 50 yards, beating Moltophino by three-quarters of a length. Winning trainer Murphy exclaimed: “One year off the track. I have to thank Anglesey Lodge for all their work and my own staff. I know she’s half-decent, this filly. It’s great for the syndicate.”

Completed

Browne McMonagle completed his incredible five-timer when guiding the Joseph O’Brien-trained Yousaynothingatall (9/4 favourite) to win the Neville O’Byrne Memorial Irish EBF Fillies & Mares Handicap.

The Australia filly travelled strongly to lead over a furlong out, and held the late run of stablemate Nellcote by a length and a quarter,

O’Brien said: “She had a good run here last time and we felt she’d like going back up to 12 furlongs. Dylan is riding great. It’s a fantastic day for him.”

WAYNE Lordan and Aidan O’Brien also teamed up for a double, beginning with Giant Sequoia (6/4 - 2/1 favourite) in the Group 2 Coolmore Stud City Of Troy Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes. Lordan’s mount raced in third early on before being asked for his effort two furlongs out. Owned by Resolute Racing, Coolmore, and Westerberg, he mastered his stablemate Florida Bay inside the final 100 yards and kept on well to score by half a length.

Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “He’s a lovely horse. I’m delighted with him. He’s still a baby. He learned a lot today because there was a proper pace on. The other horse was leaning on top of him early so he did well to keep his position. I’d imagine he might come back for the National Stakes.”

Their second winner was Queenstown (10/3 – 9/1), who made an impressive seasonal return in the Comer Group International Irish St. Leger Trial Stakes. He quickened up to lead three furlongs out and galloped on relentlessly under a left-hand drive to beat Kizlyar by four and a half lengths.

“He was a long time off. Eamon and Shane did an incredible job to get this horse back,” commented O’Brien. “He’ll go for the two races that he was second in last year - the Cadran and the French Leger. It’s great because he is a gelding and they just get better and better.”

Close finish

Clonmacash (13/2) gained a seventh career victory in the Friends of Moorefield GAA Handicap. Sam Coen had his mount positioned in mid-division on the stands side before asking for his effort over two furlongs out. Ado McGuinness’ charge stayed on strongly inside the final furlong and managed to get up on the line to deny Rosato by a short head for Mark Devlin, J Mackle, and the Skylark Racing Syndicate.

“The bigger the field the better. He loves getting into trouble, loves a fast pace. That should get him into the Qualified Riders race in Laytown,” reported Ado McGuinnes. “This young kid, Sam Coen, is top class.”