THERE was a fairytale outcome to the €600,000 Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch with weighing room veteran Niall McCullagh partnering Puturhandstogether to land a gamble in the ultra-competitive stamina test.
McCullagh didn’t even have a ride on the eight-race card after declarations before his agent Ciaran O’Toole secured the mount on the second reserve, who was supported from 20/1 in the morning into 7/1 joint favourite. The dual-purpose gelding made headway in the straight to lead a furlong out and soon asserted to go about three lengths clear. However, the drama didn’t end there, as he appeared to idle in front and ultimately held on by half a length from 66/1 outsider Chally Chute, who was denied a clear run over a furlong from home. Queenstown and Lord Erskine took third and fourth, while McCullagh’s son Scott finished fifth aboard Dawn Rising.
“That’s my third time to win the race. I won it well over 30 years ago for P.J. Finn on Marlion [in 1989] and again for John Oxx about five years later on Elupa [in 1994], so it’s a long time between drinks!” said an emotional McCullagh.
“When I saw the second reserve not jocked up this morning, I rang Tooler [Ciaran O’Toole] and he called me back to say you can ride it if it gets in. I didn’t even have a ride here today.”
McCullagh has developed a new role as a jockeys’ coach alongside his riding career and added: “I have about 40 young riders on my books, and I have a great relationship with a lot of them. I’m here for reassurance if things go pear-shaped and I’m always there for advice as I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen the highs and the lows, the injuries and things going wrong. It’s going well and is something to look forward to in the future when I do hang up my boots. I’m 56 and still enjoying riding.”
Joseph O’Brien, who trains the winner for J.P. McManus, said: “He got a great spot from the draw [stall 30] and he minded him into the race. He’s a tricky horse, but Niall gave him a lovely ride and it’s a great pot to win. He had a bit of a look around after he hit the front but that’s him. He’s not the simplest horse to get right and it was against the odds for things to go right from that draw. Niall was very kind on him, and he settled well for him.
“He ran great at Listowel [finished second in the Lartigue Hurdle on Thursday] and bounced out of the race well, so we figured we’d let him take his chance. He could go for a nice handicap hurdle at Leopardstown and doesn’t want the ground too soft.”
Smart Sands
O’Brien was completing a double on the day as Spangled Sands earlier landed the Fitzpatricks Mercedes-Benz Irish EBF Maiden. The 5/4 shot was prominent throughout under Dylan Browne McMonagle and got well on top inside the final 150 yards to beat newcomer Zia Zabel by four and a half lengths.
“He ran well in what I’d say was a good maiden in Gowran last time and has been acquired by new owners [Chris So Chun Hung] to the yard. I’m delighted that they are willing to give him a chance to race in Ireland for a little while. He looks a stakes horse in the making and, if he was to run again, the Killavullan would be an obvious race,” said the Piltown trainer.
CONNECTIONS of Black Caviar Gold go into winter quarters with a classic prospect after the daughter of Havana Grey took the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes in decisive fashion at odds of 4/1. The Bond Thoroughbred-owned filly made steady headway from off the pace to lead a furlong out and kept on strongly inside the final 150 yards to beat Pivotal Attack by two and three quarter lengths.
“She’s a nice filly and we’ve taken our time with her and let her come to us. She won impressively on rain-softened ground the last day and I thought she was ready for a step into this company,” said trainer Paddy Twomey. “The plan had been to be a bit handier, but she just missed the kick. Billy [Lee] said she went through the race lovely and, ideally, he could have done with a lead for a bit longer, but he thinks she is a classy filly.
Learning
“She’s learning about racing as she goes. She had sore shins in the spring and that’s why I was looking for softer ground this year. I think as she gets older and gets stronger it [the ground] will make no difference. She’s had four runs, and I’d say that will be it for this year.”
Twomey and Lee were a little unlucky not to complete a Group 3 double in the Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Renaissance Stakes, where King Cuan just failed by a neck to peg back Art Power. The eight-year-old son of Dark Angel, who has gained half of his 10 career wins at the Curragh and was landing this six-furlong event for the third time having been successful in 2021 and 2022, adopted his customary front-running role under David Allan.
Progress
The 11/2 chance, trained by Tim Easterby for King Power Racing, was ridden to assert at the furlong pole, where King Cuan was checked when making progress from the rear, and eventually held off that rival by a neck.
Allan said: “It’s taken him a while to get his head back in front, but he has a love affair with the Curragh. He gallops out well - soft ground and six [furlongs] he can run them into the ground and take all the speed out of them. He’s as tough as they come, even at his age, and a very willing partner. To still have that enthusiasm is a credit to him.” The eight-year-old was cut into 16/1 (from 40/1) by one bookmaker for the British Champions Sprint Stakes.
INVINCIBLE Will opened his account at the seventh attempt in the Keadeen Hotel Nursery, getting up close home to deny the front-running Sunrise Angel by a neck. “He’s been banging on the door and deserved a win. He’s got a bit keen in his races and did a bit today, but Gary [Carroll] got him settled again. When he learns to do things right, I think he can improve again. He handles that ground but is versatile,” said Gavin Cromwell, who trains the 8/1 winner for Andrew and William Treacy.
Donnacha O’Brien also saddled a juvenile winner on the card with South Island making virtually all in the Tote 20K Guaranteed Placepot Today Irish EBF Maiden. The son of Wootton Bassett, who carries the colours of Paul Smith, shrugged off the challenge of odds-on favourite Cape Cod over a furlong out and kept on strongly under Gavin Ryan to beat that rival by a length and three quarters.
“He’s always worked like a very nice horse and I’ve been disappointed with him once or twice. I don’t think he needs that far [nine furlongs], but I thought he’d be able to dictate against less experienced rivals over that track and trip. They went slow, and it turned into a bit of a dash. What his trip will be next year I’m not sure, but he’s a fine, big, strong horse,” said Donnacha O’Brien of the well-backed 7/2 winner.
King of the Castle
Castleheath (16/1-10/1) gained a fourth career win in the Download The Tote App (Q.R.) Handicap, patiently ridden to lead a furlong out for a length and three quarters verdict over Gotta Catch’Em All.
The dual-purpose gelding is trained for Niall and Cathal Slevin by Ciaran Murphy, who said: “He’s got plenty of gears over that mile and a quarter trip and, in fairness to Alan [O’Sullivan], he sat tight and when he came with a run he flew home. He can continue under both codes, and a bit of nicer ground wouldn’t be any harm to him. He handles the surface at Dundalk, so that could be a possibility.”
Gotta Catch’Em All’s rider Meryem Walsh was given a two-day suspension for careless riding, while Paddy Smullen picked up a three-day ban for the same offence on sixth-placed Tilani.
Going to the sales
Spodo Komodo, trained by Johnny Feane for Dermot Farrington, showed good pace throughout under Ronan Whelan in the Tote Always SP Or Better Maiden and the 15/2 chance just got the better of a protracted duel with Lunigiana by a neck. “His form has been working out well and I fancied him today. He’s going to the sales,” said Feane.