KING Cuan made the breakthrough at stakes level in some style at the Curragh last Sunday, as Billy Lee bagged a double to stretch further clear in the jockeys’ title race. Paddy Twomey’s charge had won a couple of nice pots for the Red Lily Syndicate, but was an easy-to-back 6/1 shot in the Coolmore Sioux Nation Concorde Stakes.

The Tasleet gelding missed the kick in the listed race, but Lee gave him a confident hold-up ride. His mount travelled well to dispute a furlong from home and led inside the final furlong for an easy three-and-a-half-length success over Princess Child.

“I was going to take my time anyway,” explained Lee. “He can be a bit slow out of stalls and he did that again today.

“I felt we went quick and he takes a while to warm into it. As soon as this fella got past the three-furlong pole, he came on the bridle. He’s a horse with a big engine. He’d probably have been a Group 1 horse if he’d kept right and he just showed what he can do there today.”

Twomey finds treasure

Lee had also teamed up with Twomey to claim the opening Final Furlong 1xBet.ie Irish EBF Fillies Maiden on Pirate Anne Bonny. The Blackbeard filly went to post a 2/7 shot after a highly-encouraging debut effort at Naas last month.

She broke well and made all in the seven-furlong contest, going clear a furlong out for a cosy six-and-a-half-length win over Little Darling.

“It was a grand race to ride. She popped away, we didn’t go mad but just built away. I just loved the way she quickened the last two furlongs and she was doing it at her ease,” said Lee. “Robert (Moran, owner) will have plenty of fun chasing blacktype with her next year.”

Hard work

Ballydoyle colt Hmas Perth was also a very short price in the Bermingham Cameras Maiden, but made harder work of landing the odds for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Wayne Lordan had his mount prominent throughout, but he had to knuckle down from the two pole and got to the front inside the final furlong to beat newcomer Nonsense by a length and three-quarters.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said of the 30/100 shot: “Coming here, he had two very good runs in maidens. He’s probably ready now for a step up in trip. He’s a horse with plenty of ability. Whether he gets another run this year or not, Aidan will decide next week.”

CARLA Ridge recorded back-to-back victories in the Hailey Irish EBF Brigid’s Pastures Stakes with a gutsy success.

Chris Hayes delivered the 3/1 favourite to challenge a furlong and a half from home in the listed contest and hit the front over a furlong out, before holding the late challenge of Dancing Saxon by half a length.

Trainer Eddie Harty said of Dan and Linda Kiely’s filly afterwards: “It was lovely to get. It wasn’t as impressive as last year, but this year was very difficult.

“She pulled a muscle behind and only had one run about five months ago. I hope she’ll stay in training next year.”

Deserved success

In the following handicap over the same six-furlong trip, Nouvel Espoir gained a deserved victory after a series of placed efforts.

Julian Pietropaolo led a furlong out on the 13/2 shot and Jimmy Barcoe’s charge kept on well to post a length-and-a-half win for owner Yvonne Hennessy.

“Everything was quite straightforward today,” said the winning rider. “He travelled into the race well and, when I got there at the furlong pole and gave him a little squeeze, he put the race to bed.

“Jimmy had told me beforehand ‘whatever you do, don’t get there too soon’, so I was just trying to time my run and today it worked out.”

Mulligan shines on Moon

Another apprentice to shine on the card was Rory Mulligan in the concluding 1xBet.ie Apprentice Handicap, scoring on Blue Blue Moon for boss Johnny Murtagh.

The Moyglare filly led a furlong and a half from home and answered gamely when joined briefly by Loingseoir inside the final furlong to record a half-length win, at odds of 6/1.

“She loves that soft ground. I thought a mile at the Curragh would suit her really well,” said Murtagh.

“She wasn’t beaten far the last day in a very good race, and I did think coming here today that the ground was key to her. Rory gave her a great ride.”

ÁINE Connolly delivered strongly supported 4/1 shot Whimsy with a well-timed charge to land the spoils in the Holden Plant Rentals Lady Riders Handicap. Anthony McCann’s charge collared Rest Your Mind close home in the mile-and-a-half amateur contest to score by a neck for owner Rita Shah.

“Áine gave her a super ride. The only instructions I gave her were to switch to the outside when she came around the home straight, and deliver her on the line,” said McCann.

“It’s great to get the first Curragh winner. We were a long time knocking on the door here, beaten in a couple of photo-finishes.”

Late lunge

Iamimmaculate was another to lunge late when taking the nine-furlong 1xBet.ie Handicap for Ger O’Leary earlier on the card.

Declan McDonogh got a good tune from the 5/1 shot in the closing stages, as he collared front-runner Benevento to record a three-parts-of-a-length success.

O’Leary said: “Declan gave him a beautiful ride, gave him plenty of cover and got there late. It looked tight, but he said he always had them covered. I’m delighted with that.”