Stamina was the order of the day at the Curragh on a wet and windy day, and Magellan Strait showed all of that and more to spring a 150/1 shock in the Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch for Joseph O’Brien, Hugh Horgan and owner/breeder Ray Grehan.

The son of Australia has been inconsistent, hence his massive price, but he was resolute here, racing towards the head of affairs for Horgan, who committed him early in the straight. He looked all of his price when headed by My Mate Mozzie and stablemate Dawn Rising, but fought back valiantly in between those runners, and had a half length to spare at the line from the luckless Falcon Eight, who flew home late.

“He hasn’t been the most consistent horse in the world but when he runs his race, he generally runs a good race,” said a beaming O’Brien. “Hugh got a great tune out of him today. He stays very well, stamina has always been his thing and that’s what he did, he outstayed them.

“Hugh’s instructions were to go forward, get a nice position and make sure that stamina counted and to go out, and he committed at the bottom of the straight and the horse kept galloping.

“I’m delighted for Ray, he bred the horse, and he has run some very good races, and some disappointing ones but it’s a big day today for everyone.”

The runner-up was coming with a very dangerous looking run, but the gap he went for got tight and it slowed his challenge up. After a stewards enquiry, the placings remained unaltered, which was no surprise because the winner had nothing to do with the incident.

Dawn Rising was third, two weeks after filling that position in the St Leger. He briefly threatened to outstay his main rivals in the final furlong, but just couldn’t keep tabs with his stablemate. Rated 107 now, O’Brien suggested he may be given a break instead of going back over hurdles.

Favourite Tower Of London could only manage ninth, one place behind Jackfinbar who fared best of a sizeable Willie Mullins contingent.

While the stewards neglected to make any change to the placings, Jake Coen, rider of Falcon Eight, was given a four-day suspension for careless riding, while both Horgan and Declan McDonogh (Dawn Rising) were also give four-day suspensions for using their whips with excessive frequency.