23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Thrice awarded Gallinule glory at the Curragh
The Aidan O'Brien-trained second-string Thrice was awarded Friday night's Group 3 Heider Family Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh as first past the post Reyenzi was relegated to third.
Johnny Murtagh's charge Reyenzi, ridden by Ben Coen, came from last to first to land the spoils by a head from Thrice with Emit a similar distance away in third.
But, in delivering his challenge, Coen's mount drifted right under pressure, causing interference to both of his rivals and, following a lengthy stewards' enquiry, Reyenzi relegated to third.
Thrice, disappointing in Chester and sent off at 12-1, dictated the pace and found plenty for Wayne Lordan in the closing stages before being awarded the spoils in a race in which his stable-companion and 6-4 favourite Shackleton (Ryan Moore), on his seasonal debut, could manage only fourth place.
In the aftermath of this incident-filled contest, Ben Coen received as four-day careless riding ban.
Earlier, Dermot Wed declared: 'It's a good start to the weekend for Juddmonte,' after well-backed debutante Fingerpaint swooped late to beat a quartet of experienced rivals in the McGuinness Maintenance Services maiden.
Ridden by Chris Hayes, the Kingman filly got up late to foil Collecting Coin by a neck, Weld adding: 'She's a lovely-mannered, progressive filly, a big, powerful filly. She's been working well and this experience and stepping up to a mile will bring plenty of improvement. She'll step-up to stakes level straight away.'
Hayes completed a double when John Kinsella's Moltophino, a 15-race maiden, captured the Habitat (Premier) Handicap convincingly from favourite Keke.
'It's a good way to break your duck,' declared Kinsella. 'He's been unlucky, bumping into a few and running into traffic. I was very worried about the (low) draw, but he winged the gates and Chris said he was happy away in front.'
The Tattersalls Guineas festival had opened with an impressive performance from debutante and morning gamble Ipanema Queen, Adrian Murray's charge, backed from 14-1 to 7-2, bolting up by five and a half lengths under Wayne Lordan.
'She was ready to run early, but got a bit weak and we gave her a break,' explained Murray's assistant Robson Aguilar. 'She has been working well but is only 75% ready today, so there is more to come. I was impressed by how she won. We entered her for the Group 2 here on Derby weekend (the Airlie Stud), but I would say she'll go to Ascot for the Albany now.'
Denied the Gallinule in the stewards' room, Murtagh had earlier won the Cavalore Equine Nutrition Fillies Handicap with the progressive Brigid's Cloak, ridden by promising 7lb claimer Patrick McGettigan.
Once-raced Bonus Time looked a potential black-type filly when landing the six-furlong maiden convincingly for Gavin Cromwell and Gary Carroll.
And Letterkenny-based Paul Sweeney savoured his first training success with 20-1 shot Ransom (Luke McAteer) in the finale.
In Downpatrick, Gordon Elliott struck on the double, scoring with nine-year-old chasing debutant Coffeys Forge (Danny Gilligan) and Cinnamon Roll (Harry Swan) in the bumper.
