Celebration time for True Valour

True Valour benefitted from a daring ride by Shane Foley to land the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Celebration Stakes at the Curragh.

The son of Kodiac got a lovely gap up the far rail to lead a furlong out, and the 6/1 chance kept on well under Foley to beat Sea Wolf by half a length. Alexios Komnenos was just a neck further away in third.

Winning trainer Johnny Murtagh said, “I thought this race was coming a bit too soon but he takes travelling really well. He’s been to Epsom and Ascot but takes it all in his stride. He just eats and sleeps, and is very tough and durable.

“It was a great ride today and that’s what won it. He was able to take the gaps when they were there, and pricks his ears a bit when he gets there.

“He’s thriving on his racing, and I felt today was the ideal race for him. I haven’t thought too much past today but he could go for the seven-furlong Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.”

Foley said, “I was lucky the gap opened when it did. He's a keen going sort of horse. I rode him the last day at Ascot and he ran well. He travelled well but it's just so competitive over there.

“I said to Johnny afterwards to step him up to a mile with a bit of ease in the ground. It all worked out thank god.

“He's a nice horse and he's improving with racing. They went a good gallop and he travelled. I was going to need a bit of luck and luckily it did open up for me. You need to get those splits every now and then.”

(GC & AM)