Murtagh at the double again as Mirann wins

Johnny Murtagh doubled up at Gowran Park this afternoon when French import Mirann struck on his first outing for the Curragh handler.

The Motivator gelding was picked up for €55,000 at Arqana last November and it looks money well spent judged on this success in the first division of the nine-furlong handicap.

Ben Coen 's mount raced a bit keenly early on but arrived with a strong challenged a furlong out and got on top in the closing stages to beat front-runner Lethal Power by half a length.

The 9/1 winner was gaining a second career success having also won at Vichy last year.

Murtagh said:- Murtagh, “Without the good riders you don’t have good horses and Ben, Danny (Sheehy), Shane (Kelly), Nikita (Kane) have all put in a lot of work and Gary Halpin has been in with me as well. 

“The horses are in great form at the moment and hopefully it can continue. 

“This fellow came to us in early January. We’ve gelded him and he’s just starting to thrive a bit. In the spring I thought he was going okay but in the last couple of weeks he’s come to himself and his coat is really good at the moment. 

“We didn’t know if a mile and a quarter was going to suit him or not as he won over a mile and a half in France. He’s been showing plenty of speed at home and Ben said he travelled great through the race and quickened up well. 

“He doesn't have many miles on the clock and the time has done him the world of good. 

“The owners are Australian and that’s the first horse they have had with me.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)