Red Tea 'quite impressive' in Curragh finale

Red Tea powered home to take the last at the Curragh, the Curragh On Hallowed Ground Handicap.

A luckless fourth on her debut for Joseph O'Brien at Gowran last month, the daughter of Sakhee was well-fancied to go a few places better today.

Sent off the 5/1 favourite, the Capel Street Syndicate owned six-year-old raced towards rear under Donnacha O'Brien.

She made some progress into mid-division from halfway, and was ridden to lead over a furlong out, keeping on strongly from there, scoring easily by four and three parts of a length.

The chestnut Fastar (14/1) finished second under Killian Leonard for Ger O'Leary, while Lethal Steps and (20/1) and Tony The Gent (16/1) were third and fourth respectively.

Joseph O'Brien said afterwards: "She had a good run first time out for me in Gowran. Donnacha got a nice clean run up the outside and she was quite impressive.

"She's a decent filly and could go for something like a Hunt Cup before aiming at Stakes races.

"I think they went fast and a good few winners have come up that stands’ rail today so that was probably a help to her."

The winner was previously trained in the UK by Peter Hiatt, and was bought for 42,000 guineas at Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale last October.

STEWARDS REPORT

B.M. Coen, rider of Spiorad Saoirse (GB) trained by Andrew Slattery, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped quickly.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee