Twilight Payment wins another Curragh Cup in impressive style

Twilight Payment led home a one two for Joseph O’Brien and Lloyd Williams in the Group Two Comer Group International Curragh Cup.

The seven-year-old is in a really good place right now and he added to his gains in this event last year when he was with Jim Bolger.

Following up on a course and distance win in another Comer-backed event, the Group Three Vintage Crop Stakes from three weeks back, Twilight Payment was an even more decisive winner this time.

After tracking the leader Declan McDonogh’s mount made headway to lead entering the straight.

He soon asserted on his way to dishing out an eight length beating to his stable companion Master Of Reality

The heavily-backed 8/15 shot then got a 40/1 1st show quote from Paddy Power for the Melbourne Cup.

“I think it was a big performance out of him,” said O'Brien.

“The horse that made the running is no slouch and this fella stayed going all the way to the line.

“This was our early season target and we had the couple of races that would bring us to here.

“I suppose in the longer term the Irish Leger back here would be the target.

“It was a good run out of Master Of Reality again I thought. He'll probably follow the same path, he hasn't got many other options really.”

When asked if they could travel to Australia later in the year he added:- “They could but obviously with everything that is going on it's slightly up in the air.

“We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Hopefully we will be able to go.”

(GC & EM)