Captains takes top honours in Curragh Stakes Three Sea Captains (8/1) shed his maiden tag at the perfect time for connections as he took the Listed Manguard Plus Curragh Stakes, providing his trainer David Wachman and his rider Wayne Lordan with a double on the card (won the first with Awakened Spirit). The son of Choisir finished just half a length behind the smart Grafelli on his debut at Naas last month and was unlucky in running on his next start at Cork where he finished third behind stable mate Curly Wee (who he re-opposed today). Last time out he flew home but just failed to catch Yulong Baoju at Dundalk on Sunday last. Having raced in fifth in the early stages he was brought to the outer by Lordan and came with his challenge two furlongs from home. He then got on terms with Boston Rocker, who attempted to make all, a furlong out and he then edged narrowly ahead before staying on well under pressure to score by a neck at the line. Boston Rocker had to settle for second under Shane Foley for Eddie Lynam at 7/1 while the even money favourite Gale Force Ten finished a disappointing sixth of the seven for Aidan & Joseph O’Brien (was found to be post-race lame). Winning trainer David Wachman said afterwards: "He deserved that and he has always shown us he is a stakes horse. Wayne said he didn’t have to hit him a smack. "They went a good gallop and he won snug. He is entered in all the good races, the Mill Reef and the Middle Park. "He will get seven furlongs and is pretty adaptable. He is a grand tough, honest, sound horse and he has plenty of ability." (On-course reporting by Gary Carson)
