Khukri is ridden out by Colm O'Donoghue to beat Gorane© Photo Healy Racing
Jessica Harrington showed yet again that her training abilities aren't just confined to the jumps, as her Khukri landed the Listed Coolmore Stud Power Stakes under Colm O'Donoghue.
Second and third on his first two starts, the son of Sepoy made the breakthrough on the third time of asking at the Curragh in September.
Making his seasonal debut today, he came in for plenty of market support. He was available at 20's last night, but opened on-course at just 11's, before going off an 8/1 chance.
Drawn on the rail in stall one, the Mill House LLC owned victor was settled behind the leaders. He was pushed along in fifth from the two furlong pole.
He was ridden with a furlong left to race, and soon came between horses to lead, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by three parts of a length. Gorane ran a huge race to finish second under Declan McDonogh for Henry De Bromhead at 33/1, while Intelligence Cross (9/2) came through to take third, another two and three parts of a length back under Donnacha O'Brien for his father Aidan. Psychedelic Funk was sent off the 9/4 favourite, but he stumbled out of the stalls and was never involved thereafter, finishing twelfth under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons.
Jessica Harrington said afterwards: "I kind of didn't expect that. He had three runs last year and we put him away after he won. He's a sprinter and I haven't really trained sprinters before.
"This was sort of the only place we could go so we put him in here and hoped for the best.
"We really didn't know what to think because he's just been working away at home and his homework probably wouldn't inspire you. It doesn't matter as he put his head in front at the right place.
"He had a good draw which was great."
The winning rider added: "He was a two-year-old that Jessica always liked, he always worked well. He was probably a little bit immature at two, but he won a Curragh maiden and we always liked him, and he has done great from two to three. You never know until you come to the races, it was his first start, but he won it well at the line.
"Obviously he could step into Group 3 after that, Jessie will see how he is after the run."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
