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- O'Brien breaks new ground with Caracal
Michael Graham
O'Brien breaks new ground with Caracal
Caracal stays on best
© Photo Healy Racing
Long-absent Caracal swept through to land Tipperary's Meadowview Stables Race under Conor Stone-Walsh.
Joseph O'Brien 's four-year-old gelding was making his Irish debut after winning two of his three races in France before finsihing last of six in a Group 3 in April last year.
He had Warrior Brave and Lust to aim at as the field raced past the two marker.
Stone-Walsh sent him after the aforementioned pair by the furlong pole and his mount came home the strongest in the final 100 yards.
The 13/2 shot beat Lust (11/4) by three-parts of a length.
Joseph O'Brien said: "It's great to get our first winner for Al Shaqab (Racing) - we haven't had many runners for them and it's great to get the first win.
"He had been working smartly at home, but had been off the track for a long time so today was very much about getting him started. I thought it was a good performance against some good solid horses.
"He obviously had a hold-up in France, was off the track for an extended period of time with an injury and we have him for the last few months. We've liked him since he arrived, he will head for stakes level and is a nice horse going forward.
"He was a little keen and fresh in the race, I think he'll stay further and there is a Listed race in Cork over a mile which he could potentially go to, but we'll see how he pulls up first."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes