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- Review curragh 6th May
Review curragh 6th May
Camelot is driven out by Joseph O'Brien
© Photo Healy Racing
Dual Derby winner Camelot made a smooth return to action with a clear-cut victory in the High Chaparral EBF Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh.
There will be much bigger fish to fry than this Group Three contest for Aidan O'Brien's colt later in the year, but it was important he performed well on his comeback from a colic operation.
Settled last of five by Joseph O'Brien, the 1-3 favourite quickened nicely down the outside in the final quarter-mile to beat his pacemaking stablemate Triumphant by a length and three-quarters without the jockey having recourse to the whip.
The Ballydoyle team also won with Michaelmas who was sent off the 2-9 favourite for the Alfred Nobel EBF Race after a promising debut second and led all the way to score by three-quarters of a length, without being particularly impressive.
Eddie Lynam's filly Viztoria put up an eyecatching display in the other Group Three race on the card, the Canford Cliffs EBF Athasi Stakes, and looks well worth her chance in the Irish 1000 Guineas.
Johnny Murtagh switched outside to make his run going to the furlong pole and soon had the race won on the evens favourite, who beat Bunairgead by a length with something in hand.< Sruthan looked promising when winning on the Dundalk all-weather on his debut and Paul Deegan's three-year-old followed up in the Power EBF Tetrarch Stakes, which was missing Cougar Ridge after he refused to enter the stalls.
Favourite Fortify tried to make all in the Listed contest, but Chris Hayes was going best when he eased alongside two furlongs out and Sruthan picked up nicely to go two and a half lengths clear.
Pat Shanahan's 9-1 shot Scotland Forever put up a game front-running performance under Tadhg O'Shea in the PG Duffy & Sons Citroen Maiden, fighting back to grab a nose verdict right on the line after being collared by Wexford Opera deep inside the final furlong.