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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

O'Brien breaks new ground with Caracal

Sun 3rd Sep 2023, 15:44

Caracal stays on bestCaracal 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

1st
13/2
Tote €8.00 €2.90
2nd
0.75L
11/4
€1.80
3rd
2.25L
11/8Fav
4th
5L
66/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.