'Derby type' wins for Curragh's leading jockey

Aidan O'Brien's Cleveland won on his third career attempt at the Curragh today as the son of Camelot landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for the venue's leading jockey for the year Seamie Heffernan.

Heffernan won two Classics at the Curragh in 2020, with Santiago in the Derby and Peaceful in the 1,000 Guineas and Cleveland (9/2 — 3/1) provided him with a 19th Curragh win when staying on strongly to beat Kailash by four lengths.

It was Heffernan's 67th win in a successful but frustrating year when he also picked up lengthy suspensions and sat out a fortnight's quarantine following a French trip.

Following Cleveland's win, Heffernan stated “his homework was very smart but for some reason he didn’t reproduce it on his first two runs and you would be scratching your head a bit. He got it together today.

“I’d say he has a big future and he’s a Derby type. He’s a good-looking horse and a good mover.”

Heffernan subsequently received a presentation as the leading jockey at the course, finishing one ahead of Colin Keane, with Aidan O'Brien once again the leading trainer.

Quotes from Alan Magee