O'Sullivan family on the mark with Citizen Al

Eugene O'Sullivan's Citizen Al caused a minor 10/1 upset in the M.D.O'Shea & Sons Mares Maiden Hurdle at Killarney today when beating a pair of better fancied Mullins runners, under the trainer's daughter Maxine.

Four to five favourite and Mags Mullins trained Agusta Gold folded tamely early in the home straight but the winning of the race for Citizen Al came at the final flight as the winner went in pursuit of the Willie Mullins trained Sapphire Lady

Sapphire Lady and David Mullins met that obstacle on a wrong stride allowing Citizen Al to challenge, and at the line the winning daughter of Milan went on to score a length and a quarter win.

Trainer O'Sullivan later commented “we're not shocked but are surprised as the ground dried up so much. She ran very well when staying on at Limerick the last day but today we thought she'd be caught for toe because of the ground.

“That's the last horse my late father E.J. bred, it's the first horse owned by my brother William and his son Alan, who the horse is named after, led her up, so it's a pure family story.

“We didn't plan further than today but we'll probably race her away and keep her for breeding.”