Shackleton tough off the front in Curragh

A change of tactics saw Shackleton off the mark at the third time of asking in the juvenile maiden over nine furlongs at the Curragh.

Aidan O'Brien 's charge had posted a couple of runner-up berths in Leopardstown and Tipperary, but today Ryan Moore bounced him out to make all.

The 2/5 favourite was attended by Deetee in a race in truth in which very few horses got involved in.

Moore shook his mount up passing the two pole and Deetee (7/1) was ready to strike in second if good enough.

The favourite kept grinding in the final furlong, though, and Deetee was unable to get on terms. The margin increased to two and a-quarter lengths at the winning post. Sujet rounded out the placings at 11/1, beaten five lengths by the winner.

“We're delighted with him. We were disappointed he got beat the last day, but obviously Joseph's horse (O'Brien, Tennessee Stud) ran a big race in the Beresford yesterday (runner-up),” O'Brien said.

“Ryan was happy today, he went forward and kept it simple. He said he was very green, that it was a very strong headwind and it wasn't easy out there.

“He said he was idling and it probably wasn't the way to ride him ideally.

“He's a horse that will get a trip and we could look at the mile-and-a-quarter race in Saint-Cloud for him.”

Shackleton also holds a Group 1 entry in the Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster next month.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson