Donal Murphy
Sruthan lands another big Curragh pot
Sruthan (nearest) finishes best to beat Sovereign Debt (grey) and Hint Of A Tint
© Photo Healy Racing
Sruthan landed another big pot at the Curragh, taking the Listed Dubai Duty Free Millenium Millionaire Celebration Stakes under Colm O'Donoghue for Paul Deegan.
Successful in the Tetrarch in 2013, the Gladness in 2014, and the Lincolnshire in March, the six-year-old gelding was recording his fourth course win today.
A disappointing sixth in the Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown last month, he was sent off at 10/1 today in the colours of owner Robert Ng.
Settled behind the leaders on the inner he was caught behind a wall of horses from the two furlong pole.
He was soon angled out for room, and got the split he needed over a furlong out, keeping on strongly inside the final furlong, getting up close home to win by three parts of a length.
The 2015 winner Sovereign Debt who was sent off a 3/1 joint-favourite, hit the front just under two furlongs out, but he couldn't hold off the surge of Sruthan, and he had to settle for second under Chris Hayes for Dandy Nicholls. Hint Of A Tint (13/2) completed the placings a neck back in third under Wayne Lordan for David Wachman. Cougar Mountain was the other joint-favourite and he finished fifth under Ryan Moore for Aidan O'Brien.
Paul Deegan said afterwards: "That's great. Good horses change seasons. Colm was brilliant on him. He said the longer he sat on him he was able to fill him up and the better he felt. He said he really wanted it today.
"I thought he was beat to be honest and nearly turned around and walked away a furlong-and-a-half out thinking 'he should have won'.
"The cheekpieces (second time fitted) helped as he's getting cute in his old age.
"He might get another run before Champions Weekend where we'll aim for the Boomerang Stakes again.
"It depends where we get a bit of ease."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson