Champion trainer Aidan O'Brien got the new flat campaign off to a winning start before a record Curragh opening day crowd of nearly 6,000 when newcomer Tomahawk (5/4-11/10f) stormed home in the opening Betdaq Maiden.
After the American bred son of Seattle Slew quickened up in good style at the furlong pole to come home with 3L to spare over market rival Cat Belling, O'Brien remarked, ' He was one of those ready to run and he has loads of speed. He's a good colt and did it well.'
O'Brien and Mick Kinane combined again later when Maderno, a full-brother to Fasliyev, made a winning bow in the 6f maiden. 'He had problems last year but he's a nice colt who will improve a lot,'O'Brien said afterwards.
The Master of Ballydoyle saddled odds-on Century City (1/2f) for the Listed Loughbrown Stakes over 7f but it was 5/1 2f Barring Order that prevailed by a head in the hands of in-form John Murtagh, fresh from his two winners at Doncaster.
'She was fit and well but I was a bit worried about the sticky ground beforehand. She is entered in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and hopefully she'll run next in the Athasi Stakes back here on the 6th May,' said Curragh handler John Oxx of Barring Order.
Oxx later went on to complete a treble helped by 14/1 shot Egyptian (Fran Berry) in the 7f handicap with better fancied stable companion Zardak finishing towards the rear and it was more of the same in the 7f maiden.
The Curragh trainer saddled four runners here including Lady Clague's warm favourite Calorando, the mount of stable jockey John Murtagh, but it was 14/1 stable companion Chartres, also owned by Lady Clague, that landed the spoils for Catherine Gannon much to the joy of the layers.
Serov (14/1-10/1) just held the late surge of Mahsusie by the minimum margin in the Betdaq.Com Handicap over the minimum trip. Supporters of the runner-up will feel hard done by as Frank Ennis' charge was slowly away and then didn't enjoy the clearest of runs.
A Stewards enquiry was called after Galloway Boy was hampered when Kinane's mount veered towards the stands rail and following the investigation the former champion was lucky to escape with a caution.
The Jackpot pool swelled to a whopping 104,280 and following several upsets in the first three legs just four horses were covered with a single unit in the Betdaq Irish Lincoln.
For one Jackpot investor the race proved a memorable one as Atlantic Rhapsody (7/1-6/1f) edged to the front under Mick Kinane inside the final furlong to land the spoils for Kill trainer Ted Walsh and a dividend of 78,210.60 for the lucky punter.
'He has plenty of ability but thinks about it a bit sometimes and will run in the valuable Powers Gold Label Handicap at Fairyhouse next,' said Walsh.
Kinane last tasted victory in the Irish Lincoln back in 1982 with Uncle Dick, trained by his former boss Liam Browne.
John Oxx rounded off a tremendous opening day at headquarters when newcomer Tarifana carried the colous of HH Aga Khan to victory in the concluding Betdaq EBF Fillies Maiden, a 2nd winner of the session for Fran Berry.
