Brad The Brief (right) with Mooneista© Photo Healy Racing
British raider Brad The Brief (9/2) upset a strong home team in winning the Curragh's Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes today, eventually securing the race in the stewards' room.
Ridden by William Buick, the five year old gelded son of Dutch Art held a narrow lead throughout the final furlong but drifted right, carrying runner-up Mooneista across the track. At the line Brad The Brief held Mooneista by half a length and following an enquiry, the result was allowed stand.
Ireland's leading sprinter A Case Of You (13/8f) was having his first start since winning March's Al Quoz Sprint and faded late-on to finish third.
Brad The Brief's trainer Hugo Palmer last February swapped his Newmarket base to train at Michael Owen's Manor House Stables in Cheshire, and following today's success travelling head man Peter McCulloch said “two weeks ago he ran for the first time for us at Haydock on real wet ground and beat Glen Shiel going away and he's beaten him further today so he's come on again.
“He was drawn out in two but William (Buick) has jumped great and tacked across the best he could. He's really lengthened away when the other horse has come to him.
“He's knuckled down and they've pulled clear of the third horse, who is a multiple Group 1 winner so it's a pretty good performance. Glen Shiel is fourth, who is a Group 1 winner as well.”
He added “touch wood, if he carries on improving like he appears to be since we've took charge of him then there could be a big one in him, not that this isn't big,
“It's fair to say he's better with a bit of cut in the ground and if we do get a wet Saturday in Ascot he could quite easily turn up for the Jubilee.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
