Star Harbour and Adam Caffrey. © Photo Healy Racing
Star Harbour stayed on strongly close home under Adam Caffrey to give trainer Adrian McGuinness the final winner of Derby weekend when taking the concluding Dubai Duty Free Irish EBF Ragusa(Premier) Handicap at the Curragh.
In a race where it paid to be on the front end, Caffrey was never too far way on Star Harbour, as James Doyle took them along on the Willie Mullins trained Lot of Joy
Early in the straight, it appeared as though the latter may have stolen the race from the front but once Caffrey got to the leader, he picked up well.
Edging ahead inside the final furlong, the 9/1 chance had to battle hard to repel the late challenges of Safecracker and Intellotto
Winning trainer McGuinness said: “That's brilliant, this horse deserves it as he's been very consistent over his last few runs.
“He was fourth in a €50,000 handicap the last time and the lads have been very lucky, they've been with me since I started. They are a great bunch of lads.
“He wasn't a cheap horse and I always said he'd win a big race so it's great to get one. He's been very consistent, he won a good one last year in the Racing League as well. He's a great horse.
“We were to go to Yarmouth for the Racing League but that could actually put him out of the ratings now.
“If he doesn't go there he could go for the mile-and-a-half in Galway. He's run well in Galway before, he's a Sea The Stars and stays well.
“It's great to have a horse like him, he's won plenty of money for them. The lads have had a great time with him.
“They are a great bunch of lads and they all re-invest every couple of years and they always come across a nice horse.
“I have to thank my staff as well and Adam, who is seriously good value for his claim.
“I'd like to dedicate this win to my brother who is very ill in St Francis Hospice and doesn't have long left. It will be a great tonic for him.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
