Review CURRAGH 25TH JUN

Alexander Goldrun went one better than last year when coming from last to first in the straight for an impressive victory in the Group 1 Audi Pretty Polly Stakes.

Kevin Manning's mount, backed from 4/1 in the morning down to 9/4 fav at the off, lost some ground when rearing up as the stalls opened and still trailed all her 9 rivals entering the straight.

However she quickened with some effect to land her third win at the highest level, edging right inside the final furlong to beat Red Bloom and the German raider Elopa by 1 1/2L and a head.

A stewards enquiry was called into possible interference, the worst sufferer Saoire finished eighth, but there was no alteration made to the judge's placings.

'She's a very straight forward filly, tough and genuine, and her only little problem is in the starting stalls as she also missed the break when winning the Prix de l'Opera in Paris last year, said Jim Bolger.

He added, 'The Falmouth, Matron Stakes, Prix de l'Opera and the Hong Kong Cup, if she gets another invite, are all possibles.'

The Bolger/Manning combination were on the mark again in the following ten furlongs handicap where Requested Pleasure stayed on best to prevail by 1 1/2L from Hippodrome.

John Oxx was another trainer to record a double on the afternoon, highlighted by back-to-back wins in the At The Races-sponsored Curragh Cup for Mkuzi.

The six-year-old son of Halling was prominent throughout under Fran Berry, striking the front well over a furlong out to beat Orpington by a length and a half.

'He may try to win it again next year and they may give us the Cup!' quipped Oxx, who intends giving him 'another few runs before the Irish Field St Leger'.

Oxx saddled a 1-2 in the opening Premier fillies handicap although not in the order that punters envisaged as Artist's Muse (Cathy Gannon) just held off Powder Paint in a blanket finish.

The placings remained unaltered after a stewards enquiry, with the head-on camera showing some contact between the 10/1 winner and fourth-placed Society Hostess.

'The blinkers improved Artist's Muse and they are two nice unexposed fillies,' commented the Currabeg trainer afterwards.

Aidan O'Brien holds Aussie Rules in good regard and the Danehill colt landed odds of 9/10 in workmanlike fashion under Kieren Fallon when asserting in the closing stages of the 6f juvenile maiden.

'I was very happy with that introduction, and he is entered in a number of races (six and seven furlongs) at the Newmarket July meeting,' said the Ballydoyle trainer.

O'Brien and Fallon also doubled up as Milesius (6/1-5/1), runner-up on his only juvenile start at Tipperary last autumn, scored in good style on his reappearance in the mile maiden.

The Sadler's Wells full-brother to King Of Kings was switched to challenge on the outer over a furlong out, and stretched out nicely to beat Appleblossom Pearl by 2L.

'He's well able to quicken like his brother and we'll step him up to Listed class,' said O'Brien.

Sling Back, 16/1 but paid over 86/1 on the Tote, recorded a shock win in the 7f 50-80 handicap when swooping fast and late in the hands of Padraig Beggy to overhaul Charismatic Cat by 1/2L.

'She disappointed at Down Royal last weekend when pulling off a shoe and the same shoe (off-fore) has come off again.'

'We used equilox, a paste that hardens and sets with glue, and hopefully she won't be too sore after this,' said local trainer Eamon Tyrrell.

Alan Magee