PERFECT TAPATINO and Donnacha O'Brien (white, yellow sleeves) edge out Trossachs (rail).© Photo Healy Racing
Perfect Tapatino (5/1), a fast-finishing second in the Ladies’ Derby at The Curragh on his previous start, went one place better with a battling victory under Donnacha O'Brien in the McEnery Cup Handicap, just getting the better of the front-running Trossachs (9/2) to win by a head.
De Name Escapes Me (11/4 fav) kept on well for third another half a length away, with Contrapposto somewhat short of room close home back in fourth.
The five-year-old winner has been a steady improver since joining Joseph O’Brien’s stable last year, winning his first race at the Curragh last September off a mark of 61 and gaining his fifth career victory here off 88.
The winning trainer Joseph O’Brien observed: “He's a tough horse. He's kept improving and improving since last year and that's another career best there today.
“It's a nice pot to win and Donnacha gave him a great ride.
“There is the mile-and-a-quarter race on Champions Weekend but we might not aim too high.
“That was a 100 race there today and he'd be good and competitive in one of those again.
“He could even get a bit further than a mile-and-a-half and that's an angle we could explore with him.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
