18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Balance gets back on track in the Curragh Stakes

Sat 25th Aug 2018, 16:23

Indigo Balance leads home his rivals under Colm O'DonoghueIndigo Balance leads home his rivals under Colm O'Donoghue
© Photo Healy Racing

Indigo Balance denied Aidan and Donnacha O'Brien of a four-timer, as he powered home to take the Listed Curragh Stakes.

Successful on debut here in May, the Jessica Harrington trained son of Invincible Spirit then finished down the field in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He was a good fourth of five in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes on his last start, and dropped down to five furlongs today, he was sent off a 9/4 chance in the colours of owner Zhang Yuesheng.

Settled towards rear by Colm O'Donoghue, he took closer order on the far side from the two furlong pole, and was pushed along to challenge with just over a furlong to race.

He got to the front inside the final 100 yards, and powered clear from there, going on to score comfortably by a length and three parts, from the 2/1 favourite Gossamer Wings in second.

Donnacha O'Brien was aboard the runner-up for his father Aidan, while Fantasy (5/1), also trained by Aidan O'Brien, was another half a length back in third.

"He has a lot of ability but he's a little bit wayward," said Harrington.

"Colm said that he's absolutely gun barrel straight and then you ask him and he starts to hang a bit.

"He didn't even hit him. He said there was no point as he was going to pick up fine.

"He'll probably go back up to six now. He's got various entries and we'll see what happens. He only needs one more run this year.

"It was nice to come back to this because last time was a bit disappointing. If he hadn't hung he probably would have went very close that day.

"He has loads of ability anyway, if you can just channel it in the right direction."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
9/4
Tote €2.30 €1.30
2nd
1.75L
2/1Fav
€1.10
3rd
0.5L
10/1
€1.50
4th
0.75L
14/1
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.