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Punchestown 2024
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Michael Graham
Yucatan leads home O'Brien's pair
Yucatan, near side, collars Taj Mahal in the Curragh
© Photo Healy Racing
Yucatan wore down stablemate Taj Mahal to give Aidan O'Brien a one-two in the mile maiden for juvenile colts and geldings at the Curragh.
Taj Mahal, a full brother to Gleneagles, had been a beaten favourite on his three previous outings and again the market expected him to oblige as went off the 7/4 jolly.
Taj Mahal led but faced a challenge from Lightening Fast approaching the final quarter of a mile. That rival's effort soon petered out as Seamie Heffernan went for home along the rail on the favourite.
It was Taj Mahal though that threw down the gauntlet in the final furlong and he always lloked to gett ting there as he hit the front close home.
The winner scored by a head at 4/1 under Donnacha O'Brien. Three Jacks at 25/1 was two and three quarter lengths behind the runner-up Taj Mahal.
Aidan O'Brien said: "He came forward lovely from the first day and had a lovely run the first day under Ana [when seventh here last week]."
"He's a very well-bred horse and he looks a middle distance horse for next year. I'm trying to educate him this year and, if he comes out of this race okay, he could have another run this year.
"The other horse (Taj Mahal) is a bit frustrating and is still very babyish. He's looking in front of him all the time. He's not ungenuine but just babyish and at least he's getting better."
Donnacha O'Brien added: "He's still a little bit green. When he got there he pricked his ears today. I think he has a lot of ability. He's a young horse and he's still learning. I just had to sit on him and a gap came lovely and it worked out well.
"Even though he's a little bit lazy he's able to quicken a little bit, maybe a mile and a quarter type horse next year."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee