Trustyourinstinct landed a ninth career success for Joseph O’Brien and JP McManus after an excellent performance in the Curragh Cup. The son of Churchill travelled smoothly in rear under Declan McDonagh. He angled out wide, and was delivered with a rapid late run to mow down Happy Pharaoh. Short-priced favourite and stablemate Al Riffa found little for pressure, and could only manage third.
Trustyourinstict now has form figures of 1223117221 at the Curragh, and further valuable prizes await. Speaking to the Press Association, via At The Races, the in-form Joseph O’Brien said: “He always runs well here at the Curragh. Stepping up in trip today, I think the race set up pretty well for him.
“He’s a good horse. We were pretty happy with the trip to be honest. I think Declan quietly fancied him. He’s ran great all year and like I say, particularly here. He’s at his best here. He’s a great servant.”
He’s long threatened to develop into a smart group performer, and O’Brien has some big targets provisionally pencilled in. O’Brien said: “I think he’ll be coming back for every Group race at the Curragh that he can run in. The Leger being one of them probably.
“Potentially he could go to the Melbourne Cup. It’ll be an option for him for sure.”
His trainer knows what it takes to win the coveted contest. O’Brien won it with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020. Al Riffa could only manage seventh last season at Flemington, and on his effort, O’Brien added: “He ran a good race, it was a bit messy down the inside and he never really got rocking.”
“He’d gallop down the road if you asked him to” – Declan McDonagh
Declan McDonagh recorded his fourth win on the gelding, and on the performance he said: “I think that’s the third or fourth time I’ve won on him. I was just saying to Frank that is the first time he’s had his ground. He’d gallop down the road if you asked him too.
“Dropping him out was important to get him to relax early. The tempo was lovely for the first three furlongs then they just pulled it up in front. Once they started doing that I knew I was in business because he has a great kick.
“He’s a right horse, he’s enjoying it now and has options, maybe an Irish Leger or something.”