O'Brien family dominate at the Curragh

The O’Brien brothers, Donnacha and Joseph, dominated the middle pair of Group 1 races at Irish Champions Festival at the Curragh on Sunday.

Comanche Brave staked strong claims to Champion Sprinter honours at the end of the season with a late burst in the Group 1 Bar 1 Betting Flying Stakes.

Just over half an hour later, Folsom Blues bolted up in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes over seven furlongs.

This made it a hat-trick of major races for the O’Brien clan at the meeting after Aidan plundered the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes a little earlier with Sun Goddess.

Following on from his victory in the Group 1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket, Comanche Brave was much the best in Ireland’s highest-ranking sprint contest.

Billy Loughnane’s mount was full of running but waiting for a gap either side of the final furlong marker.

Once clear running presented itself, Comanche Brave, the 5-2 favourite, settled the contest in a matter of strides. The winning margin was a length and a quarter, but it could have been a good deal more.

American Affair and Rumstar ran second and third respectively for British stables.

Donnacha O’Brien has reinvented Comanche Brave from Group 2 miler to Group 1 sprinter. He began the year racing over a mile in Abu Dhabi before dropping back in distance. This was his first run over the minimum trip.

The title of Europe’s best sprinter now appears to rest between him and Almeraq, who also has two Group 1 wins on his CV for trainer William Haggas.

“He is getting better and faster. Billy said just there that five is definitely his trip,” Donnacha said.

“The Breeders’ Cup is a possible for him next. I will have to speak to his owner, Mr Almuhaideb, but there is a chance he could stay in training next year, too.” Not 24 hours on from conquering the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster a day earlier, Joseph O’Brien’s stellar season continued when Folsom Blues turned the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes into a one-act affair.

Joey Sheridan, riding the second Group 1 winner of his career, had his rivals covered approaching the furlong pole.

Once asked to seal the deal, the Blue Point colt tore away by six lengths. Stable companion Monogram stayed on from the rear of the field to take second. Florida Bay ran third for Aidan O’Brien.

“When this horse relaxes, he is a fair jet. Joseph has done some job with him. The last two weeks he has just relaxed. I rode him here at a launch for this meeting the other week and he did everything right. To ride a Group 1 winner for this team, I can’t believe it,” Sheridan said.

“I was aware how good Monogram is and that could be chasing me, so I didn’t want to go early and give him a lead until the half-furlong. I took a quick look at the big screen and when I saw he wasn’t coming, it was great!” Folsom Blues’ emphatic triumph also paid a huge compliment to Moyglare heroine Sun Goddess who defeated him in the Group 1 Keeneland Stakes last month.