Comanche Brave won the Curragh Flying Five Stakes, the Group 1 sprint on Sunday, at 5/2 with jockey Billy Loughnane. The six-year-old defeated American Affair by 1.25 lengths to claim the £240,000 prize in 58.80 seconds on yielding ground.
Settled in midfield through the opening stages, the winner was twice boxed in approaching the final two furlongs but forced through into contention by his rider. Billy Loughnane drove the favourite to the front inside the last furlong and kept finding more to power clear. Trainer Donnacha Aidan O’Brien secured his second Group 1 of the afternoon after Thundering On‘s success in the Blandford Stakes.
Comanche Brave Edges American Affair in Curragh Flying Five Stakes
Rumstar claimed third in the Curragh Flying Five Stakes, beaten by a neck from American Affair, with Starlust fourth a further 0.3 lengths back. The 8/1 American Affair, sent from Jim Goldie’s yard, had travelled prominently throughout and pressed for effort with two furlongs remaining but could not match the winner’s finishing kick.
Earlier on the card, Sun Goddess won the Moyglare Stud Stakes as favourite at 4/7, and Folsom Blues claimed the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at 11/2 for the same trainer.
