Tag Archive for: Loughbrown Stakes

Dawn rises to the challenge in Loughbrown Stakes

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Dawn Rising battled to success in the Comer Group International Loughbrown Stakes as part of a treble for Dylan Browne McMonagle at the Curragh.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien and owned by JP McManus, the Galileo seven-year-old has taken part in some high-class contests both over hurdles and on the Flat.

Third in the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle in 2023 and then third in the Irish St Leger later the same year, the bay has been a consistent and versatile performer for the yard.

Last seen finishing a good fifth in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, he was a 6-4 shot under McMonagle at Group Three level at the Curragh.

He was ridden patiently as Aidan O’Brien’s Lily Hart led, but as the race progressed Dawn Rising began to reel her in and was resolute to take a half-length success.

Frank Berry, racing manager for McManus, said: “He was good and tough. He ran a good race in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and this race suited him as they went a good pace and he stayed on best up the straight.

“Hopefully he’ll be back for those sorts of races next year and he’s run at Royal Ascot the last couple of years.

“The handicapper may have caught up with him a bit, but he’ll be competitive in those Group Threes.

“It’s hard to get those sort of horses. He doesn’t mind the ground, whether it is good or heavy, and hasn’t lost any of his enthusiasm.”

McMonagle’s afternoon started on a high note when he teamed up with Joseph O’Brien to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden aboard Kibris at 5-1 and in the Curragh On Course Bookmakers Premier Handicap, he was the winner aboard Mark Fahey’s 14-1 chance Rhythm King.



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Falcon Eight lifts Loughbrown prize for Dermot Weld

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Dermot Weld’s Falcon Eight was a wide-margin winner of the Comer Group International Loughbrown Stakes at the Curragh.

The dual-purpose eight-year-old is often seen to good effect on the track and finished second in the Irish Cesarewitch over a trip just a furlong shorter in September.

On heavy ground he returned to bid for Group honours under Chris Hayes and at 11-4 he succeeded, defeating Willie Mullins’ 2-1 favourite Echoes In Rain by six and a half lengths.

“He’s as tough as teak and is unlucky not to win the last two runnings of the Irish Cesarewitch, so he deserved a nice win here,” Weld said.

“He’s been a great dual-purpose servant and his full-sister Search For A Song won this race two years ago.

“It’s a possibility that he might go over hurdles at Leopardstown at Christmas or he might go to Dubai for the two-mile race.

“He has stacks of enthusiasm but he is a character.”

Trainer Richard Donohoe enjoyed a poignant first Listed win as Vischio stayed on to take the Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Now Finale Stakes under Gary Carroll.

An outsider at 16-1, the mare was not for beating and had victory in her sights a furlong from home as she refused to be passed in a three-quarter-length triumph over Noel Meade’s Helvic Dream.

“It’s absolutely brilliant for the syndicate involved – my cousin Michael and his sister Mag and the sons,” said Donohoe.

“She was bought for a good friend of mine, John Kennedy, who was fighting cancer at the time. She was second in a seller and we were able to claim her for about 8,000 (euros).

“She won a hurdle race just before Michael died and the current syndicate have had nothing but fun with her ever since.

“She started off this spring and has been at nearly every festival since. We thought she might not go on heavy ground and it’s better she’s got on heavy ground.

“You could see lately she was in brilliant form and she’s really strengthened. The races have taken nothing out of her.

“She had a bit to find on several horses in the race today but there is always a chance in an end-of-season race that horses may not run to form and there was a chance to sneak some black type.

“She was definitely going to be in the first three under two furlongs down, but to win was a dream.

“We are dealing with cheap, low grade horses most of the time and she was low grade too at one time. We never have more than about 10 horses but luckily we’ve had horses that have been able to win races this year which makes it enjoyable.

“I’d say she’ll race away. I had it in my head to go to Leopardstown at Christmas for a hurdle race but I don’t know if that will happen now. She has a mark over hurdles that you’d say she might be able to compete off, but we’ll have to sit down and talk with Michael and Mag.”



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