St Stephens Green leads home his rivals under Ronan Whelan© Photo Healy Racing
St Stephens Green recorded his sixth career success, as he provided Emmet Mullins with his first win at the Curragh, in the two mile Curragh 'Where Champions Are Made' Handicap.
Successful three times last year, the seven-year-old gelding was a good fourth on his return to action at Dundalk last month.
Having opened at 8/1 on-course, the son of Diamond Green eventually went off at 13/2 under Ronan Whelan in the colours of the Mee family.
Settled in mid-division, he took closer order from three furlongs out, and was soon poised to challenge on the outer.
He was ridden to the front a furlong out, and kept on well under pressure from there to prevail by a length and a half.
Top-weight Clongowes (7/1) ran another fine race to finish second under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger, while Great Trango (10/1) was half a length back in third with Wayne Lordan aboard for Harry Kelly. Western Boy (5s into 4/1 favouritism on-course) was another half a length back in fourth.
Mullins said afterwards: "That's unbelievable stuff. It's my first winner at the Curragh and it's a huge thing for me."
"I'd like to thank the Mees for keeping him with me.
"We've always planned on mixing it over hurdles. He would have run in the spring festivals only for the ground and it's been a frustrating spring with him but today was great.
"Galway is definitely on the agenda. He has plenty of options and we'll see closer to the time where he'll end up."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Stewards interviewed Miss Amanda Mooney, trainer of Grand Canyon regarding the late arrival of the horse into the Parade Ring. Evidence was heard from the trainer who stated that the girth had snapped when being saddled and a replacement girth was sought but the delay was enhanced by the animal being saddled in the stable yard. Furthermore the Security staff would not allow her animal proceed directly to the parade ring while other runners were about to leave the parade ring. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards cautioned Miss Amanda Mooney concerning her responsibility to comply with Rule 32 (ii) at all times.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
