Commanche Brave sprints clear in the Flying Five Commanche Brave continued on a sharp upward curve in the sprinting ranks when overcoming trouble in running to take the Group 1 BAR 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh. The Donnacha O’Brien-trained colt landed the July Cup last time over six furlongs at Newmarket and was reunited here with Billy Loughnane and coped really well with the drop down to the minimum trip. The 5/2 favourite was travelling well but waiting for a gap under two furlongs out and showed a smart turn of foot when the opening came inside the final furlong. The son of Wootton Bassett quickened up well to beat American Affair by a length and a quarter, with Rumstar half a length back in third. O’Brien said, “He was very good, and Billy have him a lovely ride. “I’m very pleased for Mr Almuhaideb and for all the team at home, they’ve done a great job with this horse. “He’s getting better, Billy said five was definitely his trip. I was worried about the ground today but obviously that wasn’t any problem. He’s just a very, very good, fast, horse. “There is a lot of Holy Roman Emperor in him looking at him. He’s not over-big but he’s very strong. He’s a real fast strider; he has a very strong front on him. He’s a very good-looking horse and I’m very lucky to have him. “I think there is a chance he might stay in training again next year which would be great as well. I think he’s a horse that is getting better the whole time. He’d be a really nice one to have. “He ran in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Saudi and he still has his passport so I’m sure we’ll travel this winter.” When asked if the Breeders’ Cup was an option he added, “Yeah, very possible. We were even discussing whether he’d go for the Breeders’ Cup Mile rather than the five-and-a-half in Keeneland, but I’d say looking at that you wouldn’t have any worries about the trip. “He’s a very valuable horse with a good page. His dam won the Jersey and was third in an Irish Guineas. He’s got a great pedigree, is a good-looking horse, and is a dual Group 1 winner now.” Loughnane said, “That’s my first winner in Ireland and what a way to do it. “My only worry was whether I could get out but thankfully I got a bit of room and he put the race to bed very easily. “When it opened up it was fantastic and he showed his natural turn of foot to put the race to bed.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
