In Ecstasy and Declan McDonogh win at the Curragh © Photo Healy Racing
Having reached the milestone 1000 winner mark earlier in the afternoon, Joseph O'Brien didn't have to wait too long to begin his quest for a second thousand, as In Ecstasy ran out an impressive winner of the Sheehy Motors Volkswagen Handicap at the Curragh.
Unlike his stablemate in the maiden, In Ecstasy proved friendless in the market, drifting from an overnight 5-1 to an sp of twice those odds. However, it mattered little in the race itself, as the grey defied an absence off 155 days to win with something in hand.
Having only his second run on turf, the dual Dundalk winner showed that he is very adaptable with conditions, as he travelled well under Declan McDonagh before staying on strongly close home.
If anything, he possibly ran a bit green when hitting the front, suggesting that there could be even more to come from the Caravaggio gelding.
Brendan Powell, “I think the gelding operation has made a difference to him. Declan said when he saw him in the paddock today that he looked a different horse than the last time he rode him in Dundalk.
“We thought the world of him the first time and he disappointed and then he went on the all-weather and probably found that easier.
“I was impressed with the way he did that today. He pulled away the final 150 yards and there could be a nice pot in him.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
