O'Brien and McMonagle double up as Galen wins Alleged Stakes Successful in the opening race on the card, Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle doubled up as Galen made all to easily win the Tote.ie Alleged Stakes (Group 3) at the Curragh. Sent off a well backed 6/1 (from 14/1) chance, the four-year-old was sent straight into the lead by McMonagle upon exiting stalls. Building up a steady lead as the race developed, the son of Gleneagles was still hard on the bridle two furlongs out as market leader Jan Brueghel came off it back in second. With the latter proving a difficult ride by hanging up the straight, Galen was able to assert again to run out a two-and-a-half lengths winner. “He’s always been a good horse and he ran well in Dubai a few times where he just didn’t get the rub of the green, didn’t break and had a few bad draws,” said O’Brien. “He obviously had the fitness edge. Dylan didn’t think there was much pace and was happy to go to the front and it was a good performance. “If you look at his form his best runs are probably when he was ridden very positive. “He just struggled when he went up in class to get to the lead over a mile. I think the step up in trip has allowed him to get to the front again. “I think he does enjoy being ridden like that and the cheekpieces helped him concentrate.” When asked if the Tattersalls Gold Cup could be a target he added:- “We’d have to look at the Mooresbridge first and then why not. “He’s a fun horse and I’m delighted for his ownership group. Barry Taylor bought into him and there is Paul Redmond, Ger Fitzgerald and Barry Fowler. They are lovely guys and have had horses for a long time. This lad is a smart horse.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
