Summer scores again at the Curragh Summer Island grabbed Little Empire late on to score under Oisin Murphy in the Schweppes Trophy Handicap at the Curragh. The Natalia Lupini-trained gelding was in rear early in the seven-furlong contest and Murphy had to navigate some traffic to get a run two furlongs from home. Once in the clear the Caravaggio gelding finished off strongly inside the final furlong to secure a half-length success. Summer Island had scored over course and distance in early May and was second on his last visit here, 20 days later, over a mile. "It is brilliant to have this kind of horse for these kind of days. Oisin was brilliant on him,” said Lupni. “He said he was a little bit slow out of the gates. He was very calm and, relaxed and, he sort of missed the break a little bit. Oisin didn't panic. He just took his time and, then rode him out. He won well again and, I'm delighted.  "He quickens well and, he stays so he gets the mile also. Seven (furlongs), we think is his best trip and, he seems to love the Curragh. Hopefully he can improve again off this race.  "He is a fast ground horse. He was in at Down Royal last week but obviously with the rain it went soft and, we had to pull him out. It worked out the best because it's nice to have a winner here on Derby weekend, so we're delighted." (Quotes by John O’Riordan)
