Mushaffar shows plenty on debut at Headquarters Joseph O'Brien's newcomer Mushaffar showed a good turn of foot to turn to cut down outsider White Smoke in the closing stages of the opening juvenile maiden over six furlongs at the Curragh. White Smoke was in front, but off the bridle a long way out, but showed good resolution to keep boxing on at the head of this big field. Killian Leonard was in the drive position inside the final furlong with his mount straining for the line, however strong-travelling Mushaffar came from well back with a withering finish under Dylan Browne McMonagle to sweep past and win going away by a length and a-half at 5/1. White Smoke emerged with plenty of credit in second at 100/1 and was two-and-three-quarter-lengths clear of Coincidental Glory (15/2). Browne McMonagle said: “We went good and even all the way and I just wanted to get him to relax in the first half of the race, and we were confident that he would come good. “He did things really good, and I had plenty of pace to target. He quickened up good inside the final furlong and hit the line well. “It was a nice performance and hopefully he will step forward plenty. “He’ll have no problem going seven (furlongs), but I think he’ll get quicker with experience. He’s not short of pace.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
