Thrice awarded Gallinule in stewards room There was a dramatic finish to the Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh this evening with Reyenzi losing the race in the stewards' room and Thrice being awarded the Group 3 prize. Johnny Murtagh’s charge edged the verdict by a head at the line from the Aidan O’Brien-trained Thrice, with the same margin back to Emit in a tight finish. Reyenzi had hung right when coming with his challenge a furlong from home though and made contact with Emit, leading to Thrice also receiving a bump. The ‘first past the post’ also came close with the eventual third inside the final furlong and after a review the stewards decided to amend the result. Reyenzi was demoted to third, behind the pair that had suffered interference. Ben Coen picked up a four day ban for careless riding. The Wayne Lordan-ridden Thrice had been an easy to back 12/1 shot and was the outsider of two Ballydoyle runners. 6/4 favourite Shackleton finished a well-held fourth. Immediately after the race Murtagh had said:- “We’re delighted with the run, he’s after coming a long way in a short space of time. “It was a nice Group 3 today. I thought he quickened up to win the race and he ran around a little bit in front. “He should keep improving, he’s a little bit of a baby still. He should keep improving right through the season.”
