Van Nistelrooy lands Tyros

Van Nistelrooy came perilously close to losing his unbeaten record at the Curragh this afternoon when sent off at 4-6 for the Flame Of Tara Tyros Stakes.

After a steady early pace the six runners suddenly sprinted approaching the last of the seven furlongs and Van Nistelrooy had a couple of lengths to make as jockey Michael Kinane sought to find an opening.

Switched to the outside, the favourite quickened well for Kinane's urgings and responded sufficiently to overtake the front-running Etruscan King and land the Listed contest by a head to earn a quote of 20-1 for the Sagitta 2000 Guineas from Paddy Power.

'I knew after a furlong that I should have run something else to make it a proper gallop,' commented trainer Aidan O'Brien.

'Van Nistelrooy had a couple of lengths to make up on them and, to be fair, the horse did well in the circumstances.'

The race, run on good ground, was no less of this seven furlongs Listed affair and those who backed the favourite got a fright before collecting.

'This horse is a lovely mover which appreciated the better ground since he won here earlier in the month and he learned a lot. He'll come back here for the Futurity Stakes next month,' O'Brien added.

The winner was completing a quick juvenile double for O'Brien and Kinane who had produced Miguel Cervantes to land the opening www.curragh.ie European Breeders Fund Maiden.

A son of Danzig, the winner showed plenty of pace to lead well over a furlong out and hold the challenge of second favourite Peratus by a comfortable half length.