Takashi Kodama , Ross Coakley and Elusive Time© Photo Healy Racing
Takashi Kodama, who is originally from Japan but trains in Co Kildare, recorded his biggest success to date, as his Elusive Time came home in front in the twenty-seven runner Tote Irish Cambridgeshire.
A prolific winner in Scandinavia earlier in his career, the nine-year-old son of Elusive City recorded his first win in Ireland over the course and distance in September of 2014.
His next success came at Leopardstown on his penultimate start, and he finished fourth to Silverkode on his most recent outing over the course on July 29th.
Sent off at 25/1 this afternoon he was settled towards rear by Ross Coakley. He improved into mid-division over two furlongs out, and was ridden to challenge on the stand side from the furlong pole, soon getting to the front before going on to score by two lengths.
The Mick Halford trained Surrounding finished second at 14/1 (from 16s) under Conor Hoban, while the UK raider Sinfonietta (20s this morning and from 12s to 10s on-course) was another length and three parts back in third for Seamie Heffernan and David Menuisier. So You Thought (12s last night, returned the 7/1 favourite) was a further short head back in fourth for Leigh Roche and Dermot Weld.
"I know he won at Leopardstown but I was surprised as he's nine years old and in the last three years he's had loads of small problems," said Kodama.
"Suddenly everything is going very well in the last two months. I had a doubt about the ground as he wants fast ground. Even the jockey said it wasn't expected.
"I was going to retire him at the end of this season but maybe not now!
"It's lovely to have a winner at the Curragh. I have six in training at moment and this is my biggest ever winner.
"We might run on Champion Stakes Day at Leopardstown (the Sovereign Path). It's a little bit too short but he finished eighth in it two years ago and is probably in better form now. I thought he wouldn't get into it but maybe now he has a chance."
Coakley added: "He has been in good form this year. We have been riding him a bit differently to the way we usually rode him. We used to ride him up with the pace but we are taking our time with him a bit more now.
"He travelled through the race really sweetly. Johnny who rides him a home was really sweet on him. It's great when a plan comes together.
"He was a good horse in his day. You can never be confident in a race like that, you are always more hopeful.
"Looking at it on Friday morning I was drawn 27 of 27, and more times than not you can be away from the action out on the flank like that. But the way it worked out today I got a nice toe in to the race.
"I noticed in the six furlong handicap that the winner came up the stand rail so I was starting to think then it mightn't have been a bad thing.
"When I squeezed in to him he picked up really well, and I probably got there a shade early. It was a long last 100 yards but I didn't hear anything coming so I was happy enough with that.
"I'm an apprentice to Johnny Murtagh and he has been very fair to me, and he has let me spread myself around a bit more now that I'm down to claiming three.
"It's important at this stage of my career to make a few contacts. Obviously I had an injury a few weeks ago, and it checked me for a bit when I was getting some momentum going. Sometimes a bit of time out makes you want it more."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Stewards granted permission in accordance with the provisions of Rule 194(ix), for Hasselnott (GB), reserve, trained by J.F. Levins, to be reinstated as a declared runner in this race after the card had closed as they were satisfied that the withdrawal was due to a genuine mistake.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
