Rekindling beats Wicklow Brave© Photo Healy Racing
Rekindling lunged late to land the spoils in the Comer Group International Curragh Cup for Joseph O'Brien.
The son of High Chaparral bounced back from a disappointing show in the Derby at Epsom to claim the Group 2 contest on his first attempt over one-mile and six furlongs.
Wayne Lordan settled his mount in mid-division but he got shuffled back to the rear turning for home.
11/8 favourite Wicklow Brave looked to have done enough when chasing down front-runner Wisconsin over a furlong from home.
Lordan had to weave his way through on Rekindling but got a great tune from the 4/1 shot inside the final furlong and he grabbed Wicklow Brave close home for a half-length win.
“He gave him a great ride and he settled well,” said O'Brien.
“He had a little bit of class and there was a chance he would be a little bit better than them.
“Obviously Wicklow Brave is a very good horse but he had a little bit of class and it worked today. Three-year-olds have a good record in this race.
“It looked today like he could be a Leger horse. He did well to go and get Wicklow Brave as he's a very good horse.
“We hadn't thought much further than today. We were probably finding out about him trip-wise today.
“There is Doncaster and the Irish Leger. He has to go to one or the other and he he probably has to go somewhere between now and then as well.
“An awful lot will depend on how the races are looking closer to the time. I'm sure there will be a few better three-year-olds than were taking him on today in Doncaster.
“We'll see what happens closer to the time but it's nice that he's back in form anyway.
“We'll probably have to meet Order Of St George somewhere. If we don't meet him in the trial here we might meet end up meeting him in September here.
“His Leopardstown form (Ballysax win) has worked out really well with Capri in behind and the Dante form (4th to Permian) worked out very well too. The winner won in Ascot and all the form is working out.
“A lot of people are knocking the three-year-old generation but it will be interesting to see in the next month or six weeks.”
Lordan added:- "Things just didn't work out for him at Epsom but he's a good horse. He was a bit too forward in Epsom and was ridden differently today.
"He's won a Derby trial over a mile and a quarter so he's not slow. He now has options over a variety of distances."
Willie Mullins said of the runner-up:- “I thought it was a very good run and we might look at finding something for him before coming back here for the Leger.
“He's a fantastic horse to be able to do it at that level on the Flat and also over jumps.”
Paddypower made Rekindling a 10/1 shot for the St Leger at Doncaster.
