Curragh Result

3.10 6f. 2-y-o6 Ran
One 51 Railway Stakes (Group 2) of €125,000.00 2-y-o

1st - €75,000.00, 2nd - €25,000.00, 3rd - €12,500.00, 4th - €5,000.00, 5th - €3,750.00, 6th - €2,500.00 6 Ran
Aidan O'Brien won the Railway Stakes for the fourth time in a row and the tenth time in the last eleven years, but only just when Mastercraftsman got the verdict by a short-head.

Mastercraftsman (8/11Fav)had won well over the course and distance on slightly softer ground on his debut and came with a strong run this time to hit the front inside the furlong, but possibily idled in the closing stages.

The runner-up Alhaban had won a poor contest on his debut in heavy ground, but showed guts and determination upped in class here. Having made the running until headed with 1 1/2 furlongs to race he never gave up the fight and would probably have got back up in another stride or two.

Intense Focus was fourth to Mastercraftsman on his debut, but showed the benefit of the experience he picked up in the interim, when winning at the Curragh and finishing second at Royal Ascot, to finish a closer thrid this time.

He travelled very well and looked set to win when passing Alhaban, but could not shake off that rival and then found it too much to handle when Mastercraftsman took him on inside the final furlong.

The remainder finished a long way behind and were out of their depth. Beathea took no further part having missed the break for the second time in three starts, but will be interesting now that she has qualified for a handicap mark.