The Tattersalls Gold Cup
Group 1, Curragh 15:10
€500,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus, 1m 2f 110y  
Sunday 26th May 2024

Free Racing Tips

1 White Birch 15/8
2 Auguste Rodin 11/10F
3 Crypto Force 40/1
8 ran Distances: 3l, 8l, 1½l
Time: 2m 11.61s (fast by 0.99s)

White Birch continued his impressive start to the season by securing a Group One victory at the Curragh.

Last year, he finished third behind the reopposing Auguste Rodin in the Derby. John Joseph Murphy’s grey began his four-year-old campaign with a win in the Group Three Alleged Stakes in April, and he followed up with another victory over the same course and distance at Group Two level in the Mooresbridge three weeks ago.

Auguste Rodin, a dual Derby hero, entered the race as the marginal favorite at 11-10. Despite moving menacingly in the straight, White Birch was even better in his slipstream, ridden by the motionless Colin Keane. When asked to accelerate, the grey surged ahead, putting three lengths between himself and Auguste Rodin. Crypto Force finished a distant eight lengths behind in third place.

“That couldn’t have gone better. We got behind the two we wanted to be behind (early),” said Keane.

“Ryan (Moore, on Auguste Rodin) brought us as far as we could, then we just quickened up well.

“He cantered into it. He has plenty of pace but would have no bother going a bit further.

“He has matured massively from three to four.”

Quinnbet cut White Birch to 7-1 from 25-1 for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, while he is 8-1 from 20-1 for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

George Murphy, assistant to his father, said: “We’ve been waiting a long time for one as good as him. He’s a bit more chilled out this year and has progressed from race to race.

“People thought last year when he was a bit slow away from the gates a few times and he was coming from off the pace that he was more of a stayer, but he’s getting to show what he can do now.

“He’s got form on very quick ground as well, so he seems to handle them all. Colin was very good on him, as he always is, and gave him a super ride. He’s a master of his trade.

“We’ll enjoy today and make a plan from here.”

Aidan O’Brien, meanwhile, took plenty of positives from the run of Auguste Rodin and was also quick to praise winning connections.

“I thought he ran very well. The ground went against him and he got into a little bit of a speed wobble coming down off the hill and it took a little bit of time to get back in his rhythm. Obviously John’s horse picked him up well, but we were very happy,” he said.

“He still went out on his shield today and the next time we’ll be ready. We were thinking of the Prince of Wales’s next, but we’ll see what the lads want to do.

“I’m delighted for John and his son George.”

The Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1)
€500,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 2f 110y
8 ran
Going: Good to Yielding

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (2)    White Birch 4 9-5 John Joseph Murphy Colin Keane 15/8
2 (7) 3 Auguste Rodin 4 9-5 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 11/10F
3 (3) 8 Crypto Force 4 9-5 Adrian Murray Rossa Ryan 40/1
4 (5) 1½ Elegant Man 4 9-5 Adrian Murray David Egan 10/1
5 (1) 1½ Lumiere Rock 4 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 8/1
6 (4) ¾ Hans Andersen 4 9-5 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 33/1
7 (6) 2¾ Lord Massusus 4 9-5 Joseph G Murphy Gary Carroll 28/1
8 (8) 17 Mashhoor 6 9-5 J P Murtagh Ben Coen 25/1

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