The weekend produced some outstanding runs from Curraghmore graduates, including two Sydney metropolitan runner-up finishes.
Lisdoonvarna (Super Easy), who was a last start winner at Rosehill five weeks ago, ran wide and was in full flight crossing the line in Heavy9 conditions at Randwick to finish second and just .2 of a length off the winner.
The three-year-old filly, who was bred in partnership by Gordon Cunningham and Hallmark Stud, has compiled an impressive Australian record of five wins from eight starts since arriving in 2017.
Trainer John Sargent stepped Only Tiger (Rip Van Winkle) up to Saturday city racing after the Chrissy Bambry and Mangatiti Trust bred gelding strung two midweek wins together in a row.
He performed well in testing conditions to finish second and looks to have a bright future as a staying prospect.
The dam of Only Tiger, Sitting on Hill, recorded a further pedigree update when Lake Hayes (Ocean Park) ran third at Newcastle. Both Only Tiger and Lake Hayes were sold through Curraghmore at the New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sales.
On the domestic front Rodrico (High Chaparral) was very game in finishing second to upset winner El Luchador in the Kiwifruit Cup (2100m) at Tauranga.
The $235,000 New Zealand Bloodstock graduate who was purchased by Guy Mulcaster has now run in the money in each of his New Zealand starts since joining the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable from Hong Kong.
The real winner of the weekend was Six Nations rugby champions Ireland who capped an outstanding season with a 20-16 win on Saturday over Australia to clinch the three-test series 2-1.
It was Ireland's first series win in Australia since 1979.
