It was another successful weekend for Curraghmore graduates with two additional winners and a stakes performer added to the tally for the season.
Goko (O'Reilly) capitalised on a great run of form to win in Hong Kong on Sunday night. A graduate of Curraghmore's 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock weanling draft, Goko has run in the money in each of his last four starts and scored a deserved victory in the Class 3 race over 1000m.
On Saturday Manolo Blahniq (Jimmy Choux) ran a good second in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1400m) at Caulfield. It was another honest performance from the five-year-old gelding who had to contend with an inside draw that didn't suit his way of running.
In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) was ever so brave to run a very good fifth in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick. This horse, who was sold out of Curraghmore's 2017 Karaka draft, is a real credit to Jamie Richards and the team at Te Akau racing. He fronts up and tries his heart out each race and looks a very honest horse.
In A Twinkling will return home to Te Akau for a spell.
Bye Bye Belle (Cape Blanco) was having her fourth career start running in the Gr.3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m). The three-year-old filly looks a genuine staying filly of the future after finishing seventh but just 1.9 lengths off the winner. Her connections must be encouraged by the run and as a November foal she will only improve from here.
Rodrico (High Chaparral) was another to finish down the placings but not far off the winner. The 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock graduate was only 3.8L off the winner when finishing ninth in the Gr.2 Chairman's Quality (2400m). He is having a busy campaign and his run on Saturday was very brave.
Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock) was a touch disappointing in the Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) finishing 13th. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy reported she didn't enjoy the ground and it will be interesting to see trainer Chris Waller's next move with her.
It was also pleasing to see Pumps (Jimmy Choux) break his maiden when successful on the Gold Coast on Saturday. The three-year-old gelding is trained by Scott Morrisey and having his 10th start.
