Master showing lands O’Brien the Irish 2,000 Guineas

Mastercraftsman handed Aidan O’Brien his first Classics title of the season on Saturday, running away with the Irish 2,000 Guineas at Curragh.

The colt revelled in the softer conditions at the Curragh on Friday, and looked nothing like the racehorse that was beaten into fifth place at the Newmarket Guineas as he handed John Oxx’s Rayeni his first ever defeat. Soul City came home third.

Brian Meehan’s decision to run the English 2,000 Guineas runner-up, Delegator, in the Irish equivalent failed to pay dividends as his entry struggled with the ground and eventually came home in 8th place amongst the stragglers.

“Obviously the horses have improved for their first run,” O’Brien said after the race, “and since Newmarket the horses have really started coming. Pat Smullen was very happy with him at Newmarket and said he only really got going in the last one and a half furlongs. Johnny said he won very easy today.”

The win is Aidan O’Brien’s sixth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, following on Henrythenavigator’s win in the race last year. Saturday’s result also provided a double for jockey Johnny Murtagh who was onboard Mastercraftsman on Saturday and also rode Henrythenavigator to victory in 2008.