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Royal Illusion romps home in Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh

Willie Mullins
Willie Mullins

Royal Illusion turned the Tote Irish Cesarewitch into a procession at the Curragh.

Giving 17-year-old rider Joey Sheridan a landmark success, the Willie Mullins-trained mare went quickly clear of the field after taking over at the head of affairs inside the two-furlong marker.

The winner's stablemates Legal Spin and Saglawy had cut out the early running, and while Red Gerry briefly led on straightening for home, as soon as the seven-year-old Royal Illusion went on, the race was over.

Sent off at 10-1 under her 7lb-claiming jockey, Royal Illusion had eight and a half lengths in hand over Dalton Highway (10-1 )at the line, making it a Cesarewitch double for Mullins, after Stratum struck at Newmarket on Saturday.

Rock De Baune (7-1) was another two and a quarter lengths back in third and Red Gerry (8-1) fourth.

Mullins - also on the mark in the Munster National at Limerick with Cabaret Queen - said: "Joey gave her a very cool ride. He's obviously a talented young guy on the way up and I've been hearing only good words about him.

"I didn't think she would go on the ground. We have a nice team of staying Flat horses and it's good to make use of them."

Revealing ambitious plans for his Cesarewitch stars, Mullins added: "Last night I was thinking, 'what are we going to do now with Stratum?' - and there is a $2.5million race out in Saudi Arabia.

"He goes on good ground and she goes on good ground. I'd imagine they will go there if they get an invite.

"It's on 29 February and is not what I need two weeks before Cheltenham, but for that money we'll have to go."

Tango could head to next month's Breeders' Cup meeting following a comfortable victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Legacy Stakes.

The No Nay Never filly was having the eighth outing of her career and was sent off the 11-8 favourite for Aidan O'Brien, having finished fourth in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes last time out.

She could be called the winner some way out in this six-furlong heat, moving through smoothly for Donnacha O'Brien to win by six lengths.

O'Brien said: "She's a smart filly and Donnacha thinks she's getting better. He said she was very sweet and she'll get further. If she gets seven then she could get a mile next year.

"She has experience and could go for the (juvenile) fillies' race at the Breeders' Cup. I always liked her, but she was probably a bit babyish for a while. She galloped right out to the line."

O'Brien was completing a quick double having won the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden with 8-11 favourite Precious Moments.

O'Brien made it a hat-trick as the Seamie Heffernan-ridden Fancy Blue (4-1) pipped favourite A New Dawn on the line.

Fancy Blue came with a strong run from the back of the pack to edge out Fancy Blue - who was ridden by Donnacha O'Brien for his brother, Joseph - by a head.

Make A Challenge ran away with the Waterford Testimonial Stakes for Denis Hogan and Joe Doyle.

Rated 66 back in April, the four-year-old had risen to a mark of 109 after winning five times and stepped up again to run out a four-and-a-half-length winner.

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