Joseph O'Brien completed a hat-trick of Coolmore Stud Little Big Bear Irish EBF Athasi Stakes triumphs, but not with the runner most expected as Gregarina swooped on the line.
O’Brien, who was successful with Twilight Spinner in 2022 and Honey Girl 12 months ago, also saddled 6-4 favourite Jumbly and Valpolicella in the Curragh Group Three.
However, it was Gregarina (16-1) who came through from the back late on and got up in the dying strides to score by a head from You Send Me.
You Send Me had looked all over the winner of the seven-furlong feature when fending off the challenge of the William Haggas-trained British raider Doom.
But that pair ultimately had to settle for minor honours after Dylan Browne McMonagle conjured up a late charge from French import Gregarina on her first start for the stable.
The five-year-old had won three of her 15 races in France for Fabrice Chappet, including a couple of Listed-class strikes at ParisLongchamp and Deauville.
O’Brien said: "It was a fantastic ride. She was quite a hard puller in her races in France and we just had the objective today of getting her settled. We didn’t want her over-racing on her first run of the season and she switched off lovely.
"I was surprised with the kick she showed, it really was very impressive visually. It was a cool, patient ride from Dylan.
"She will either come back here for the fillies’ race on Guineas weekend or more likely go straight to Ascot for the mile Group Two, Duke of Cambridge."
It was a welcome change of fortune for McMonagle, who had a bandage covering stitches on his nose and a black eye after being kicked by a two-year-old earlier in the day.
A late twist in the Coolmore Stud Little Big Bear Irish EBF Athasi Stakes. Gregarina, having her first start for @JosephOBrien2, finishes with a flourish under Dylan Browne McMonagle to snatch the spoils. pic.twitter.com/fposXVMLtq
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) May 6, 2024
Bright Stripes swoops in Tetrarch Stakes
Bright Stripes sprang a 16-1 surprise when coming from last to first to land the Coolmore Stud Paddington Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh.
Andy Oliver's charge trailed in 23 lengths behind Battle Cry on his three-year-old debut at Leopardstown last month, where Samuel Colt went down by just half a length as runner-up to his stablemate.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Samuel Colt was backed as if defeat was out of the question on this occasion, going off as the 4-11 favourite.
However, he flattered to deceive when coming through to challenge Norwalk Havoc towards the end of the mile contest and Bright Stripes breezed past both of those rivals under a canny ride from Billy Lee.
The son of Starspangledbanner was a length in front at the finishing line and Oliver said: "We were very concerned about the ground, as he’s such a good-moving horse.
"Last year, we didn’t get anything else and his run in the Killavullan (when second at Group Three level) was on very heavy ground. This year, on the first day out, he encountered similar ground and just didn’t seem to like it at all.
"We expected the ground to dry out today, but it didn’t and I thought long and hard about not running him.
"Billy switched him off and he really accelerated. It just goes to show how much we really know! He was very impressive.
"The only day he got good ground was when he won his maiden at Naas.
"He’s in the Irish Guineas and all being well that is where he’ll go next. If he follows last year’s winner (Paddington), I’ll be happy enough with that!"
Young apprentice Rory Mulligan enjoyed a real thrill when 9-1 chance Asian Daze ran out an easy winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap, giving the jockey just a third career success and his first at the Curragh.
Johnny Murtagh’s three-year-old was always travelling well in a prominent position and ultimately prevailed by three and a half lengths from staying-on favourite Sluice.
Murtagh said: "That’s a pleasant surprise. She was sold to America earlier in the year and that didn’t happen.
"I think Rory’s 10lb was a big help, she’s not a big filly. I thought 85 was a high mark for her, but the 10lb helped. He’s working very hard, so it’s good for him to get down to 7lb now, which should get him a few more opportunities."
Orandi defied top-weight when staying on strongly to take the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Apprentice Handicap at 33-1 for Tony Martin and Jack Kearney.
Five times a winner in France earlier on in his career, the five-year-old gelding was having his third run back from a lengthy lay-off of 478 days.
There was a winning favourite in the finale, as Pinar Del Rio (100-30) gained compensation for last month’s short-head course and distance defeat when landing the Holden Plant Rentals Handicap in good style for Joe Conlon and Ronan Whelan.
