Moss Tucker provided trainer Ken Condon with his first Irish Group 1 winner since Romanised landed the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas back in 2018 when coming with a late flurry to wear down Get Ahead in the Flying Five this afternoon.
Last year's winner Highfield Princess was all the rage in the market to make it back-to-back victories, but Jason Hart never looked comfortable after an awkward exit from the stalls. Fellow UK raiders Art Power and Bradsell were next in the betting, and it was the former, who was bidding to maintain his unbeaten record at the Curragh, that would take the field along as Oisin Murphy made a beeline for the stands' rail. However, his race was soon run as the grey faded out of contention and the eye was drawn to those situated towards the centre of the track.
Charlie Hills would have been dreaming of another top-level sprint success this season as his contender, Equality, led the field approaching the final furlong but he was soon pounced by fellow UK raider Get Ahead and Clive Cox's charge struck the front with less than 100 yards to travel. All the while though Moss Tucker continued to eat into the lead and the 16/1 chance was produced under an all-action Billy Lee to take up the running deep inside the final furlong, before going on to score by half a length at the line.
Get Ahead (22/1) stuck on well once headed to finish runner-up with Equality, another double-figure price (20/1) fading into third late on.
It was Moss Tucker's second attempt at the top-level having finished fifth in the Prix de l'Abbaye last season and he's currently a general 20/1 for the Paris showpiece sprint later this year.
"Fantastic result and I thought he got a superb ride," said Condon.
"Billy was just brilliant on him and he had a willing partner.
"It's been a great story with this horse, how he's progressed and kept improving and you go in [to the race] and you're thinking if we're placed that will be a super effort and then the heavens opened about an hour and a half before and you're thinking that's going to help us a little bit.
"He was very good the last time here in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes, we thought that was a career-best and obviously this is going to be another step in the right direction."
