Trustyourinstinct produced a withering late surge to claim the Curragh Cup, prompting trainer Joseph O’Brien to float a potential tilt at the Melbourne Cup later this year. Ridden by Declan McDonagh, the six-year-old swept past rivals in the closing stages to win at 13-2, finishing three-quarters of a length clear of outsider Happy Pharoah at 25-1.
A well-timed ride crowns a big weekend
The success capped a heady weekend for O’Brien, who only a day earlier had taken the Irish Oaks with a second-string runner after a late reshuffle. At the Curragh, Trustyourinstinct was not the shortest price of O’Brien’s trio, yet he relished the extra yardage and the way the race unfolded. The tempo steadied mid-race before quickening again, and that pattern played perfectly to McDonagh’s patient tactics.
“He always runs well here at the Curragh. Stepping up in trip today, I think the race set up pretty well for him,” said O’Brien. “I think he’ll be coming back for every Group race at the Curragh that he can run in, the Leger being one of them probably. Potentially he could go to the Melbourne Cup. It’ll be an option for him for sure.”
McDonagh, who knows the horse well after several previous wins together, highlighted both conditions and ride execution as decisive factors:
“That is the first time he’s had his ground. Dropping him out was important to get him to relax early… once they started [easing it] in front I knew I was in business because he has a great kick.”
Why this matters for racing fans here
Gloucestershire’s racing community, from punters to stable staff and racegoers, keeps a close eye on the Irish scene given its deep ties with the British season. Success at the Curragh often signposts late-summer and autumn targets that cross the Irish Sea. O’Brien specifically name-checked a return to the Curragh for top-level staying events, with the Irish St Leger among potential stops, before any Australian adventure is weighed up.
The Melbourne Cup, run on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington, remains one of the few truly global targets for European stayers. O’Brien has form there, having landed the race in 2017 with Rekindling and again in 2020 with Twilight Payment. That record gives extra credibility to talk of Trustyourinstinct heading Down Under, though connections were keen to stress nothing is set in stone.
The race in brief
Trustyourinstinct travelled quietly in the pack before being unleashed late, reeling in leaders inside the final furlong to assert close home. Market leader Al Riffa endured a messy passage on the inside and never fully hit top stride, according to O’Brien. The winner’s strong finish suggested that the longer distances and a fair gallop bring out his best.
| Horse | SP | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Trustyourinstinct | 13-2 | Winner |
| Happy Pharoah | 25-1 | Second (beaten 3/4 length) |
What’s next for Trustyourinstinct
O’Brien made clear that the Curragh’s staying programme will be central to planning, with future international travel to be assessed based on the horse’s wellbeing and conditions underfoot. For local fans, that means keeping an eye on entries over the coming weeks as trainers start to firm up late-season campaigns.
- Return to the Curragh for top-level staying races;
- Consideration for the Irish St Leger in early autumn;
- Melbourne Cup option retained, subject to form, ground and logistics.
Form and footing fall into place
McDonagh’s comments about conditions were telling. Connections felt this was the first time in a while that Trustyourinstinct encountered ground to suit, and the change unlocked his finishing kick. The decision to ride him with patience also paid off, with the race shape allowing that trademark late burst to have maximum effect.
For all the excitement around Australia, the immediate takeaway is that Trustyourinstinct has a productive late summer ahead. If he continues to thrive at the Curragh and finds similar conditions, a crack at the Leger looks a natural progression. From there, the conversation about shipping to Flemington will become more than theoretical—especially given O’Brien’s proven ability to plot and execute a successful Cup raid.
Either way, this was a performance to note: a seasoned stayer delivering on a track he clearly enjoys, on a day when tactics, tempo and turf all aligned. For racing followers across the county, it’s one to mark down in the notebook as the autumn targets begin to take shape.
