Tomahawk confirms classic credentials

FLAT SEASON OPENS/Curragh report: The sun shone on the Curragh, five favourites bombed in and Aidan O'Brien unveiled a classic hope: just as the start of the 2003 flat season was supposed to be.

Tomahawk did what he was expected to do and won the Listed Oak Lodge Loughbrown Stakes by a length from the unlucky Abunawwas.

It was enough to earn last year's champion Irish juvenile a best priced 14 to 1 with Ladbrokes for the Sagitta 2,000 Guineas.

"He had a few gruellers last year so that was lovely. We wanted him to have an easy experience because he had hard races in the Middle Park and the Dewhurst and we did the wrong things sending him to America. He lost a lot of weight there.

"He has done well because a few of ours, including Stravinsky, have been beaten in this race. He will be ridden to get a mile and looks a Guineas horse. But which Guineas I don't know yet," said O'Brien.

That was a clear reference to the likes of the Guineas favourite, Hold That Tiger, who could be unveiled in the Gladness Stakes on April 6th, and it should be noted that yesterday's second did not get a clear run.

The stewards decided John Murtagh had caused interference to the fourth, Former Senator, in trying to secure a run outside the furlong pole and handed the jockey a two-day ban.

"He's run good and John said he was unlucky," said trainer Kevin Prendergast, who endured three runner-up placings in the first three races before scoring with Wrong Key in the Park Express Stakes.

Kieren Fallon made it to the Curragh in time for that ride after being delayed by fog in Britain and missing the first two races.

"My flight was at 10 and we only took off at 12.15. We got to Dublin at 1.20 and then it was a rush down here," said the British champion, who hardly had to exert himself on Wrong Key.

The filly needed just a nudge to hold Miss Nashwan by half a length and set up a possible clash with Hold That Tiger in the Gladness.

"After that she may as well look at the Tattersalls Gold Cup, the same route Rebelline took," said Prendergast.

Murtagh had the suspension sting salved by an armchair ride on Livadiya in the Lincolnshire.

Camargue's effort looked a decisive one a couple of furlongs out but when the Harry Rogers trained mare appeared on the stands side the race was over.

"I thought she had a good chance but she has never really run well here before. I have a Listed race in mind for her next," said Rogers, who got Livadiya back after injury curtailed her American career.

The first race of the new season went to the Ballydoyle colt Colossus, who mildly surprised his trainer by winning.

"We hadn't done much with him and I thought he looked a bit soft in the ring but he is obviously a pacy colt who will progress," O'Brien said.

Colossus's career is only starting but Charlie Swan declared he had had his last ride on the flat after winning the Jumps Versus Flat Jockeys Challenge on Take Flite.

With Norman Williamson in second on Cailin's Perk, the flat team, captained by Mick Kinane, were completely eclipsed.

"My last winner on the flat before today was Birth-Rite at Killarney but that's it now," said the victorious jumps captain.

Jim Gorman produced the veteran Miracle Ridge to win the sprint handicap under Helen Keohane but the 7 to 4 favourite, Patriotism, never threatened in the maiden, won by Good Day Too.