Curragh champagne dilutes recession

IS THIS the first real sign of a recession? There wasn’t a politician to be seen at the races.

It is probably not a good idea for them to be seen having fun. But the pre-budget Cabinet meeting forced even Minister for Sport Martin Cullen to cry off, half an hour before he was due to make the presentation for the Goffs €1 million winner of the fillies race at the Curragh.

The sun shone. The attendance was up from last year at 10,243 and the second-highest turnout this year after the Derby. The total prizefund was €3.6 million, with €1 million each for the owners of the winning colt and filly. The champagne flowed at the Goffs “million pavillion” and at the Brown Thomas pavillion where managing director Nigel Blow was offering the “biggest prize anywhere” for the best-dressed man – €20,000.

Winner was Zak Jordan, a 20-year-old student of pure economics at UCD. He sported a pin-striped tailored suit, which cost about €600, a Brown Thomas scarf and a Zara pink shirt. He happens to have a famous daddy, Eddie Jordan, which he acknowledges has its downside. “Yes , I can already hear people saying ‘rigged’,” shrugs the part-time model.

Consolation prizes of cufflinks went to Jason Popplewell from Co Wicklow and David Keoghan from Dublin, partner of novelist Cecilia Ahern. The novelist herself declined to talk politics or about the economy. “You’ll get nothing out of me,” she quipped, sitting with model Yvonne Keating.

The ladies’ prize came a poor second, but the winner wasn’t complaining. Emer Lynch from Batterstown, Co Meath, scooped a voucher for €600 to spend in the new Manolo Blahnik boutique. She wore a Brighton-designed dress and jacket, from the Ribbon Rouge store, where she works in Navan, teamed with a winning hat and umbrella made by a friend from a recycled wedding dress.

Back with the horses and Patrick Fahey was a jubilant owner of Soul City, winner of the Parknasilla Hotel Goffs €1 million colts race. A very happy man too was Peter Doyle, the Greystones, Co Wicklow, bloodstock agent who picked both million-euro winners.

Goffs chair Eimear Mulhern said the bloodstock industry is “holding its own”.

“Sales are down about 15 per cent but compared to other industries, that’s not bad,” she added.

Henry Beeby, Goffs’ chief executive was another happy man. “Of course, nobody’s recession-proof, but this helps.” He points out the winning filly, Minor Vamp, ridden by Michael Kinane, was purchased for €45,000. And Richard Hannon trained both winners.

RTÉ racing expert Colm Murray is a man to give a winning tip. His money was on Suailce, President Mary McAleese’s horse, and the winner in the last race at a lovely 14/1. A National Stud horse, it was the president’s biggest win for many years, according to Evan Arkwright, Curragh commercial manager.