JIMMY QUINN returned to his native Ireland yesterday to successfully team up with Bolino Star for dual purpose trainer, Sean Treacy in the Go Racing In Kildare Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh.
An unlucky loser at Leopardstown in the Lincoln Trial, the 100/30 chance just got up in the dying strides to catch the front running The Bower with the top weight Idris and the heavily backed favourite Silvian Bliss third and fourth.
A 28-year-old from Co Wexford, Quinn had been enjoying a very good season on the all-weather tracks and had 17 winners ridden already this year before opening his account at the first Curragh meeting of the new year.
"The mare is tough, stays well and tries her heart out. Jimmy never gave up on her and deserved to pinch it," said winning trainer Treacy, who is better known as a trainer and former jockey over the jumps.
The Bower's gallant bid to add this race to last autumn's Irish Cambridgeshire landed his jockey Robbie Burke in trouble with the stewards, who banned the locally-based rider for five days for a whip offence.
Aidan O'Brien, champion trainer in the National Hunt sphere, has his Flat team fit and well and helped himself to a double in partnership with stable jockey Christy Roche.
Requin Bleu, the first horse O'Brien has saddled for international owner Daniel Wildenstein, made a highly promising debut when taking the Bank of Ireland Maiden at 4/1 and Proud Titania followed up at 6/1 with an equally decisive victory in the Madrid Handicap.
O'Brien said of Requin Bleu: "He is a nice big horse who is a good mover and will handle better ground. He is still quite raw and will improve a lot and may go to Tipperary next Saturday for a winner's race." If Requin Bleu misses the Tipperary event, O'Brien may run his English 9,000 Guineas hope Eagle in the race instead.
Jim Bolger's Dathuil became the first horse to win twice this season when she wore down No Animosity close home to win the Hotel Keadeen Race by a neck.
Champion jockey Johnny Murtagh got off the mark for the season when winning the Esso Handicap on the Ger Lyons-trained 14/1 shot Musical Sunset.
