'That will either kill her or cure her!' - Belgian help to the fore as Ostraka sprouts wings

Curragh trainer Danny Murphy described the season so far as disastrous for him, but some shards of light have emerged in the last few weeks, particularly sprint handicapper Ostraka, who followed up a recent victory at the Curragh with a convincing win in the feature 5f handicap.

Under James Ryan, she picked up well to go to the front in the last furlong to beat topweight Red Letter Bray by a length and three-quarters.

Murphy said: "We bought her in February off Michael Halford but she has a bad back and was pulling out stiff. So, this chap from Belgium came over to treat her.

"His father used to come over to John Oxx 35 years ago, and his son does the same now, and is actually better at it. He came in after we backed her one day. She pulled out stiff, he yanked her back, and we heard this crack. He looked at me and said, 'That will either kill her or cure her!'

"She was 460 kilos that day, today she is 495, and that was less than three weeks ago. Her owner, Anthony Challoner, has had some patience. He runs a chauffeur business in Carlow and it's his first horse. We might aim her at the Joe McGrath Handicap at the Curragh; we won it before with A Step Too Far."

Murphy had gone close to initiating a double when once-raced Agouti Bear was caught close home in the opening juvenile maiden by 50-1 shot Actin Like A Diva.

More Golden days in store for Ocean

Michael O'Callaghan's good season continued when the regally bred Golden Ocean gave more than a glimpse of what she was capable of with an impressive success in the fillies' mile maiden.

Seamie Heffernan, who earlier won on Grand Marques for Fozzy Stack, exuded confidence on the twice-raced daughter of Blue Point and top-class filly Golden Lilac, as she quickened past front-running favourite North Africa inside the last furlong to win by two and a quarter lengths.

O'Callaghan said: "We always thought a lot of her. She had genuine excuses at both Naas and Leopardstown. She is a big filly and one we always thought of as one for next year.

"Her part-owner Jim Ryan took her home after her last run in June for a month and gave her plenty of TLC. It was a break she needed at exactly the right time. 

"He did plenty of work with her too and she came back to me in brilliant order. All I had to do was not mess it up. Seamie thinks she will go better in a better race next year going one mile two furlongs. 

"She is still a big baby. She has her winning bracket now and whatever else we do this year, we have a filly to look forward to next year."

McMonagle double

Dylan Browne McMonagle rode a double on Irish Rumour in the 5f handicap for trainer Jennifer Lynch and Naturally Nimble for his boss Joseph O'Brien in the concluding 1m2f maiden.

Jockey Ben Coen was taken to hospital for an x-ray on a suspected broken collarbone after being dumped by his mount Dr Waksman at the end of the latter contest.

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