Currawood wins at Dundalk to uphold smart juvenile form

Paddy Twomey’s Currawood finally opened his account at the fourth time of asking at Dundalk on Friday in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, having mixed in some classy company last term.

The Acclamation colt boasted some red-hot maiden form, having finished second to Guineas and Derby favourite The Lion In Winter in July before chasing home another Aidan O’Brien youngster in Antelope Canyon, who went on to be second in the Goffs Million and the Killavullan Stakes.

Settled close to the pace by Billy Lee from a tricky wide draw, Currawood (4-9 favourite) always looked in control, even though rank outsider Edge Of Mali and No Such Thing kept him honest all the way to the line, with a winning distance of a length and a quarter.

Twomey said of his Irish 2,000 Guineas entry: “He’s a nice horse and he ran to a good level last year.

“This looked a nice starting point for him – he’s a good-actioned horse and I thought the track would suit. He seemed comfortable on it.”

When asked if he could go for a Guineas trial next, he replied: “He’s a nice horse and we’ll take him home and see. Probably a winners’ race knowing me and go forward from there.”

The trainer also had an update on last year’s Irish Oaks third Purple Lily, stating: “She has a few entries and we will see how we go.

“She is in good form and she might start in the Noblesse (at Cork), she will probably start in a Listed race before a Group race, but we will see.”