Twilight Payment gets better with age to record career highlight in Curragh Cup

A false alarm was followed by a false dawn from Latrobe in the Curragh Cup as Twilight Payment battled bravely under Kevin Manning to bag the Group 2 prize.

For fear of being too harsh on last year’s Irish Derby winner Latrobe, he was bidding to back up a big effort at Royal Ascot only ten days previously and was bumping into a teak-tough rival in Twilight Payment.

All this occurred just moments after racegoers at the Curragh evacuated the concourse over what turned out to be a technical glitch with an alarm – one which would rear its head again later in the day. The evacuation led to arguably the biggest congregation of people in the new grandstand yet and they were treated to a spine-tingling finish with Twilight Payment making all, despite looking a sitting duck for Latrobe a furlong out. Racegoers were certainly treated to a dramatic ten minutes at HQ on the eve of the Irish Derby!

The Jim Bolger-trained Twilight Payment gives hope to every middle-aged person that the best has yet to come in life because he seems to be getting better with age. This career highlight was achieved at the age of six.

A solid stayer in recent years, Twilight Payment has taken his form to a new level this season. This win, which came off the back of a taking Saval Beg Stakes victory, looks sure to book his place in the Irish St Leger.

Bolger said: "The next race he’s in now is the [Irish St] Leger, whether we find a prep race for the Leger I’m not sure but if it has to be the Leger it will be the Leger."

The trainer added: "In this game you have to steer a level path and you can’t get to high or too low. It’s amazing that he’s a six-year-old and he’s improving."

Not only does Twilight Payment hold an entry in the Irish St Leger, but he also has one for the July Sales. However, he is likely to swerve that.

Result, replay and analysis

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