Twilight Payment storms home to land second Curragh Cup win for Joseph O'Brien

It was no surprise to see Joseph O'Brien winning the Curragh Cup – he was responsible for two of the leading contenders after all – but the manner of Twilight Payment's victory left even his trainer shocked.

The seven-year-old maintained a relentless gallop to beat stablemate Master Of Reality by eight lengths.

O'Brien said: "My word that was some performance, considering where the horse who made the running finished. This fella stayed going all the way to the line."

The betting suggested Twilight Payment was going to supplement last year's success in the race. A morning show of evens was a distant memory come race time as he was sent off the 8-15 favourite.

Joseph O'Brien was impressed by Twilight Payment's eight-length victory in the Curragh CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Those who took the skimpy odds had few anxious moment as he swept by Memorabilis turning for home and coasted to a wide-margin victory. It was very easy on the eye.

"This was our early season target for him," said O'Brien. "His first couple of races were to get him ready for this. I suppose the Irish St Leger back here in September would be the aim now."

Master Of Reality, who came within a whisker of winning last year's Melbourne Cup before being demoted into fourth by the stewards, could renew his rivalry with the winner in the Irish St Leger, unless the Covid-19 restrictions ease internationally.

O'Brien added: "It was a good run from Master Of Reality and he will follow along the same sort of path as Twilight Payment. He could travel internationally later in the year but, with the way things are, everything is up in the air at the moment."

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