Appropriately it was a Curragh trainer who won the last race of the season at headquarters yesterday, yet it wasn't one of the big battalions but Dermot Kelly who supplied Imprevue to win the Matthews Maiden and thus complete his first-ever double.
Kelly had earlier taken the Curragh Carpets Handicap with Magical Lady, who was also ridden by Wayne Smith, and it was a memorable day all round for the trainerjockey combination as Smith, 26, was equalling his best-ever seasonal score of 24, achieved last year.
Kelly was bringing his own total to eight for the flat season and confirmed his emergence as a shrewd young trainer.
"It's seldom I have two runners in a day!" Kelly smiled before adding: "I had four runners today and I thought all had each-way chances. Wayne rides out three lots a day for me and he's riding really well."
Magical Lady is likely to go back novice chasing after her allthe-way win from Rince Abhann, but Imprevue may now be sent to England to be prepared for the Triumph Hurdle. Smith, in contrast, plans to spend the winter riding for Erwin Sharpi in Dubai.
Jim Bolger made his last visit to an Irish racecourse this Flat season a successful one when Taispean and Amravati scored to give the Coolcullen trainer his own near 27 to 1 double.
Bolger is to attend the Breeders' Cup fixture at Hollywood Park and will travel after another successful year, with a winner total that now stands at 68, putting him third in the table behind Aidan O'Brien and John Oxx.
Amravati's head defeat of Brief Sentiment in the Shelbourne Race was her second win and next year her trainer believes she could be challenging for better quality events.
Taispeain was also a narrow winner in the Murphy Townhouse Maiden, beating Coconut Creek by a neck after a prolonged struggle.
Another who got some reward for consistency yesterday was My Trivet, who kept on resolutley in the Curragh Carpets Handicap to beat Lady Assassin and give his popular Curragh trainer Jim Gorman a third winner of the season. My Trivet will now go to Fairyhouse next Wednesday.
The one-eyed Fairy Oak took the apprentice handicap under Brian Hunter, and Holly Hedge took the nursery for owner Professor James Fennelly.
