Perugino Diamond isn't trained on the Curragh, Ballydoyle or any other world famous establishment, but he proved home can be best when running out a gallant winner of yesterday's Guinness Galway Hurdle.
Seamus O'Farrell may have been the only permit holder among the 20-strong field yesterday and, it had been 18 years since a four-yearold had won the big race, but neither proved any barrier to Perugino Diamond bounding home by a length and a half.
The winner was bred by O'Farrell, races in his colours and is now trained by him at his home in Kilmoganny in Co. Kilkenny. Perugino Diamond had been a successful runner for Frances Crowley before spending a stint at Martin Pipe's winner factory in England. Yet he was brought home and is only now starting to bloom.
"He's not a horse yet. He'll improve more!" smiled O'Farrell, who has held a permit to train just his own horses for 15 years. "I'm normally lucky to win a point-to-point, never mind a Galway Hurdle."
If that was modesty, there were some blushes at the fact that winning rider Jim Culloty was riding his very first winner in Ireland. The Killarney-born rider also journeyed to England but has made a much bigger impact, securing the amateur riders title and winning the SunAlliance Chase this year on Lord Noellie.
Culloty secured the Perugino Diamond ride after David Casey, who rode him to win at Killarney, deserted the winner in favour of the favourite, Magic Combination, who could only finish seventh.
"Maybe next time he'll listen to me," grinned O'Farrell, but Casey's replacement rode a typically intelligent race to trail Akasian and Darialann to the second last and then drove the young horse clear on the run-in. The second favourite, Barba Papa, ran on late but failed by a head to catch Darialann for second.
"He was really brave and has a very good future," considered Culloty. "He was a little novicey at some of the hurdles but he will be a very good jumper. He may jump a fence, too."
That was music to the ears of O'Farrell, owner of butcher shops in Kilkenny and Dublin, who had sent Perugino Diamond to Pipe with a view to selling him on but then brought him home after Punchestown when those plans didn't work out.
Michael Hourigan is also looking to the future with Moscow Retreat, but that horse proved he can already jump fences by securing a nine-length victory in the opening novice chase.
"He won a bumper and two hurdles but we always knew he wanted fences. Norman (Williamson) is over the moon with his jumping and he looks to have grown up a lot," enthused Hourigan.
Berkeley Bay, the filly who raced for seven furlongs with jockey Tadhg O'Shea having lost his irons and was still only beaten a couple of lengths earlier in the week, secured compensation in the Smithwicks Handicap, although she had to rally to beat Celtic Lore who had looked all over the winner.
"Tadhg's foot just slipped out of the iron the last day but she ran some race after it happened. He's ridden a good race there from stall two," said trainer Michael Halford.
Paul Moloney ended a nightmare three-month lay off with a broken pelvis by scoring on Bannow Bay in the handicap hurdle; but Carina Bay's victory in the novice hurdle was blighted by the death of the favourite, Canon Can, after suffering a fractured pastern.
Romantic Venture will be aimed at a Listed race next after easily winning the maiden at 1 to 4. "She's big and weak but good," said Dermot Weld.
