By Tom Frary
Testing ground and stern opposition did for Albert Einstein (Wootton Bassett) in Saturday's Listed Gladness Stakes at The Curragh, with last year's winner Big Gossey (Gutaifan) putting all his considerable experience to full use.
Aidan O'Brien seemed to suggest that it will be the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot rather than the 2,000 Guineas for Albert Einstein, who was sixth as the 11-10 favourite. “He's always been a very quick horse who finds it very hard to go slow,” he said. “Ryan said his tempo was very strong straightaway and he was in a gear too high early, so in that soft ground he was going to suffer.”
“There is every chance he's a big sprinter,” he added. “That was a tough thing to do with him and we learnt plenty today. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the lads say let's go the sprint route now. When he got tired he just kept plugging, so that's a good sign. He's a very quick horse–there is no debate about that as we see it day in, day out at home. He finds it easy to go fast and that's what sprinters are–he has the physique to be good at that if that's what the lads decide to do.”
“He will have a run or two before Royal Ascot if the lads decide to go that way, as sprinting is a bit of an art,” he concluded. “It was better to find out now than go to the Guineas and then have to go straight to Ascot. It's far from a problem and I still believe he's going to be very exciting.”
Up ahead in the seven-furlong contest, it was left to the Charles O'Brien-trained nine-year-old to make a mockery of his 25-1 odds by 1 1/2 lengths from East Hampton (Cracksman). Albert Einstein's stablemate Neolithic (Sioux Nation) was a neck further behind in third as the favourite, who was notably fresh and keen in the early stages, finished a total of 4 1/2 lengths away in sixth.
Big Gossey, who was making his 50th appearance and was scoring for the ninth time at The Curragh, was beating some talented opposition this time alongside the much-vaunted favourite. “He's an old pro,” the winning trainer said. “I wasn't really expecting that. Last year, I thought he had a good chance but today I thought there were a few in there that probably had a bit more class than him. You can't beat honesty–the longer I hang around this game, I find that attitude is more important than an awful lot of things. If you look at his program for the last seven or eight years, it's going to be pretty much the same!”
A ninth win at @curraghrace & successive wins in the Listed Gladness Stakes for Big Gossey
Albert Einstein sixth on his seasonal return 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/aF3onEsbYz
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 28, 2026
The winner is the last foal out of Toy Show (Danehill), a relative of the King George hero Pentire and fellow sire Konigstiger. This is also the family of Sea The Stars' multiple Group winner Al Aasy.
1XBET.IE SUPPORTS IRISH RACING GLADNESS STAKES-Listed, €50,000, Curragh, 3-28, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:33.71, s/h.
1–BIG GOSSEY (IRE), 135, g, 9, Gutaifan (Ire)–Toy Show (Ire), by Danehill. (€21,000 RNA Wlg '17 GOFNOV). O-Allegro Syndicate; B-Mr E Heary; T-Charles O'Brien; J-Billy Lee. €30,000. Lifetime Record: MGSP-Ire, 86-11-15-8, $611,728.
2–East Hampton (GB), 135, g, 4, Cracksman (GB)–Sitar (GB), by Aqlaam (GB). (32,500gns Ylg '23 TATOCT; 210,000gns HRA '25 TATAHI). O-N Molloy; B-Manor Farm Stud & J E Rose; T-David Marnane. €10,000.
3–Neolithic (Ire), 124, c, 3, Sioux Nation–Starlite Sienna (Ire), by Elusive Pimpernel.
1ST BLACK TYPE. (210,000gns Wlg '23 TADEWE). O-Westerberg, Mrs J, Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith; B-T Molan; T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 1HF, NK, NO. Odds: 25.00, 9.00, 28.00.
Also Ran: Ten Bob Tony (Ire), Wannabe Royal (Ire), Albert Einstein (Ire), Princess Child (Fr), Lord Massusus (Ire), Rahmi (Ire), Saracen (Fr).
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