Causeway looks the part with Madrid Handicap strike at Naas
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sun 22 Mar 2026
Causeway showed strength at the finish to follow in the hoofprints of Paddington in the Irish Racing Writers Association Madrid Handicap at Naas.
The Wootton Bassett colt raced in midfield after a slow break, but began to make headway and laid down his challenge at the furlong marker as Ryan Moore kept the 13-8 favourite up to his work to hold off Controlled by a head.
The race was won by fellow Aidan O’Brien inmate Paddington in 2023 before he went on to win the Irish Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes, Eclipse and Sussex Stakes in an incredible winning streak.
“He was tough and he learned a lot,” said O’Brien. “He took a run last year, he was a little bit lazy. He’ll obviously stay a lot further. Ryan was good on him.
“I think he’ll be very comfortable going a mile and could get further. He’s brave, he stuck his head out.
“He can go into a winners’ race now and we’ll go gentle with him and let him mature away.
“We’ll see how he progresses, there are other horses there for the Classics at the moment.”
Stablemate Accredited had earlier won the Space Traveller At Compas Stallions (C & G) Maiden with his strongest work at the finish.
The Siyouni colt was fourth on debut at Dundalk in October but had little trouble finding his way into the winner’s enclosure at the second time of asking.
The 13-8 shot was pushed along two furlongs out and began to make an impression approaching the final furlong before finishing strongly going away from the field to come home two-and-a-half lengths clear of favourite Sindagan.
O’Brien said: “We’re delighted with him. He had one run in Dundalk, Ronan (Whelan) rode him and said seven (furlongs) with an ease in the ground.
“Ryan said he’d have no problem getting a mile and no problem with better ground.
“He’ll have to go for a winners’ race now. We’ll go gentle with him, he’ll end up going up to a mile and then probably to stakes level.
“He’s a good looking horse and by Siyouni as well.”
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